Old Farmers Almanac goes hi-tech

My grandmother had two bibles - the Holy Bible - and The Old Farmer's Almanac. One was her guidebook on how to live; the other taught her how to grow.

The familiar yellow book never was far from her hands. As a gardener who planted by the moon, she counted on the Almanac to tell her when to put the beans and corn in. By the end of the year, the old book was dog-eared, worn and smudged and she was ready for a new one.

Now, the gardener's bible has gone on-line. I suppose it was inevitable, but it seems an odd pairing - the folksy publication that has been around more than 200 years and the pornography-laced, Facebook-posting, YouTube-broadcasting e-medium.

I love the Almanac, partly because of its history, but also because it's fun to read. Being a tactile reader, I want to hold my reading material in my hands, whether a newspaper, magazine or Old Farmer's Almanac. I want to sit in the sun on the deck or prop up against fluffy pillows on the couch, not sit with a laptop balanced on my knees. Still, I acknowledge the value of taking a quick look at the weather or searching for the right recipe.

Find the online version at http://www.almanac.com/