The Almanac 2024: THE ORIGINAL AND BESTSELLING GUIDE TO THE YEAR

by Lia Leendertz

Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us - including tide tables, sunrises and moon phases; garden feasts, wildlife and folklore; seasonal recipes, snacks and more.

The A Seasonal Guide to 2024 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.

Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays.

This year's edition focuses on the natural wonders of the garden, celebrating the beautiful flora and fauna at your doorstep. There are also features on each month's unique nature, plus a flower and a snack of the month.

You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.


PRAISE FOR THE
'Lia Leendertz's classic almanac never fails to delight' - The Herald
'It's a perfect Christmas present' - Allan Jenkins, The Observer
'The perfect companion to the seasons' - India Knight
'Indispensable' - Sir Bob Geldof
'This book is your bible' - The Independent
'I love this gem of a book' - Cerys Matthews

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Folklore, Gardening

Hardcover

About the author

Lia Leendertz is a gardener and writer. She writes about gardening, growing food and cooking, and her work has appeared in for the Telegraph, the Guardian, Gardens Illustrated, The Garden, and Simple Things magazine. She publishes an annual garden almanac.

Reviews

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little hardback full of seasonal information for each month of the year. A joy to read, I've had a copy for the last few years and have the 2025 edition (kindly gifted to me for Christmas) ready to start reading on 1st January 😊

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved reading through each month through the year, it has really helped with my mental health through the darker months. Will definitely be getting the 2025 edition.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have too many issues with this book. Please do not bring lichen and bluebells into your house to put on an ‘altar’ table. It is massively irresponsible to remove either from the wild, unless your lichen id skills are excellent, which they won’t be if you are putting them on an altar. It’s illegal to pick bluebells. Then there’s the astrological drivel. And virtually all the weather prognostication rhymes are nonsense too. You cannot tell weather months ahead from a saints day. That’s not how weather works. This is a pointless book for people with large gardens and too much time on their hands. One point for the moon and tide info and a recipe on how to preserve leaves, (if it works).

[The Book Review Café · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the most Beautiful cover 💞 it’s a mind of information about the world around us, tide tables, the garden, nature I shall be revisiting this book monthly as a reminder of what the month has to offer

[Alison S ☯️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a lovely idea, but I was only interested in less than half of the content: Each month, I skipped past several sections (tide tables, recipes, crafting ideas, "Snack of the month"!) so it felt a bit pointless to buy the book when I read so little of it. This is the reason for my 2-star rating, but the bits I liked were a 4-star read. I much prefer the author's accompanying podcast, As the Season Turns, so will carry on listening to that.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to the first of the each month so I could read the accompanying chapter in the book 🥰

My only regret is not annotating it as I went along. I won’t make this mistake with the 2025 one & I also bought the tree one which I’m really looking forward to! 🌳

[Chloë ☾ ⋆* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really helpful and interesting bits of info, but each month I found them mixed in with absolute useless guff.

[Sophie Cardinal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has helped me get more in touch with the natural seasons and rhythms of life. It has given me a great starting point for deepening that connection going forwards 🙌

[Bodies in the Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year I took part in a Tandem Collective Instagram readalong of The Almanac 2024 and it was a lovely way to ring the changes in season month by month.

Each year the author takes a different special subject as her focus and it really suited me that this year it was gardening.

I enjoyed sharing my seasonal experiences with other bookstagrammers and reading about their nature activities.

As a final gift, we’ve each been sent a copy of The Almanac for 2025 and I’m looking forward to starting mine in January.

10/10 would recommend.

[Sunita Boparai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really helped me to connect with the seasons this year. I would definitely recommend the 2025 edition for anyone looking to learn more about nature, gardening and moon cycles throughout the months.

[Jodie Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been reading these every year for the last 5 or so - hope Santa brings me 2025!

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a delightful and cozy read. Just wish they’d vary the info on moon phases and tides. Or at least add a new anecdote per month.
Also the lunar gardening calendar is silly and I’d rather they just printed what to plant and prune based on the season.

[Bev Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously nerdy about tides, stars, gardening and folklore. I will be buying the 2025 edition

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's lovely to have something to read throughout the year to prepare you for the coming month. I particularly enjoy the monthly gardening advice and the moon cycles.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this all year but didn’t register it as had another almanac on the go at the same time. This is very much a more traditional book with gardening by the moon, sea tides and info on the stars included. Lovely!

