| The Pros And Cons of Backyard Livestock
Converting your backyard into a barnyard can make you feel like you have the working farm you’ve always wanted. But it’s more responsibility, not less, and your animals will let you know when you’re late with their dinner. You’re going to love it! | | |
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Dear Barnyard Believer,
Who among us doesn’t aspire to self-sufficiency? Equipped with only a little land and less knowledge, we think about getting some chickens for the backyard. And as long as we’re feeding the chickens, why not raise a pig? Or a goat? Maybe even a cow? How about a horse?
The desire for healthy, affordable food and a connection to animals has driven a backyard livestock boom. Knowing the pros and cons of common farm animals can help you to make a good choice–or send you to the nearest market, happy to empty your wallet. | | The Backyard Chicken Coop | The domestic chicken can be traced back some 10,000 years. Today, the world has three times as many chickens as human beings, but you may not recognize all of them: In suburbs where they are prohibited by zoning, people have been known to put their chickens in dog costumes. (Though we have yet to hear a chicken bark.)
The pros of keeping chickens include eggs, of course. But if you get one of the smaller (little) breeds, you will know before everyone else when the sky is falling. (Cue the laugh track.) In all seriousness, though, you can keep a few chickens in far less space than a goat or pig or cow. And on average it takes only 2 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of chicken meat.
As for the cons, keeping your brood safe may be a challenge, as foxes, coyotes, and weasels all love chickens. And no matter how hard you try, you can NOT milk a chicken. | | Get Your Goat | Really, you can’t milk a chicken. But you can milk a goat. Fresh goat milk (which you can use to make cheese) is one of the big pros of having a goat. Goats are also highly social–curious, interactive, and smart. You can read to a goat, and it will listen. Plus, baby goats (kids) are hilarious. They love to hop on top of sheep and adult goats.
The downside of keeping goats is the, shall we say, essence of billy goat. If you have an intact billy goat, you will know it. So will your downwind neighbors. And everyone you meet at the store if you wear your barn clothes. Billy thinks that this is awesome, and occasionally, so does the nanny goat. | | | | A Horse Is A Horse, Of Course | Whereas you can’t saddle and ride a chicken or goat, you can ride a horse. People stop by, and from them you will learn a great lesson: that the best kind of horse is the one your friend owns.
Horses are majestic, intelligent herd animals that like open space, so make sure that you have enough of it to keep your horse content. Note that you’ll be feeding your horse, but the horse will not be feeding you. At least not nutritionally. Spiritually, however, the connection to a horse can be strong and meaningful.
The cons? If you are not in sync with your horse or are not an experienced rider, your horse will have final say over who rides whom. Still want a large animal in your backyard barnyard, but aren’t sure you’re ready for a horse? Maybe a cow is the right choice. | | Mooooving On | Having a cow makes you feel like a real farmer, and between you and me, Bart Simpson was wrong when he said, “Don’t have a cow, man.” Cows can provide fresh, unadulterated milk for you, your family, and your neighbors. And cheese! And if you don’t mind “harvesting” the manure, you can sell it for a pretty penny. Cows can also give you the answer to that age-old question, “Where’s the beef?”
Owning a cow isn’t all fun and games, though. Before you get a dairy cow, talk to a dairy farmer. It won’t be difficult, as they won’t be on vacation. He or she will tell you how to make a small fortune (from a large one). It will also be important to get to know your large-animal veterinarian. Give him or her all your money and you will understand immediately what it takes to keep a cow healthy.
If you want to find out more about keeping livestock in your backyard, including the pros and cons of raising pigs, and much more useful information, wit, and wisdom, you can get it and a bundle of FREE GIFTS, with an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership! |
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| HALF-PRICE Offer Now in Effect!
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With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership, you’ll get the handsome hardcover 2019 edition of the Almanac, the full-color monthly EXTRA! digital magazine with a weather update and content not found in the print edition, plus a bundle of special bonuses where you’ll find out more about the sun, soil, space, and success of gardening. With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership, you’ll learn more about:
How much sun your garden really needs Seeds and seedlings, and which ones you should get for your garden What you need for growing the perfect garlic Planting edible flowers (and what to avoid) Making the perfect pickles from your garden
With your hardcover Old Farmer’s Almanac, your monthly EXTRA! digital magazine, and your bundle of special bonuses, you’ll always be up-to-date on everything in the world of gardening! |
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| Get full access to everything under the Sun, including the Moon, weather, vegetable and flower gardening, folklore, nature, home remedies, and more —with your Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership! | Introducing The Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership! This new and exciting club is designed especially for you—and it’s packed with articles, advice, best days, facts, and fun that you cannot get anywhere else!
