What’s that in Fahrenheit?

Did you see Alice’s comments in the post for Dec. 21st? Were you left scratching your head, wondering what 33C or 38C was in Fahrenheit? Or are you from one of those more advanced countries using the metric system, and when Judy says “it’s been hanging around zero for a few weeks,” do you wonder which zero she means? There is an easy way to convert from either, and you’ve probably already got it on your screen. Huh? Google will convert all sorts of things for you if you get the syntax right, and many browsers have a Google search box right in their browser toolbar. Just type 38C in F in Google’s search box and it will spit out the conversion for you. Or try 0F in C. Google calls it the Calculator, and the full instructions are here. You can do all sorts of calculations, but the main thing for conversions is to remember that little word in. If you try using the equals sign you get a whole bunch of useless search hits. As Alice said to me in an email, “I have communicated with other gardeners all over the world and learned so much about gardening in other climates,” and knowing this little Google trick makes it easier to get a handle on just what temperature the blog writer is dealing with.

About Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children