My interest in organic gardening just turned a deeper shade of green.
On a late spring day last year I was talking to an old friend who told me the reason my tomatoes weren’t worth a hoot was that I set them out in the wrong phase of the moon.
The country gentleman, who keeps a close watch on his backyard vegetable patch, already had adopted some of the principles of biodynamic, a form of farming in which livestock are treated with homeopathic remedies rather than antibiotics, and astronomical calendars and signs of the zodiac play a role in determining when to sow and harvest crops.
Such a policy for conducting agricultural practices is often derided by conventional farmers for being unscientific, producing low yields and being based on superstition. However, in recent years, it has attracted keen interest because biodynamic produce always seems to deliver prizes for quality.
The principle for planting vegetables is this: If the moon is waxing we plant some seed species and if the moon is waning, others.
The system dictates that if we plant certain seeds at the right phase of the moon, they will grow quicker and produce more vigorous plants. It’s that simple.
And that’s not all.
Get this: talking to the plants help them to grow better.Â
Confidentially, my friend told me that the secret to growing and harvesting prize-winning vegetables, even those that get the blue-ribbons at the state fair, is all in the way planters sow and grow them according to the phases of the moon.
The method also helps boost profits when the produce is brought to market in the late summer and early fall.
But wait, there’s more to this seemingly superstitious strategy than meets the eye.
Biodynamic farming was founded early last century by Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian philosopher, scientist, and social reformer who is best known for his schools, founded on the philosophy that the “whole child” should be nurtured.
Now, do you see?
His approach to farming was similar, and he taught that the sowing of crops should be timed to fit in with the cycles of the moon, planets, and signs of the zodiac.
Now, I am not making this up.
Under the Steiner system each crop type is linked to one of the four traditional elements: earth, water, wind, and fire. Root crops such as carrots are seen as earth plants while fruits such as apples are linked with fire. Leaf crops, including lettuce, are associated with water.
Each crop type must then be planted on a day when the moon is in a sign of the zodiac associated with that element. Fruit, for example, might be planted when the moon is associated with Leo, a fire sign.
Some of these same principles of biodynamic are now being used at several European organic farms, especially in growing vegetables.
For those who are committed to a virtuous circle of providing natural high quality organic and pure products which help to protect and sustain the countryside and wildlife, this might prove to be the way to go.
I’m told that Lord Haskins, a former adviser to Tony Blair, Britain’s former prime minister, is a supporter of this kind of gardening practice; and Patrick Holden, director of the country’s soil association, which promotes organic farming, and whose patron is Prince Charles, applies biodynamic on his own farm in Wales.
Pretty heavy hitters, hey?
Holden was quoted by a British tabloid as saying he accepted the lack of scientific evidence to support such an approach to gardening, but added: “That reflects the inadequacy of current tools for measuring such influences.”
So there you have it: Prince Charles farms by moon science.
And maybe there is more to this organic farming business than meets the eye. I wonder if our own state commissioner of agriculture, has heard about it.
Now, where did I put the commissioner’s phone number?
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Top o’ the morning! Â