Your Charter Membership gives you all the elements of a true almanac—a “calendar of the heavens” and a “time capsule of the year” for 2019, plus some bonuses when you join today. More about those bonuses in a minute.
Since 1792—in fact, every day since!—The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been trusted and enjoyed by folks from all walks of life: people who grow their own food depend on the planting dates; home cooks, gardeners, and folks hungry for something quick and delicious love the recipes; just about everybody checks on the Moon phases and sunrise and set times … as well as the weather forecasts … to know what to expect on any given day, week, month, or season.
With The Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership, you’ll have content that is both useful and humorous. You’ll discover quirky facts, timeless adages and advice, amusing quotes and profound proverbs, contests, Anecdotes and Pleasantries, Best Days to do things (from fishing to weaning from planting to setting eggs, for example), and so much more!
Your Charter Membership gives you everything that you’ve come to expect and depend on in an Almanac—valuable and accurate content and advice. In fact, fulfillment of readers’ expectations has made our Almanac the best-known and most sought-after Almanac for generations.
Did you know? The Old Farmer’s Almanac is the oldest continuously published periodical in North America! We got started with this valuable content in 1792—when George Washington was president and the U.S. Post Office Department was first established . . . and we’ve been at it ever since then, for 227 years! |
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| HALF-PRICE Offer Now in Effect!
Special Charter Membership Invitation for You:
Introducing The Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club! |
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Get Your Special Pass—
Access to the World's Most Beloved Almanac | | Be among the first to claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership—become a Charter Member today! | |
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| The "Best Value Club" is really an incredible value! | |
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People always ask how and why our Almanac has lasted—and continues to be a best seller. The answer is simple: We stay true to the original mission of founder Robert B. Thomas, who declared in an early edition, “Our main endeavor is to be useful, with a pleasant degree of humor.”
We believe that, especially in today’s trying times, finding humor and enjoyment in daily life is important and can be uplifting, and we hope you like our light-hearted fun and find the joy in chuckling at our witty and inspiring words.
This will make you smile, too: Every edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac is fresh, new, and designed to make the year one of the best ever. How do we do that? With entertaining and informative articles. For example: | | Want to know about the most fun and fascinating trends for 2019? Here’s a hint: We’ll be exercising in the grocery stores, we’ll be drinking banana milk, shopping in stores with “quiet hours,” and decorating with “scratch-and-sniff” wallpaper. Are you a vegetable gardener or want to be one? Many gardeners consider the Almanac their most valuable tool, so this year, for all of you trying to grow food we’ve got foolproof advice that promises a harvest the first year and every one thereafter. Perhaps you grow flowers—or want to: In the 2019 Almanac, you’ll learn which flowers are edible, when to pick them, and how to use them (e.g., pick apple blossoms in late spring and sprinkle them onto a Waldorf salad, all summer use impatiens as a garnish). |
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But that’s just the beginning! Here’s just some of what else you’ll discover in the 2019 Almanac:
The Faces of Farming: ambitious folks from across the country tell about how they got started, the hurdles they faced, and the rewards of working the land Timetables and advice for spotting meteor showers, bright stars, conjunctions, and other fascinating astronomical events Best days for planting, pruning, weeding, grafting, and controlling pests, plus the easiest-ever soil test (all you need is a pair of men’s clean, white, 100% cotton underwear and a small shovel) Daily weather forecasts for all regions of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii Fresh new ways to savor the asparagus, beet, corn, and cucumber harvests, with “The ABCs of Pickling” Easy, delicious, and Almanac prize-winning recipes using oranges "Adventures in the Zodiac Zone"—what’s behind the Sun and Moon? A look back at "The Day the Sun Exploded"—and a look forward to how it could happen again The “full” explanation of if and why more strange things happen during a full Moon than at other times. Facts, folklore, and traditions in “Telling the Bees”—Did you know that beekeepers often invite their bees to weddings? Thinking of getting a pig, a cow, a goat, or maybe chickens? Or know someone who is? You do not want to miss “The Pros and Cons of Backyard Livestock.” Why a Dog May be Your Best Medicine—and your child’s, too! The Story of Baseball’s Most Amazin' Season, with the “Miracle Mets” "How to Make Sausage at Home"- It’s easier than you think, especially if you make patties instead of links All this and too much more to mention for 288 pages of riveting content!
Plus, the Almanac’s easy-to-follow charts, maps, and photos bring it all to life for you—making it all easy to understand and use. |
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| HALF-PRICE Offer Now in Effect!
