"Gardening By The Moon"

"Go forth under the open sky, and listen to Nature’s teachings." William Cullen Bryant, American poet, (1794-1878)  

Ancient people watched the Moon disappear and reappear in the sky and they came to structure their world around its phases; they planted and harvested by her and even made her the center of their religious ceremonies. To ancient people the full Moon became a symbol of fertility, ovulation and birth, and it’s a widely held belief even today that more births occur near a full moon than at any other time of month. The Moon affects every aspect of life here on Earth; its gravitational pull even moves the fluids in our own bodies; some physicians won’t even perform surgery during a full Moon, claiming the risk of increased bleeding is too great.

People of old farmed, hunted and shepherded according to the rhythms of the earth and moon; understanding how the two worked together was critical to their survival. The Moon in the night sky fascinated them, so they watched it, studied it and learned how it coincided with their own environment. They observed that during the full Moon, tides, lakes and rivers rose, then there was more water in the ground, planting during these times produced greater crop yields and they surmised that the increased water content in the ground was the reason why. The moon can come as close to the earth as 218,000 miles, causing reactions in our atmosphere, oceans, and Earth’s surface. You have witnessed the moon’s most famous influence, the tides, as it pulls them to and fro. As the moon orbits the earth, it causes the tides to rise and fall, affects our air currents and is a major factor in causing thunderstorms. Not only are the tides pulled from side to side during the moons phases, but all water on the earth is put in motion, tides in rivers and lakes rise, the water that is in the earth’s surface, even the water in the cells of plants and in our own bodies is affected.

Water absorption in the earth is highest during a full moon when its gravitational pull is the greatest and there’s a definite decline in the water on Earth during the new moon.

 

The Waxing and Waning Moon

The two basic lunar activities that you need to be concerned with if you want to garden by the moon are its waxing and waning, which are the two activities that make up the lunar month.

Both waxing and waning are designated by the new and full moon. The moon is waxing, or growing in light, when it’s in the first and second quarters; you’ll know the moon is waxing when you see its right side lit up.

The moon is waning, or decreasing in light, when it’s in the third and fourth quarter; you’ll know the moon is waning when you see its left side lit up.

Also consider this: tides reach their highest point every 14.6 days, or twice a month. Rainfall cycles mirror the tide cycles in response to the position of the moon, therefore you can look forward to the highest rainfall just after a new or full moon. Take advantage of this when planning your garden.  
 

How the Moon Influences the Earth and Why Lunar Gardening Makes Sense

"We may achieve climate, but weather is thrust upon us." O’Henry.

When the moon is waxing, its gravitational pull on Earth’s water is greater, and there is more water to be had for plants. When the moon is waning, Earth’s water is receding and there is less of it for plants to take up into their root systems. Any fruit or vegetable meant to be eaten immediately is best if harvested during a waxing moon, when water content is at its highest, and many farmers have found that crops harvested and stored during a waning moon, when the earth’s water content is lowest, keep better and for longer periods of time.

 

How to Take Advantage of the Waxing Moon

• Sow your lawn during a waxing moon, also plant wheat and grains.
• Sow leafy vegetables and flowers; they produce their yield above ground and don’t rely on extensive root development.
• If you want flowers that are beautiful and smell good, plant them in the first quarter of the waxing moon.
• Raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries should be planted in the second quarter of the waxing moon.
• If the area where you live is in a drought, sow seeds when the moon is waxing, as close to the full moon as possible.
• Grafting should be done in the first or second quarter of the waxing moon, also transplanting and repotting of houseplants.
• Water your plants during a full moon.
• Harvest grapes that you plan to use in winemaking.
• Gather herbs that you intend to use for essential oils now; their oil content will be more concentrated.
• Water your compost heap.

How to Take Advantage of the Waning Moon

• Now is the time to sow crops that produce their yield below ground. Root vegetables like beets, carrots and potatoes are among these.
• Plant trees and saplings in the third quarter of the waning moon, this will encourage a strong root system.
• Kill weeds and thin out any plants that you need to now. This is also a good time to prune.
• Perennials should be divided in the third or fourth quarter of a waning moon.
• Fertilize with potassium at the waning moon, this is when potassium absorption is at its peak.
• Harvest all crops that will need long term storage, like cabbage, potatoes and apples.
• Fruit trees should always be sprayed during the fourth quarter of a waning moon.
• Harvest flowers and seeds now that you plan to store until next year, dig herb roots, leaves and bark that will be used for medicinal purposes as well.
• All drying activities should be done now, as well as spreading and turning compost.

This calendar looks very interesting it focuses on gardening by the moon and seems to have lots of great information about when to plant and harvest things... I may need to order me one of these!!