The Harvard Almanac: July 2009

Harvard history snippet: In the late 1700s some merchants and farmers in Harvard and Still River were licensed to serve as innkeepers. “Their establishments, usually providing simple fare and accommodations in their own homes, were permitted to serve liquor and served as stopping points for thirsty stagecoach travelers or mail carriers.”
—from Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson

Household tips:

To stop hiccups, swallow about a half tablespoon of peanut butter.
For perfectly shaped pancakes, use a turkey baster to squeeze batter onto a hot griddle.

Going green:

Replace plastic drink bottles with glass or stainless steel bottles.
Choose soy or beeswax candles, since conventional candles are made from petroleum.
Disconnect “energy vampires” when electonics are not in use. Anything with a “chunky” plug, an indicator light, or digital clock display is using electricity even when the unit is powered off. (Think cell phone chargers, coffee pots, “instant-on” TVs.)
Try to eat one completely local meal a week.

What to do in the garden:

Give plants a mid-season side dressing of compost.
Monitor rainfall and water plants as needed.
Keep after the weeds.
Begin harvesting early-season plants—and enjoy!
Harvest and dry flowers for potpourri; harvest and dry herbs for teas or culinary seasoning.

Thought for the month: “There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.”
—Celia Thaxter, American poet

Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.

Filed under: The Harvard Almanac