In Tune With the Moon 2012

1

PRACTICALITIES• Understanding the calendar 54• Calculating world times 80• Index 112• How to use the calendar (tear out this page) 113

UNDERSTANDING THE MOON• The waxing and waning Moon 2• The ascending and descending Moon 4• The distance from the Earth to the Moon 6• Lunar nodes/Planetary nodes/Eclipses 7 • Zodiac signs and constellations 8• The Moon in the zodiac signs 9• The Moon in the constellations 10• When signs and constellations are aligned 10• Planetary aspects 11• The Red Moon/May Frost/Indian Summer 15• Tides 16• Chinese seasons 18• Geobiology 19

WORKING WITH THE MOON• Gardening 20• Seeds 21• Daily rhythms 21• Carrots and Celtuce 22/23• Horticulture 24• Cultivating trees and shrubs 25• Harvesting 27• Plant-based decoctions 29• Fungicides and insecticides 30• Compost 31• Crop rotation 32• Agriculture 33• Hay 34• Cereal crops 35• Animal husbandry 36• Beekeeping 38• Winegrowing 39• Cider making/Beer making/Forestry 40• Miscellaneous 42• Plan of your garden 109• Companion planting 110

LIVING WITH THE MOON• Influence of the phases 44• Harvesting plants/For making infusions/

Medicinal plants 45• Hairdressing 46• Depilation 47• Skincare/Warts 48• Nails/Corns and callouses 49• Fasting/Detoxing/Treating worms 49• Eating 50

LUNAR CALENDAR• The calendar 56• Gardening notes 81

CONTENTS

LUNA-MOON GARDENING-2012_Cal lunaire 2006 30/05/11 10:42 Page1

The waxing Moon

UNDERSTANDING THE MOON

This is one of the most familiar features of the Moon as viewed from the Earth. What we are seeing isthe Moon's monthly orbit around the Earth (aka the synodic revolution), which starts with the NewMoon and takes 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes. When new, the Moon is positioned exactly betweenthe Earth and the Sun – thus, the illuminated area of its surface is not visible from Earth. This phase isrepresented on the diagram below by a black circle. As the Moon progresses on its orbit, it reflects acrescent of light that expands until it is seen from Earth as a luminous disc – the Full Moon. In thisphase, the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun. From that point on, the illuminatedarea decreases until the Moon renews its orbit once more.

The Moon ‘waxes’ during the phasefrom New Moon to Full Moon – the illuminated area increases insize every day. On the calendar(pages 56-79), the colour of the blueband also becomes lighter as theMoon waxes.

2

The waxing and waning Moon

UNDERSTANDING


In the night sky of the northern hemisphere, a quick glance will tell you if the Moonis waxing – the illuminated area is shaped like a crescent, which, if you were to addan imaginary line to the left of it, would resemble the letter ‘p’. In the southern hemi-sphere, the illuminated area is also expanding but is seen the opposite way round,while in equatorial regions the crescent appears to be lying on its back.

This phase is indicated on the lunar calendar (pages 56-79) between the New Moonand the Full Moon.

Plants increase in vitality with moonlight and as the Full Moon approaches, their resistance to parasites and diseases increases. Fruits and vegetables harvested at this time store well and impartmore vitality when eaten, while cut flowers last longer in a vase. Silage and mown hay are of betterquality, compost is warmer and animals are less anxious when there are people around.

In the sky of the northern hemisphere, the illuminated area of the waning Moonreverts to a crescent shape, but now if you were to add an imaginary line to the rightof it, it would resemble the letter ‘d’.

This phase lasts from the Full Moon to the next New Moon.

As the moonlight decreases, so does the vigour of plants, although their specific energy is increased – colours, scents and tastes are more perceptible during this phase, and nutritional and medicinal properties are more pronounced. However, it is more difficult to store harvested crops in their naturalstate and this phase is more suitable for preserving foods, making jams and bottling wine. Insecticidesand Fungicides are more effective.

The waning Moon

The Moon ‘wanes’ during the phasebetween the Full Moon and the nextNew Moon. Every night the illumi-nated area becomes smaller. On thecalendar (pages 56-79), the colourof the blue band darkens as theMoon wanes.

3

UNDERSTANDING


10

When the Moon is in an Air constellation (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), the floweringpart of a plant grows well, so this is a positive phase for cultivating vegetables suchas cauliflowers and artichokes, and ornamental flowers.

When the Moon is in a Water constellation (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), the leaf parts of plants grow well. Now is the time to work on salad vegetables, spinach, chard and so on.