Special Charter Membership Invitation for You:
Introducing The Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club! |
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Get Your Special Pass—
Access to the World's Most Beloved Almanac | | Be among the first to claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership—become a Charter Member today! | |
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| The "Best Value Club" is really an incredible value! | |
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| An Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership will deliver exciting rewards for you—and for a special introductory rate, HALF-OFF right now, to all new Charter Members. | When you join today, you’ll ensure that you get the latest details about Almanac events and forecasts—and you’ll enjoy all these benefits: Your best garden ever—Almanac gardening advice, planting dates, time-saving tips, and detailed guidance from experts will get you growing like never before. You’ll know in advance about every important astronomical event in 2019—when they’re happening, where in the sky, and the details and delights of each one. You’ll have access to the world’s best source of Almanac content—from astronomy and weather to anniversaries and milestone dates; from important (and little known) holidays and religious events to traditional days in calendar folklore. You’ll save time and money when you follow all the practical advice and tips that we deliver to you about everything from gardening to food preparation and cooking. You’ll be a weather expert in your family and circle of friends—no one else you know will have the detailed knowledge about forecasting and weather that you’ll have . . . and for every region of the country!
How can you not consider becoming an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Member? | | What you’ll get with an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership. | When you claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership today, your Charter membership will include:
The Old Farmer’s 2019 Almanac—Hot off the press, the hard-copy version will be shipped to you right away with everything you’ve come to expect from the world’s premier almanac. Bonus #1: The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2019 Gardening Wall Calendar. Lovely to look at, fun to use! Each month features a beautiful full-color original illustration of seasonal plant or animal life, as well as timeless gardening secrets and advice, folklore, fun facts, and holidays—plus Moon phases to help you use the “Planting by the Moon” chart and have your best garden ever! Bonus #2: The Old Farmer’s Almanac 1819 edition— A printed version will be shipped to you with your order. Take a trip down memory lane and see what one of our early Almanacs looked like! It’s a time capsule of life 200 years ago! Bonus #3: The Old Farmer’s Almanac 1919 edition—A printed version will be shipped to you with your order. Another classic Almanac, this takes you back a century: Compare the content then and now! Bonus #4: The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! —A treasure trove of digital updates and Almanac content not found in the printed edition, including audio and video multimedia content. EXTRA! is far more interactive and fun than plain printed pages!
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No other Almanac has so many fun and fascinating facts, timely and accurate events and predictions, and topical and useful articles all in one place for your easy access and use—and covering more regions of North America than any other almanac or resource! |
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| HALF-PRICE Offer Now in Effect!
Special Charter Membership Invitation for You:
Introducing The Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club! |
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Get Your Special Pass—
Access to the World's Most Beloved Almanac | | Be among the first to claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership—become a Charter Member today! | |
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| The "Best Value Club" is really an incredible value! | |
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| Why not join right now? | Gardeners, weather and sky watchers, and nature lovers everywhere have been enjoying The Old Farmer’s Almanac for generations, and now it’s easier than ever for YOU to experience it all with an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership.
When we created this new club for folks like you, we wanted to make it easy to use, easy to order, and packed with content and value—that’s why we named it the “Best Value Club”! The Almanac is the ultimate resource for gardening, astronomy, folklore, nature, and more, and now it can be all yours with your Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership. |
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HALF-PRICE Introductory Offer is Now in Effect!
Special limited-time Charter Membership offer for you right now!
When you respond today, you’ll be among a select group of Almanac friends to take advantage of this special Charter Membership offer.
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Join other weather and astronomy watchers, gardeners, nature and food lovers, and trivia fans—for half-off when you respond today!
This is a limited-time offer that you should take advantage of right now. |
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Why not be among the first—gardeners in your neighborhood; weather and astronomy watchers under the Sun; cooks in your community; trivia fans in your circle; nature-lovers in your area—to join us today and benefit from all the valuable Almanac information that you simply cannot get anywhere else?
Become an Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club Charter Member today—while this special HALF-PRICE offer lasts!
Sincerely,
Janice Stillman
Editor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac
P.S. You should act today to claim your Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Value Club—while 2019 copies of the Almanac are still fresh . . . and to get your bonuses, too! |
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| HALF-PRICE Offer Now in Effect!
Special Charter Membership Invitation for You:
Introducing The Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club! |
|
Get Your Special Pass—
Access to the World's Most Beloved Almanac | | Be among the first to claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Best Value Club Charter Membership—become a Charter Member today! | |
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| The "Best Value Club" is really an incredible value! | |
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