Living in New Hampshire for the last year and half, I find
we are much more in tune with the natural world around us. We watch the weather
daily, not only the forecasts, but from our house at 1500ft overlooking
Newfound Lake we can see weather systems come and go. We monitor the various conditions with our
weather station recording rain mounts, wind speeds, barometric pressures and
temperatures but the flag still provides the quickest signal for which way the
winds are blowing. Technology has the tendency to remove us from the nature.
Centuries ago, mankind listened much more to the natural world
and the signals it was giving them. We know the ancient mariners figured out
how to navigate via the stars. In prehistoric times, the moon ruled
everything. Observing the natural world
around him, first century historian, Pliny, the Elder wrote volumes about the
natural world around him in the History of Nature in which he discusses the
relationship of nature and the heavens and how they should be observed.
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| Pliny, The Elder |
The sun, the moon and the stars have been a source of
mystery to the ancients who first recorded their observations, trying to
understand the world they lived in. Some
gardeners of this time listened and observed the world around them and let that
dictate the timing of when to do certain things on the farm or in the garden,
while others paid no heed to the signs that nature and the cosmos were
delivering.
“The person who do not take notice, consequently of the
phenomena of Nature, while others lay too much stress upon them and hence these
refined subtleties and distinctions only add to their blindness.”
Pliny, goes on to say,
“…the observation of the heavens plays a very important part
of operations of agriculture; and Virgil, we find gives it as his advice, that
no less the mariner, should regulate his movements thereby.”
He recognizes the importance the heavens can play to the
gardener much like the mariner and backs his argument by saying Virgil makes
the same comparison between the two as well. But Pliny also believes people can
go overboard, placing too much emphasis, perhaps getting too caught up in the
heavens, making them as blind as those who pay no attention at all.
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| Blue Moon |
Lunar gardening is not a way of planting on the moon or late
at night by moonlight. Lunar gardening or gardening by the moon has been practiced by many
different cultures for centuries. A controversial method which uses the cycles
of the moon as a tool in helping decide when to plant and seed. There are a
couple of different methods of lunar gardening, one more complex than the other
which I believe was part of what Pliny warned about – getting too complex. The basic method of lunar gardening simply
focuses on the moon and what stage it’s in. The moon’s gravitational pull
changes with the various cycles affecting ocean tides. But what about groundwater?
Groundwater makes up a very small percentage of the overall
water on the Earth, only 1.69% compared to oceans and seas at 96.54%, but is
much closer to the 1.74% of rivers and lakes.
Bodies of water like rivers and lakes, unless it’s one of the Great
Lakes, are too small to feel the effects of the moon’s gravitational pull. In 1991,
NASA Goddard scientist, Frank Abramopoulous said, “tidal force – the gravitational
pull of the moon would be there, but at a level smaller than would affect any
biochemical processes.”
Many scientists have found it difficult to discount the
other factors involved in the environment and the effects the moon many have on
them, such as bug activity during the different phases and how that may play a
part. It’s impossible to isolate, and
that’s what science likes for the most part, being at to look at things in a
vacuum.
“It’s mythology….There has to be a physical reason why the
moon’s different phases would affect soil properties, soil temperature,
moisture content, precipitation which are physical factors that make seeds germinate.
And that’s not documentable.”
– Cynthia Rosenzweig, Agronomist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (1991)
– Cynthia Rosenzweig, Agronomist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (1991)
However, by 1997, there was good evidence that moonlight
affects plants directly via stomatal activity and indirectly via insect
activity. The stomata are the tiny little openings on plants that allow them to
exchange gases needed for cellular processes like photosynthesis.