When the Moon is in an Earth constellation (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), bark and roots develop well, making it an ideal time to concentrate on carrots, potatoes,asparagus, celery, parsnips and other root vegetables.

When signs and constellations are aligned

The Moon in the constellationsWhen the Moon is in a Fire constellation (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), plant activity isconcentrated mainly in the development of fruits and seeds. It is a good time forgrowing tomatoes, French beans, peas, apples and cereals of all kinds (and for main-tenance and planting seeds, where appropriate).

UNDERSTANDING

Better results are achieved when certainsigns and constellations are aligned. We haveconcentrated on the effects of these align-ments on food and wine crops, but furtherobservations will allow us to focus andexpand on the effects on other plants.

These alignments are represented in the bands onthe calendar (pages 56-79) by letters of the alphabet.For example, ‘p’ indicates that the sign of Leocoincides with the constellation of Cancer. Varyingshades of grey indicate periods corresponding to aletter and the times of changes are noted within thesigns and constellations bands.


11

In the illustration, the Moon is in con junctionwith Mercury and the Sun ( ) and also square to Mars ( ).

Some of these aspects can promote the har-monization of energy, leading to healthier growth. Others can disrupt theplant’s energy, causing such problems as slowgrowth, excessive growth and disease.

Planetary aspectsThe planets revolve around the Sun at different distances and speeds. Viewed from the Earth, theymove constantly across the sky. If we look at two planets at any given moment, they form an angleof which the Earth is the apex. If we see these two planets in alignment, the angle formed with theEarth is 0°. When this happens, they are in conjunction. When one planet sets and the other rises, itis known as an opposition (180°). When the position of a planet creates an angle of 60°, 90° or 120°,it is in aspect. Each aspect has been given its own colour in order to make location easier.

In several chapters, we refer to planetary aspects - the days and times of these are indicated inthe following pages.We have observed that some aspects play a major role in various domains, during a time scale varying froma few hours to a whole day. You too can make your own observations and use planetary aspects in otherways than listed here.For instance, checking in the tables that follow one of the moon's planetary aspects is: January 1 at 06:00when the Moon is in square to sun ( ).

UNDERSTANDINGAn angle of 0° is a conjunction ( ), represented by

An angle of 60° is a sextile ( ), represented by

An angle of 90° is a square ( ), represented by

An angle of 120° is a trine ( ), represented by

An angle of 180° is an opposition ( ), represented by

EARTH

SUN

MARS

VENUS

MERCURY


6

11

0

9

5

23

6

2

3

9

7

6

19

11

1

6

2

11

16

4

15

20

13

22

14

8

6

16

16

7

14

21

22

5

13

1

19

10

6

5

1

17

13

5

19

19

6

22

11

2

23

22

15

22

1

15

8

23

23

1

15

13

12

8

9

13

22

11

19

20

8

5

11

8

15

19

5

5

JANUARY

4

22

15

5

6

17

9

0

8

10

18

23

16

5

14

15

16

22

9

2

23

12

23

17

13

8

1

17

4

6

19

12

4

10

16

7

20

10

19

15

20

10

19

13

10

17

4

11

2

10

1

20

9

21

5

22

22

23

18

1

23

5

2

13

5

21

21

19

23

1

19

8

4

FEBRUARY

23

1

16

9

21

22

21

13

20

9

23

1

21

17

13

11

19

5

16

10

23

15

21

8

17

5

1

21

23

8

13

11

1

0

18

21

9

2

21

6

4

10

2

17

13

17

5

5

19

17

7

8

13

19

18

7

2

4

21

11

18

19

4

9

6

11

10

15

17

20

14

17

19

23

3

3

3

19

15

12

20

23

MARCH

9

19

7

15

20

8

20

1

4

0

22

16

23

13

0

12

22

5

22

5

10

23

7

12

22

18

9

0

16

1

20

10

7

10

21

16

21

15

6

5

10

15

8

20

22

11

12

4

16

5

5

12

3

0

19

8

6

11

6

22

11

11

11

20

5

8

18

5

19

1

7

20

16

1

14

21

2

APRIL

12


16

You might think that the influence of the tides isrestricted to the movement of water, but in facttidal influence also affects the soil and mostplants. Tides are caused by the gravitationalattraction of astronomical bodies; their strengthdepends on the mass of the bodies and the dis-tance between them. As far as the Earth is con-cerned, the two bodies with the most significanteffect are the Moon and the Sun. The Moon’seffect is, on average, 2.17 times stronger thanthat of the Sun. This attraction subtly alters theshape of the Earth, and this phenomenon is mostapparent in the movements of the oceans. Ascentrifugal force counterbalances the strength ofgravitational attraction, the Earth’s ocean surface which is naturally shaped like an egg (1),is pulled into the shape of a rugby ball (2).

