Science Friday Who uses Farmers’ Almanacs? + Zebra finch home design
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Mar 16, 2026 Lauren Guillette, cognitive ecology professor who studies zebra finch behavior. Liz Graznak, organic farmer running Happy Hollow Farm. Dean Regas, astronomer and Farmers’ Almanac contributor. They talk about who actually reads almanacs, their mix of nostalgia and usefulness, how climate shifts farm planning, and how zebra finch nest color choices reflect individual bias versus social influence.
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Almanac Mixes Astronomy With Speculative Forecasts
- The Farmer's Almanac blends astronomy and speculative weather forecasts; its weather accuracy is claimed to be over 50 percent.
- Dean Regas contributed astronomy content to add certainty about sky events like eclipses and meteor showers.
Almanac Nearly Closed Then Got Rescued
- The original Farmer's Almanac nearly shut down when its family owners decided to leave the business.
- Another company formed earlier this year to take it over, keeping the orange-covered publication alive.
Plan With Current Forecasts And Local Records
- Use local, up-to-date weather forecasts and your farm records for planning rather than century-old almanac rules.
- Liz Graznak checks 10- and 30-day forecasts, reads reports, and relies on her own and neighboring farmers' records.