Klaus-Peter Endres and Wolfgang Schad in Biologie des Mondes: Mondperiodik undLebensrhythmen (1997) said they found some plants to show a small
connection in their growth and reproductive behavior, although it wasn’t
consistent as to which phase. While other plants were not at all affected. Some
reacted to the full moon, others the new moon and still others, to the waxing
or waning quarter moons.The inconsistencies is what
Many subscribers to the practice of lunar gardening point to
the research of Dr. Frank Brown, at Northwestern University in the 1950’s. Reports
of his studies of plants for over a decade found that overall plants absorb
more water during a full moon and least during the new moon phases. It was
around this same time in 1956, when scientists, Frau Dr. Kolisko and Maria Thunfound maximum germination of seeds occurs on the days preceding a full moon. As
the new moon grows, seeds swell with water and burst into life more quickly.
Thun’s experiments with planting of seed potatoes supports Dr. Brown’s theory
that plants absorb more water during a full moon, as her seed potatoes planted
at the full moon did overwhelmingly better than those planted during the new moon.
To understand lunar planting, it helps to know the different
cycles of the moon. Focusing on the moon phase is one of the systems of lunar
gardening which focuses on the increase or decrease in the moonlight and gravitational
pull at each cycle.
[the moon] “replenishes the earth when she approaches it, she
fills all bodies; while when she recedes, she empties them.”
-Pliny, the Elder
Pliny, may not have known about the concept of gravity, but
he describes the moon’s effect on the natural world vividly.
The 8 Phases of the Moon
1.
New Moon – “dark moon” when the moon is nearest to
the sun
2.
Waxing crescent
3.
First quarter
4.
Waxing gibbous
5.
Full moon – the moon is closest to the earth
6.
Waning gibbous
7.
Last quarter
8.
Waning crescent
Lunar gardening believes that the closer the moon is to the
Earth’s surface, the more nourishment it possesses and delivers to the Earth.
The ancients were much more in tune with nature and sought a harmonious
relationship with it than man does in today’s modern times. They also believed that understanding the
cycles of the moon could help them to determine when to plant in order to
improve their yields.
“The old-time gardeners say ‘with the waxing moon, the earth exhales.’
When the sap in the plants rise, the force first goes into the growth above
ground. Thus, you should do all activities with plants that bear fruit above
ground during the waxing moon. With the waning moon, the earth inhales. Then
the sap primarily goes down towards the roots. Thus the waning moon is a good
time for pruning, multiplying, fertilizing, watering, harvesting, and
controlling parasites and weeds.”
_Ute York, Living By The Moon
_Ute York, Living By The Moon
The old-time farmers also say a full moon makes corn grow
tall and pulls vining beans right up their poles – perhaps reaching for the brightest
light of the moon. But these sound like tall-tales, folk-lore that's been passed down from generation to generation. But if they didn't work, would they have survived through the centuries as they have?
Science knows that the same gravitational force that affectsthe tides are the same cosmic rhythms that draw horseshoe crabs ashore to mate.
Geotropism is the
effect of gravity on plants which science has proven to be greater during the
full moon, in that plants will absorb the most water at this time, as do seeds. The moon is a powerful force of nature leading lunar gardeners to naturally see
the connection of the moon’s gravitational force, swelling the water content in
the soil, causing moisture levels to increase, thereby, encouraging growth and
germination It’s understandable that planting seeds during the phases of
increasing light and gravitational pull (the cycles between the new moon and
full moon) would increase the success rate of germination and overall health; ‘sap
flow is drawn up’. During the waxing
phase there is an increase in the speed of water spreading throughout the plant’s
bodies; activating and facilitating the delivery of nutrients and
phytochemicals throughout the plant; all factors of health, development and
growth.
As mentioned earlier, the days preceding the full moon,
science has agreed presents the most optimum conditions for successful
germination, upping the odds for success of seeds of vegetables that fruit
above ground – leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers etc… During the waxing
phases, lunar gardeners focus seeding these vegetables as well as transplanting
annuals and biennials, harvesting leafy vegetables, use liquid fertilizers,
pruning and grafting with the understanding that increased sap flow can equate
to new quick growth.
Ridiculed by the mainstream scientific world, the study of lunisolar
impact on biological systems has struggled to overcome the unjustified skeptics.