Since the attraction of the Moon is greater, itsposition determines the tides. The effect of theSun is limited to reducing or increasing theMoon’s gravitational attraction. When the Moonis new or full, the Sun, Moon and Earth arealigned, so the two gravitational pulls combine tocause the highest tides (spring tide). During thefirst and last quarters, on the other hand, thelunar and solar gravitational attractions opposeone another, so the tides are lower (neap tide).

Atmospheric pressure has a delaying effect onthe natural rhythm of the tides, but without thisinfluence the tide would always be at its lowestwhen the Moon is ascending. During the timethe Moon takes to reach its highest point, ormeridian (on average 6 hours and 12 minutes),the tide rises (incoming tide) before beginningto recede (ebb tide) until the Moon sets. The tidethen rises again to reach the opposite meridian(+180°) before receding once more until the fol-lowing evening. This double cycle of rising andreceding tides takes 24 hours and 50 minutes,the time the Moon takes to return to the samemeridian and a little longer than one rotation ofthe Earth (to compensate for the Moon’s dis-placement during the Earth’s rotation).

It is not only the seas that are affected – scien-tists have shown that the Earth’s crust lifts 30 cm (12 in) or more during high tides and it isalso known that the tides can affect living crea-tures. It seems obvious to us that tides have aninfluence on sap and on crops in general.Although we have not been able to gathertogether enough evidence to verify the followingpoints, and despite the practical difficultiesinvolved, we consider it useful to take them intoaccount when carrying out certain tasks.

Choose a rising tide for the following: - sowing, when the Moon is descending to

balance energies- grafting- cultivating heavy soil- spreading compost (avoid compacting

the compost) - harvesting, when the Moon is waning

TidesUNDERSTANDING

Moon

Earth

Moon

Earth

(1) (2)


17

Choose a receding tide for these tasks:- sowing, when the Moon is ascending to

balance energies- pricking out- cultivating light soil- cutting wood- harvesting, when the Moon is waxing

Tidal influences are not felt immediately, and withplants, the delay is estimated at about an hour. Forexample, the first effects of a rising tide will be feltabout one hour after the Moon rises or sets; theeffects will continue until one hour after it reachesthe meridian. In the time (up to thirty minutes, infact) that precedes or follows the change, theeffect will be greatly reduced, so avoid these timesif you want to get the maximum benefit from yourwork. The effects of a rising tide are stronger in themorning, while those of a receding tide arestronger in the afternoon. This pattern occurs nearthe New Moon and the Full Moon; tidal influencesare weaker around the ‘quarters’.

The times given in the notes pages (81–108) arefor GMT standard time (26 October to 29 March)and British Summer Time (30 March to 25 October)– see page 80 for other countries.

The times given for the rising and setting ofthe Moon are for London. For the times forwhere you live, see the table, page 80.

For Ireland add 30 minutes to the times indi -cated. For example, if you want to carry out acrown graft on 9 May and benefit from theeffect of the rising tide, do it between 09:00 and17:30 if you are in the London area. If you are inIreland, do it between 09:30 and 18:00.

TIME DIFFERENCES FROMLONDON

UNDERSTANDING

On pages 81-108, to make the calculationseasier, the time that a rising tide begins toaffect plants is marked in green and thetime that a receding tide begins to affectplants is marked in black. The times forLondon are valid for a good part ofEngland. For greater precision, see thetime differences marked on the map, right.


20

SOWING: Our trials showed thatseedlings are mainly influenced by the constel-

lations, the planetary aspects and the waxing orwaning moon. The role of the Moon ascending ordescending is secondary. It may however be useful totake into account for plants that sprout easily such assummer salads. Sowing during the constellation"Leaves" and waning moon will delay seedlinggrowth.In conclusion: Always choose the constellationthat corresponds to the purpose sought (roots,leaves, flowers or fruit) if possible with themaximum number of stars, because they arethe combination of both lunar and planetaryinfluences (see the last line curves p.56 to 79).Sow preferably in the morning.

PLANTING AND PRICKING OUT: choose dayswhen the Moon is descending and also, if possible,when it is opposite a constellation appropriate tothe crop that you are growing (ie. favourable tofruit, root, flower or leaf plants) and preferably inthe afternoon.

HOEING: for eradicatingweeds see page 33.

