New moon: In Libra, Oct. 7
Full moon: In Aries, Oct. 22 (Hunter’s Moon )
Visible constellations: Aquarius is visible in the northern hemisphere, as is Cepheus, (“the king”).
Astrological sign: Libra, Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 ; Scorpio, Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
Astrological element: Air
Gem stone: Opal
Flower: Marigold
Born this month: Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States; comedian Groucho Marx; singer/songwriter John Lennon
Harvard history snippet:
“Harvard was incorporated at a time when the New England colonies were enjoying the 20th year of a three-decade peace,” from 1713 to 1745. “This peaceful interlude was accompanied by a population explosion and by rampant inflation,” both of which had their effect on the farmers of the Nashua River valley.”
—from Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson (1976)
Household tips:
- Add an apple to the potato bin to keep the spuds from sprouting too quickly.
- Clean chrome fixtures with a paste of baking soda and water. Apply with a soft rag, then buff dry.
- Rub ketchup on copper and brass to remove stains.
Going green:
- Remove and clean all light bulbs in the house (and outbuildings). A dusty light bulb can be 40 percent less efficient than a clean one.
- If you upgrade your cell phone, donate the old one to a charity or sell it to a third-party recycler.
- Avoid using rubber bands. About three-quarters of all rubber bands are synthetic, made from crude oil.
What to do in the garden:
- Plant garlic for harvest in mid-summer.
- Store pumpkins and winter squash under a bed in an unheated guest room.
- Move rosemary plants indoors for the winter.
- Rake leaves into piles and run over them with a lawnmower. Save for mulch on perennial beds or for an addition to the compost pile.
Trivia tidbit: This month in 1737, Ben Franklin began his duties as postmaster of Philadelphia.
According to folklore: When badgers are fat, expect a cold, hard winter; when onion skins are very thin, there will be a mild winter.
Thought for the month:
“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” —Elizabeth Lawrence, American author, actress
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.