However, scientists continue to explore
the field with recent discoveries by Catarina Rydin of Stockholm University in
Sweden who discovered a rare plant, Ephedra foeminea, whose pollination is
dictated by the full moon. Peter Barlow of the University of Bristol looked at
data from the 1920s onward and found that leaf movement in beans and other
plants turned when lunar tides turn at the time and location of the
experiments. [New Scientist, August 17, 2015]
The period of time from the full moon to the last quarter,
the earth begins to “inhale drawing down the sap” into herself. It’s best to focus now on sowing root crops
and planting perennials. The moonlight is decreasing, and more energy is now
drawn down into the roots. The 1991 Farmer's Almanac recommended to plant flowering bulbs and veggies that bear crops below ground during the this time from the day after the full moon to the day before its new again. But many believe from the last
quarter to the new moon when the moon furthest away from earth and soil
moisture levels drop, it’s best not to do any planting or seeding during this final quarter
to the new moon. This quarter is best to simply focus more on soil maintenance by weeding, mulching,
making compost and manure teas. This also the best time to turn a garden is when the soil is drier and the water tables low. If there is fruit to harvest
ding so at this time lessens the likelihood of rotting, however, I find this to
be true basically anytime.
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| (l. to r.) Fire, Earth, Water, Air |
The other system of lunar gardening takes into the
consideration of the moon’s location within the zodiac. Within this system, the
most optimal time to plant is during the time of a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio
and Pisces). Earth signs are recommended for root crops (Taurus, Virgo and
Capricorn). No planting is to be done during the Fire signs of Aries, Leo and
Sagittarius, whereas the Air signs were seen as neutral. So considering that
the moon passes through each zodiac sign for about 2 to 2-1/2 days and a water
sign occurs every 7 days, you can see why Pliny was saying people perhaps can
get too caught up in the details, “while others lay too much stress upon them…” Mainstream science doesn’t give credence to the science of
Astrology, and it’s this method of lunar gardening which scientists understandably have the most
difficult time with.
Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological and ethical approach
to farming, gardening, food and nutrition originally popularized in the mid-sixties by master horticulturalist, Alan Chadwick. Chadwick rose to the challenge to demonstrate biodynamics, also known as then as french intensive gardening on a 4 acre barren lot in Santa Cruz, Ca. His garden proved to be a tremendous success. The major principles of a biodynamic
farm or garden is that its integrated, whole, living organism made up of
interdependent systems. Farmers and gardeners work to harmonize these elements,
supporting the health and vitality of the whole through managing them in a
holistic and dynamic way. Today we hear biodynamics referred to more often as
permaculture. Although there are many methods employed in creating a
permaculture, biodynamic farmers carry on the ancients’ traditions of working
in rhythm with the Earth and Cosmos. They, too, observe the rhythms and cycles
of the earth, sun, moon, starts and planets in hopes to seek further understanding
of the subtle ways the environment and wider cosmos influence the growth and development
of plants and animals.
For myself, I will listen to Pliny, the Elder to take
notice but not so close. In a 1991article in the New York Times, Goddard agronomist, Dr. Rosenzweig admitted to
believing a little, but not from the scientific standpoint at the time, saying “the
ancient traditions are wonderful. And who knows: there are more things out
there than are known by science.” At the very least lunar gardening provides
farmers and gardeners with an organizational time line to follow which is how
author, Linda Woodrow of Permaculture Home Garden initially got onboard. Initially in the skeptics’ camp, she adopted
the practice to for organizational purposes and became a true believer when
witnessing firsthand the difference in the increased germination rate and
overall plant vitality.
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| Super Moon January 2, 2018 |
So with that, I am planning on adopting the
practice of lunar gardening this season where my focus will be on the ebb and
flow of sap in tune with the phases of the moon. We will see how it goes. It certainly does no harm to practice and at the very least it provides me which a guideline to follow to keep me organized in the garden. Who knows, perhaps I will find what others have found that my seeds germinate better and crops are more bountiful from healthier plants.