IN WET WEATHER: if possible, weed inthe morning in a Fire or Air sign when the Moon

is waning.IN DRY WEATHER: weed in the evening, ifpossible, and in an Earth or Water sign when theMoon is waxing. WATERING: to avoid plants developing shallowroots, instead of watering little and often, waterthem generously but less frequently. The ideal timeis when the Moon is in the descendant and in theconstellation of Virgo, Gemini or Libra. Avoidnodes and the superposition of the sign of Leowith the constellation of Leo.

MULCHING: mulch helps to fertilize and protectthe soil, and limits the evaporation of moistureand weed germination.A variety of materials can be used as mulch, suchas straw, grass cuttings (a thin layer, fresh ordried), composted bark (very effective, a thicknessof 2 or 3 cm/about 1 inch is enough).It is best to mulch when the Moon is waxing andin an Earth or Air sign.Aeration of the soil should ideally be carried outwhen the Moon is ascending; soil decomposesand breaks down more easily (via worms andmicro-organisms) when the Moon is descending.

STRAWBERRIES: separate and plant out runnersduring the constellation of Leo preferably when the sign of Leo is insuperposition with the constellation ofLeo (q) for example, from July 20 at21:00 (GMT) to July 21 at 18:25 (GMT).

Each time we cultivate thesoil, we can modify orincrease any influences. If you have sown a crop atan unfavourable time, youcan reverse the effect to acertain degree by hoeingat a favourable time.

WORKING

WORKING WITHTHE MOON


21

Daily rhythms The Earth’s energy patterns vary according to theseasons. During spring, when the Sun is ascend-ing, the Earth ‘breathes out’, whereas in theautumn, the Sun descends and the Earth ‘breathesin’. The same pattern is echoed by the Moon whenit is ascending (sometimes called the lunar spring)and when it is descending (also known as thelunar autumn). And energies rise and fall through-out the day too, rising in the morning when the

Earth ‘breathes out’ – a good time to sow (forexample, carrots during the morning of a dayfavourable to ‘root’ plants), to weed in wetweather, and to harvest aerial plant parts. Inthe afternoon, the Earth ‘breathes in’ so it is agood time to plant, prick out, plough, weed indry weather and harvest root crops. The inter-vening period, from 12:00 to 15:00, is a period oftransition and is best avoided.

WORKING

THE END PRODUCT: always bear in mindthe kind of crop you are growing. Take endivesas an example – sow and hoe them on datesfavourable to ‘root’ plants in order to help theroots develop well, but, to ensure a good crop,harvest them on dates favourable to ‘leaf’plants when the Moon is descending. Theirgrowth should be forced on a good ‘leaf’ datewhen the Moon is ascending.

GREEN SALAD: until July, sow green salad ina Water constellation when the Moon is waningin order to prevent these plants from going toseed. During the autumn many forms of energyare in decline. To compensate, sow green salad ina Water constellation, but when the Moon is waxing.

POTATOES: plant potatoes on a day favourableto ‘root’ plants, but not too close to the perigee.To raise seed potatoes, plant when the Moon is inthe sign of Taurus.To avoid producing green potatoes, earth up

when the Moon is in an Earth constellation andwhen it is waning and also, if possible, with areceding tide.To remove the eyes (buds) from potatoes thathave been lifted and stored so that they will keeplonger, choose a time when the Moon is waningand descending, and preferably when it is in theconstellation of Virgo.

CROP ROTATION: see page 32.

SeedsGenerally, harvest the seeds in dry weather, whenthe moon is waxing, avoiding the first and the lastday of this phase. Also avoid lunar nodes and timeswhen the Moon is squared with either the Sun orwith Saturn.( - ).• Fruits: harvest them on a ‘fruit’ date and wait fora day before extracting the seeds, for instance:

tomatoes harvest on August 10 and extract seedson 11.• Roots: harvest the seeds on a 'root' date.• Flowers: harvest the seeds when the moon is in

the constellations Gemini or Libra.• Leaves: harvest when the moon is in an air or

earth sign.


