Since 2020 a staple on my bookshelf. I can’t quite remember what made me decide to get this book, whether I’d seen it in Simple Things magazine (Lia has written for years for that magazine and some of my fav recipes are hers from in there) or just in the bookshop,  I definitely got the 2020 Almanac from the bookshop (rather than from amazon), which has become a yearly tradition since.

Either way, I loved reading that years topic of the hedgerow and everything that grows & goes on in it. The pandemic hit not long after the start of the year as we all know and I found the little things to notice a rather nice tonic to the days and months that followed.

It wasn’t until the year after that I decided to create the #GreenhouseAlmanac, showing that monthly spread on the first of the month, with the greenhouse in the background. This became a nice way to start every month for me and great to see the progress I made in growing in the greenhouse. A little diary of sorts. I always share the dates mentioned on that first page and add a few dutch holidays/dates in for good measure.

Aside from yearly themes, there are the recurring topics of the tides (plus how to calculate the tide times near where you are), moon phases + names, which garden/allotment jobs to do + at which phase of the moon (specially helpful if you garden by the moon), sea temperatures, songs, and recipes. Spanning from sauce, biscuit, bun and snacks of the month to traditional dishes that go with that years Almanac topic.

Each yearly theme dives into the folklore & myths of pondlife, travelers/romani, astrology, migration & maps, hedgerow and many other topics. Giving you an idea of various ways you can look at the world around you. Knowing when to make a particular garden table, which planets and meteor showers to spot and when, when certain birds or butterfly migrate from one place to another and knowing what to forage at certain times of the year.

Each year has, as well as a new theme, a new artist making all the beautiful illustrations. Map maker, wood engraver, water colours, ink drawings – the list is endless of talented folk bringing all the book’s info to life with gorgeous artwork. One of the loveliest details ( I find) are the moon phases on the spine of the book. We’re nearing a full moon and I’m excited to see all the moon phases!

Each year may have it’s specific monthly moon phases and tides (etc) that are precise for that day in that month, however, each theme can be used for every year after as well. Each new year will see things that you can forage for, animals (or humans) that migrate from there to here or seasonal foods that will be good for annual repeating.

Making the yearly Almanac – a Seasonal Guide a must have for each year. I certainly can’t imagine doing my gardening year without it anymore. So much so that every August I go to my local bookshop (Harbour Bookshop) to preorder the next years edition that I can collect on or around my wedding anniversary!

I love these little yearly companions so much even that I’ve just bought second hand versions of the 2 years I missed (2018 & 2019)

Even though I would not change a single thing about the Almanac, I would like to make a suggestion/request to Lia to please can we have all the stunning illustrations in colour? I’m sure I am not the only one who would be willing to pay more for it!

Go get yourself an Almanac from your favourite local bookshop, the cover for 2025 looks amazing already and I can’t wait to dive in, month by month.

 

Fun fact: Even though I buy my New Almanac in early September, I don’t actually look into it until January the 1st 🤭

*All images in this post are taken by me. All book content (and related) belong to Lia Leendertz (go follow her!) .