Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are part of the mystery that we are trying to solve. – Max Planck

The Moon and Meteors

The Sandhill Crane Moon, new on Dec. 4, waxes throughout the period, entering its second quarter at 8:36 p.m. on Dec. 10. Rising in the morning and setting in the dark, this Moon passes overhead in the afternoon, making before suppertime the most favorable lunar time to scout for game and fish.

These activities are especially favored by the low-pressure systems that precede the Dec. 15 cold front. Plan to be in the woods or on the water late in the afternoon or just after sunrise during the first part of next week in order to take advantage of lunar position.

The Geminid meteors pass through the northeastern sky after midnight between the 4th and the 20th. They will peak on December 13-14. Look for them in Gemini, following Orion, before dawn.

Weather Trends

Highs sometimes reach the 60s this week of the year, but only 5 percent of the time. Odds are far better for chilly afternoons in the 30s and 40s and lows well below freezing. Completely overcast skies dominate half the days. High-pressure systems arrive on or about the 8th and the 15th, and the full moon should aggravate the Dec. 15 high, bringing precipitation and plenty of cold.

Zeitgebers

(Events in Nature that Tell the Time of Year)

The Sun’s position remains within a degree of solstice between Dec. 5 and Jan. 8, producing a period of solar stability similar to the one between June 4 and July 8.

Dec. 6 was the last day for a reasonable chance of temperatures above 70 until Jan. 21. And below-zero lows now remain a possibility until March 1.

Almost every leaf has fallen. Only a few beeches, forsythias and decorative pears hold out. Osage fruits are yellow, scattered across the ground. Black walnut hulls, shredded by squirrels, stain porches and driveways.

Ohio and Indiana ducks complete migration. Basal leaf clusters of carnations, sweet rockets, celandine, garlic mustard, poppies, lamb’s ear and daisies remain green underneath December snows. Brown-barked river birches and white birches contrast with the black trunks of oaks and elms.

Mind and Body

The S.A.D. Index, which measures seasonal stress on a scale from 1 to 100, declines steadily to 68 by Dec. 10, after which it climbs into the troublesome 80s by Dec. 14, where it remains until the 22nd. Readings between 80 and 100 reflect the most severe conditions related to Seasonal Affective Disorder.

In the Field and Garden

As the chances of chilly temperatures increase, rose bushes should be protected with collars and mulch. Supplies should also be on hand for the bedding plant season, which usually continues through February.

Keep plenty of lukewarm water available for your chickens when temperatures fall below freezing. Egg production can be expected to decline when highs stay below 30 degrees, but warm water will help keep the hens happy and, hopefully, laying a little.

These are the months to reevaluate your hay supply for nutrient levels. Unless you know the quality of your forage, it is difficult to make sound management decisions concerning the amount of supplements to provide your animals. And – besides genes – nutrients are the most important part of developing your herd and flock (and other family members).

As the Full Moon approaches, be especially careful of abortions in your more delicate livestock. Traditional supplements to ward off abortion include rose hips, hawthorn berries, raspberry leaves, tansy leaves and hollyhock root. Herbs to help with birthing are peppermint, thyme and chamomile.

 Separate your thinnest pregnant ewes and does and give them a little extra attention in order to improve their body condition and reduce risk of abortion.

Once rhubarb roots have been frozen, consider bringing a plant indoors and put it in a dark place. Cut the stalks and save for pie as they appear.

Increase energy feeds to livestock and other family members in unusually severe weather. Many people believe that feeding energy foods in the evening produces the best results.

Almanack Literature

Stuck Fast!

A True Farm Story

By Gail Denman, Patriot, Ind.

When I was small, my family lived on a hog farm near Pendleton, Ind. The field next to the house would flood every fall after harvest, and it would freeze in the winter.

There were four of us kids still at home, and we had a lot of fun on that ice. One year in March, just right before spring, I got it into my head to go out there and see if that ice was still hard enough for skating.

I got about 20 feet into the field and started to sink into the mud. Before I could get turned around, I was stuck! It never occurred to me that the ground was thawed.

I yelled “Help! Somebody help me!” But nobody came. My dad was way back in the barn, and the rest of the family was in the house. Finally, after what seemed hours later, my sister came out looking for me. When she found me, I was sunk in to my knees.

“Stay there,” she said, “I’ll save you!”

Well, my sister was a little bigger than me, so she sunk faster, and she got stuck too.

Dad was returning to the house for dinner, and there he found us stuck and hollering for help. He came out and pulled us out of the mud and threw us over his shoulders and returned us to safety. He had to go back out in the field to get our boots.

My sister and I ran back to the house and hid in our room for fear of getting a lickin’! I never ice skated in that field again.

Poor Will’s Almanack for 2022 is still available

Order from www.amazon.com or visit www.poorwillsalmanack.com to look at a sample of this year’s features and to order an autographed copy of your book. You may also order by sending a $22 check for each autographed copy (includes Priority mail before Christmas) to Poor Will at the address below.

Poor Will wants your stories

Poor Will pays $5 for unusual and true farm, garden, animal (snake) and even love stories used in this almanack. Send yours to Poor Will’s Almanack at P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387 or to wlfelker@gmail.com.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S SCKRAMBLER

In order to estimate your SCKRAMBLER IQ, award yourself 15 points for each word unscrambled, adding a 50-point bonus for getting all of them correct. If you find a typo, add another 15 points to your IQ.

HOLLY         LLOHY

JOLLY          YJLLO

GOLLY         YOGLL

BELLY          LELBY

JELLY           YELLJ

GALLEY       ALLEGY

DOLLY         YODLL

SPOLE          ELOPS

SCHOLE       HOLECS

TROLLY       ROYTLL

THIS WEEK’S RHYMING SCKRAMBLER

NAIP

TRASIN

TINAS

IRAN

MERNIA

BOAINT

NERIAT

PANIL

NAABSTI

INAV