Description : A biennial plant native to Asia andEurope. The first carrots were quite tough and yellowor violet in colour. The orange varieties appeared inHolland 3-4 centuries ago due to genetic selection.The root has a sweet and mild taste and can be eateneither raw or cooked; it can easily be incorporatedinto most recipes. The feathery tops are rich invitamins and can be used in soups.Climate: Carrots are able to adapt to grow in mostclimates they are resistant to mild frost (about -5 °).Soil: Carrots grow best in light, stone free, welldrained, fertile soil, the roots cannot penetrate orswell in heavy clay or compacted soil. Rich sandysoils and a fine seedbed provide the best conditionsfor the carrot roots to penetrate deeply and to growwell. Practice a 3 or 4 year rotation cycle whengrowing carrots .Fertilizer: Dig in approximately 2 kilos (4.5 pounds)of well-rotted compost or manure the previousautumn. Excess nitrogen and fresh manure willcause root splitting and attract pests and diseases.Varieties: There are many good quality varieties,classified according to their length. Short carrots aregrown for a quick harvest and the long varieties forover wintering. Some examples of the most popularvarieties are: Amsterdam, Autumn King, Chantenay,Flyaway, Nantes, Nanduri, St Valerie andYellowstone.Sowing: Sow in open ground from March onwardsfor summer eating. Sow in May and June to grow forover winter storage. Sow in drills about 15cm (7 in)apart. To limit thinning, sow seed thinly to start with.Cover with up to 1cm (.5in) of soil. Germinationtakes place between 8 days and three weeks depen-ding on the temperature. Thin in stages to about 4-5cm (1.5-2in) apart. When the soil is dug deeply orhoed it is exposed to air and light and this leads tothe germination of weed seeds contained in the soil.For soils that do not compact too much, prepare the

ground 10 to 15 days before sowing. Then simplyrake the surface of the soil at the time of sowing tokill the weeds that have germinated. This techniquelimits the need for subsequent weeding.Care/ Maintenance: Check for slugs during the firstfew weeks. Hoe and weed regularly. Ridge up veryslightly to bury the top of the carrot as this helps toprevent the carrot fly. To avoid this, also practicecompanion planting, for example, leeks, garlic oronions. In fact anything that masks the scent of thecarrot will help to prevent the fly. Putting coffeegrounds on the seedlings, spraying with a decoctionof tansy, lavender or garlic is very effective especiallyif this is repeated every two to three weeks. It is alsopossible to cover with this fleece. To avoid the rootssplitting during a dry spell, especially if the soil iswell-drained, water from time to time. The carrot isnot a difficult vegetable to grow and if you follow thedirections regarding crop rotation and companionplanting, there is little risk of disease.

Harvest: The carrots approximately 3 months aftersowing. Harvest the carrots for over winter storage inOctober and November, during dry weather whenthe moon is waning. Lift the carrots and removemost of the foliage allowing them to dry slightlybefore storing in a clamp or root cellar. An ideal wayto store for domestic consumption is to use a

CARROT Apiaceae family

WORKING

CARROT

Kept cool and protected from insect attacks, in March the carrotswill be just like they were when they were harvested in October.

22


Description : A romaine type, non-hearting let-tuce, of mid-Eastern origin, with long, lanceolateor slightly rounded leaves depending on thevariety. Celtuce is mainly cultivated for its stems,from 3 to 6cm in diameter that are produced justas the plant bolts. Celtuce is refreshing, crisp andjuicy, and retains its beautiful green colour whencooked. It is delicious steamed like asparagus orsauted cut into strips or slices.The flavour is refined and delicate, faintly recallingbutter lettuce and hazelnuts. The young leavescan also be eaten.Climate: Celetuce prefers a temperate climate.

Soil: Requires a soil rich inhumus, lightweight, moistand cool.Fertilizer: Dig in well-rotted organic matterbefore planting, theCeltuce stems will be thickeror thinner depending on

how well-rotted the compost was.Sowing: Sow in the open ground or in the traysor modules in the greenhouse (in this case,transplant during the waning moon) on a “leaf”day; sow every 10-15 days from March to July.The best results are obtained with seedlings fromApril to June. Space the seedlings 20 to 25 cmapart and in rows at least 30cm apart. Grow in an

sunny location and mulch after planting toconserve moisture.Varieties: The most common variety is the"celtuce". There are also the"Pamirasparaguslettuce "and"Crakow” varieties.Care/ Maintenance: Celtuce does not likeexcess, nor cold nor hot. It requires regular watering,otherwise it becomes tough and bitter. Hoe regularlyor mulch to reduce evaporation. During bolting,bottom leaves can be removed to prevent rot. It issensitive to the same diseases as ordinary lettuce,mostly mildew and rot if lack of ventilation.

Harvest: Two to twoand half monthsafter sowing whenthe stems reach 40to 50 cm. Peel them,especially the outerstem which isfibrous. They willkeep a week in thebottom of the refri-gerator.