[Richard Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indispensable volume full of folk wisdom, interesting recipes and seasonal songs.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a beautifully designed and colourful cover adorns this superb Almanac and as to be expected, the same quality of informative guides fill this highly sought after book.
I’m already using this year’s Almanac so I know exactly what to expect from Lia Leendertz for 2024 but glancing through it, many items caught my eye (apart from the usual artfully drawn diagrams and pictures) including the delicious sounding “Snack of the Month” using seasonal products which can be grown in your garden. I will definitely be cooking the Haggis Pakoras, starting the year off in January.
Each interesting fact filled month includes important dates/holidays, the sea tides and moon phases and much information about your nature filled garden. Finishing off each month features an appropriate folk song with an explanation why it was chosen and some musical notations should you be inclined to follow the tune.
Overall, this coming year’s seasonal Almanac is yet again another must have guide, if the seasons, nature and your garden interests you and it will also make the perfect Christmas gift for seasoned nature and garden lovers.
#TheAlmanac - a seasonal guide to 2024 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emily Thornhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a reason why this is on my Christmas list year after year. It serves as the perfect companion to the seasons, reminding me to slow down, take stock and appreciate the changing world around me. As the years seem to go by quicker and quicker, I find it can be so easy to let the whole year fly by without noticing the particular intricacies that make each month so special. The Almanac, like a compass, gently guides me in the right direction, prompting me to celebrate the unfolding of each season, offering just one quiet evening a month to connect with what’s happening around me, and to me. It gives me the chance to notice the small, beautiful moments in life that don’t ask for attention, but are always there, patiently waiting to be noticed by those who seek them.

This has been my fourth year of reading ‘The Almanac’ and I can’t wait for the 2025 edition, with its theme of ancient astrology and addition of ‘megalith of the month’!

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this little book so much - the cover is absolutely gorgeous and I found it fascinating reading. With the focus being on nature, I think it will be a valuable tool for me next year, giving me the encouragement I need to get myself back out there, embracing our natural world and to get planting the veggie seeds I've had for way too long.

The snack of the month were a tasty inclusion and I can see myself trying those throughout the year.

It's insightful, informative and is going to be a welcome inclusion on my bedside table for next year.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading these every year. I tend to read at the beginning of the month for each month. There's lots of useful information about the garden, the celestial view and the weather. Every year has its own themes. This year talks a lot about predicting the weather, like St Swithin's Day and the like. I also enjoy the songs like the Cherry Tree Carol. I would definitely recommend Lia's almanacs if you want to get back to the rhythm of the year and how its passing has echoes from centuries past. It's reassuring somehow.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute delight

This is the sort of book I wish I’d known about years ago. Invaluable for people who want to be meditative and slow down, observing the natural world in all its rhythms. I’ve had a quick squizz through and will enjoy delving deeper come January.

[BookswithLydscl | · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this month by month. I have on idea on the validity of some of the ideas presented, but it was certainly a lovely way of tracking the year and marking down my intentions and word of the month and then my reflections at month end.

[The Book Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved each edition of The Almanac and have kept each one near by throughout the last few years to just dip in and out of as the mood, or need, takes me.

As a keen gardener, baker and musician I have come across so many tips, recipes and folk songs that I didn't know before and the 2024 edition is no different. I love the fact that this year's edition is centred around the garden and has so much information about festivals and what is happening at different times of the year.

Without giving too much away there is not much more to say about this wonderful little book other than the fact that it is one of those beautiful books that will carry you through the year as each month is like unpacking a little basket of goodies for you to try, look for, and above all else enjoy.

The challenge now is whether I can put this to one side until January so that I can start my little book of treats in the New Year !!!!!!

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having 2023's book I couldn't wait to read 2024's one. It is a small handy book that is a real keeper. There are many things to read about including what to plant at certain times of the month, what to look out for. There is lots of information packed into this small book but things you will never find boring. I found it useful and insightful as I do lots of gardening. It has really given me some good ideas on how to improve my garden. I also really like the snack of the month. There are pictures makes the book more magical. Overall it is a great book full of tips and tricks. A great gift for any outdoor people.

[Amanda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book and I’ve had a fab time reading along throughout the year! I especially like the advice around the seasonal fruit and veg, the monthly recipes and the ideas to decorating the home.

But there’s loads more around gardening with the seasons and flora to keep an eye out for! Definitely worth picking up if you want to follow the seasons ✨

[Gem ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a beautiful companion to the months ahead with focused on tides, moon cycles, seasonal garden fruit, veg & flowers and the wonderful ways to embrace each season

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, a great read for throughout the year.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nonsense

[Freya Mortimer]

Annual monthly read. Liked the addition of crafts this year!

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have read this together once a month in 2024