CELTUCE or asparagus lettuceThe Asteraceae (Compositae) family

WORKING

CE LTUCE

washing machine drum (see photo), in well-drainingsoil. For easy and regular access to the carrots, bury3 / 4 of the drum and cover with straw or leaves, thena final covering with soil. You can also keep them in

the ground if the soil is well-drained and there are novoles. In this case, cover the carrots with a smallmound of soil and protect them from the cold usingfleece.

23


28

CHARCOALCharcoal reinforces the soil and has a purifying andcleansing effect that prevents cryptogenic diseasesin a localized area. It is particularly efficient at pre-venting the dispersion of spores and seeds. It regu-lates the soil by assisting in the storage of nutrients.Use natural, pulverized, charcoal, mixed with thesoil prior to sowing the seeds, 100 to 150 g/m2.Ideally this should happen during an ascending andwaning moon.

SOOTSoot resulting from burning wood also helps to pre-vent cryptogenic diseases as it protects the livingorganisms in the soil. However do not apply if youhave already used charcoal, or if the soil is very acid!Mix 200 to 300 g of dry (not wet) soot with 10 litresof water, ideally during a waxing moon (a, b, c, d, i ,j, k, l periods), avoiding lunar nodes and Moon-Saturn squares ( ). Do not use metalliccontainers, as these can taint the mixture, insteaduse wood or sandstone. Let the mixture steep forseveral days stirring every evening; spray on the soil,renew monthly.

BIRCARBONATE OF SODABicarbonate of Soda has the ability to stimulate andre-balance chalky soils, resulting in a decrease indiseases.Spray onto the soil at dew time a few weeks beforeseeding, using between 20 to 50 g by litre of water.5 to 10 g per litre can be used directly on plants inthe same way as grapefruit seed extract (seebelow).

GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT(available commercially)

Grapefruit seed extract reinforces and purifiesplants, acting as a disinfectant and fungicide. Sprayon plants at the dates shown in the Fungicidetables, using 35 to 40 drops per litre of water, oreven 50 drops to avoid mildew. Renew every 10 to15 days, and after rain.

Plants diseases

On the whole, diseases can be avoided or atleast contained through a good soil balance andintense biological activity (microbes and roots).It is essential to stimulate and restructure thesoil with the help of living matter. For instance,green fertilizer is one of the best way to obtainsuch a result. Using 'young' compost can alsogenerate good results in the soil, except forvegetables which require a 'mature' compost.

In most cases, this intensification of soil life willgive enough energy to the plants to avoiddisease. Plant decoctions also act as a pre-ventative against diseases (see next chapter).Some other products also have a healthy effecton the soil and help prevent diseases. Here aresome of the ones we have been testing withsuccess against oidium and mildew.

WORKING


29

Stinging nettles

Plant-based decoctions A plant-based decoction used as a liquid fertilizerprovides a natural way of feeding plants andpreventing certain diseases. Those made fromstinging nettle or comfrey are best known, butother plants can be used such as horsetail,camomile, marigold, achillea or dandelion, eitherindividually or in combination.

Whichever plant you choose, the process formaking liquid fertilizer remains the same. Cutup the fresh plants into small pieces and soakthem in water (use 1 kg/2 lb of plants per 10litres/15 pints of water) and leave it to steep forbetween one and four weeks – use a wooden orstoneware container, or even plastic if necessary,never use a metal container. Stir the liquid fromtime to time to help it ferment; then filter out theplant pulp. Use the resulting liquid fertilizer dilut-ed in the proportion of 1:10–20, as appropriate.

WHEN TO MAKE A PLANT DECOCTION • To protect against fungal disease: begin

making the decoction when the Moon is wax-ing and, if possible, when it is also descending.The Moon in conjunction, sextile and trine withthe Sun ( ) as well as superposition(q), will improve its effectiveness even more.Favourable dates are: MARCH: 3pm - 6 APRIL: 2- 3 before 15:00 - 26pm - 30 MAY: 1pm - 26 - 27after 09:00 - 31am JUNE: 19 after 16:00 - 23 after15:00 - 24 - 29 JULY: 19 - 21 before 18:00 - 24amAUGUST: 17 after 17:00 - 22 SEPTEMBER: 16OCTOBER: 15 after 13:00. If you also take intoaccount the influence of the rising tide on thesedates (see p16), the result will be even better(am = morning, pm = afternoon).

• To use as a plant feed: begin making thedecoction when the Moon is waxing, and ifpossible when it is also ascending. The Moon inconjunction, sextile and trine with the Sun (

) will strengthen its influence.

Very favourable dates are: MARCH: 22 after 15:00 -28 APRIL: 21 after 08:00 AUGUST: 26 SEPTEMBER:25 OCTOBER: 19pm - 24 (am = morning, pm =afternoon). Make the most of the receding tide onthese dates to improve the result even more.Liquid fertilizer made from plants should prefer-ably be used when the Moon is descending and,if possible, when it is also on the wane.

DECOCTION OF STINGING NETTLE • To use as a fertilizer follow the instructions top

left, leave the nettles to steep in water for threeweeks and then dilute in the proportion of 1:10if it is to be spread on the soil, but in at least1:20 if it is to be sprayed on leaves.

• To prevent fungal diseases, let the mixturesteep for a week and then dilute it in the pro-portion of 1:15–20. The fresh plant can also beused – for example, when potting up tomatoes,put a handful of nettles in the planting hole.

Comfrey

WORKING


Fungicides and insecticidesWe recommend the use of natural products,both for the sake of the environment andto produce a better quality of crop. You canalso use liquid fertilizers to prevent crypto-genic diseases such as those caused byfungi (see below and page 27).

A decoction of horsetail is very good for con-trolling fungal disease. Use about 50 g (2 oz) ofhorsetail per litre of water (11⁄2 pints) and boil itfor 20 minutes. Then dilute with water in the pro-portion of 1:5 and spray on the leaves or directlyon the soil, several times between spring andautumn. If you use sulphur or Bordeaux mixtureit is also possible to add horsetail decoction, or

liquid fertilizer made from stinging nettles orcompost in order to increase the efficiency andreduce the dosage.

Insecticides: a decoction of comfrey can be usedto treat tomato whitefly and a decoction of manyother plants can be used to produce naturalinsecticides, such as wormwood, pyrethrum,English ivy, etc. The table below indicates thosedates that are the most favourable for applyinginsecticides and fungicides. The greater the num-ber of stars ( ) the more effective will be theapplication.

favourable for insecticides favourable for fungicides

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

INSECTICIDES (spread early morning) and FUNGICIDES (spread evenings)

WORKING

DECOCTION OF COMFREY A decoction made from comfrey helps combattomato whitefly, but comfrey really comes into itsown as a fertilizer. Fresh leaves can be laid on thesoil surface, wilted leaves can be dug into the soil,or it can be used in a liquid fertilizer. To make theliquid feed, soak the leaves in water (see top leftthis page) for two to four weeks and then dilutein the proportion of 1:10 if applying it directly tothe soil or 1:20 if spraying it on leaves.

LIQUID FERTILIZER MADE FROM COMPOST This is made by mixing one part well-rotted com-post to ten parts water and leaving it to steep forone to two weeks. It is effective against crypto-genic (fungal) diseases when sprayed on theleaves of a plant and works on two fronts: it rein-forces the plant’s immune defences as well asdestroying certain fungal spores.

30


( ) the more stars, the more favourable the day a good time to add to or turn compost heapsthat generate a high internal temperature(the majority of compost heaps) choose these dates for working on sloweracting compost heaps that generate less heat(often preferred by farmers and gardenerswho practise biodynamics)recommended for surface composting withnon-rotted manure (broken down by worms);

a vertical line dividing a date box indicatesmorning (left) or afternoon (right)a date box divided by a horizontal line indi-cates it is favourable for a certain type ofcomposting (green for high temperaturecompost and orange for surface composting)

MANURE: spread manure when the Moon isdescending, if possible on days marked orange (seethe table above).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 COMPOST

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 311 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Composting is the process by which animal or plant waste decomposes andbreaks down into a substance that is both nourishing and easily assimilatedby the soil’s micro-organisms. A combination of plant waste and animal

manure is normally required in order to ensure the constituents of the compost are in the correct pro-portions.

The composting process can normally be activated byadding stinging nettles (with their seeds headsremoved) and comfrey, either as plants or in the form ofa liquid. Good compost should be well oxygenated andloosely packed, not compacted. When it is ready to use,it should be light, rich and have a pleasant smell ofhumus, so it is important to make it at just the rightmoment. We have summarised all the different factorsthat will help you to produce good compost in the tablebelow, including certain Moon/Pluto aspects.

WORKING

Compost

31


16:

35

1

3:29

0

2:00

02:0

0

13:

00

13

:00

09:

45

04:3

6

2

3:00

21:

06

20:

00

20

:00

10:

45

21:

00

21

:00

21:

00

21

:00

22:

17

420

16LQ

25 3809:09

10 1306:16

1FQ

18 2607:31

9FM

A2

20:00

MD 21:47

18°30 0°21 1

2°11 24°06 6°11 18°27 0°59 13°49 26°54 10°15 23°51 7°37 21°32 5°34 19°39 3°47

S1

T3M

2

W4

T5

F6

S7

S8 T

10M9 W

11 T12 F

13 S14 S

15 M16

1

2

3

14:00

23:0

0

gh

ij k L m n

o pq

rs

t

u

C H I N E S E W I N T E R ( WA T E R )

09

00

09

:00

To help you make full use of the calendar, activities are suggested for each month.

Note: all times given are in Greenwich Mean Time.

56

JANUARY 5 January: the Earth is at its closest to the Sun(the perihelion)

– about 147 million km (92 million miles).


19:

16

05:

00

05

:00

05:

00

05

:00

06:

29

18:

29

01:

00

01

:00

02:

00

02

:00

09:

12

00:

00

00

:00

02:

54

20:

00

20

:00

22:

41

15:

00

1

9:13

0

16:

35

MA02:08

23NM

2 4207:40

3809

130

21:00

P17

A30

18:00

10 4104:11

31FQ

3°47 17°55 2°03 16°09 0°10 14°04 2

7°47 11°15

24°28 7

°22 19°58

2°17

14°23 26°17

8°07 19°56

T17

6W18

T19

F20

S21

S22

T24M

23

W25

T26

F27

S28

S29

T31M

30

W1

34

5

P21:00

18:00

15:0

0

uv w x a b

c

y z

de

f

gh

ij

I N T E R - S E A S O N ( E A R T H )

09:

00

09

:00

Cutting wood: see page 41.

Pruning: see pages 25–26.

The colours of the stars relate to different typesof plants (for example, red = fruit plants).

57

18 January: the Sunenters the constellation

of Capricorn.

20 January: the Sunenters the sign ofAquarius at 17:11.

23 January:Chinese New Year.

year of the Water Dragon


80

Influence of tides... where you live The influence of tides (see page 16) naturally depends on the tides nearest to where you live.Tide effects described in this book are valid in the United Kingdom and Ireland as detailedon page 16: in those islands, no one lives very far from the sea!

If you wish to take into consideration the influence of tides in your local area (assuming youdo live not too far inland), you will need to consult local tide tables, which should be easilyfound on the internet.

Using the calendar made easy

Between the New Moon and the Full Moon, the Moon is waxing.

This diagram provides a clearer, simpler version of the information contained in the tear-out section. Thisinformation is a summary of our interpretation of the various lunar and planetary influences.

Avoid the red zonesand the symbol ( )

Ascending Moon: the band ascends and the line is green

Cultivation band The colour of the stars

corresponds to the differenttypes of crop

fruit =

root =

flower =

leaf =

Harvesting band

Green stars = harvest aerial plant parts

Yellow stars = harvest plant parts below ground

The more stars there are,the more suitable the day is for sowing or cultivating

the crop represented bythe symbols

Descending Moon: the band descends and the line is yellow

PRACTICALITIES


W.1

W.2

JANUARY

S1

M2

T3

W4

T5

F6

S7

S8

M9

T10

WA

NIN

G

01:15

12:15

02:15

12:30

03:30

13:00

04:30

13:30

05:30

14:00

06:30

14:45

07:30

15:45

08:15

16:45

08:45

17:45

09:15

19:00

06:45

19:15

07:30

20:00

08:15

20:45

09:00

21:30

09:45

22:15

10:45

23:00

11:30

00:00

12:30

00:45

13:15

01:45

14:00

11:12

11:33

11:56

12:25

13:00

13:44

14:38

15:41

16:50

18:04

00:14

01:20

02:26

03:30

04:33

05:32

06:25

07:10

07:47

08:18

21:00

20:00

WA

XI

NG

23:00

06:1

6

A

21:4

7

21:00

14:00

07:3

1

21:00

WA

XI

NG 20:00

19:00 81

The note pages Tide effects [p.16]. Times in green: show thebeginning of the effect of the rising tide, thosein black: show the beginning of the effect ofthe receding tide.Green zone: period of rising tide influence,for example from 12:00 (start) to 17:45 (end).White zone: period of receding tide influence,for example from 05:15 (start) to 12:00 (end).

Times of moon rising(blue) and setting

(black) [p.17]

Ascending (green) and descending (yellow) moon [p.4]

Moon phases[p.2]

Space for your notes

Constellations (cultures)[p.10]

see the calendar [p.56 to 79]

Date


Documents

In Tune With the Moon 2012