We are in the first planting moon here in Portugal, which corresponds to the ancient rites of Imbolc, which is the lunar ceremony during this moon. In the contemporary era, it is marked on 1st February, but the lunar ceremonies are not on the same day every year, unlike Solstices and Equinoxes, which are solar celebrations, and occur at the same point in the calendar every year.

Now we are planting spring annuals in the gardens here at Vale das Lobas, including onions, leeks, carrots, kale, chard, beetroots, lettuces, courgettes, butternut squash, hopi pumpkins, strawberries, raspberries. During the next moon, which begins on 9th March, we will plant tomatoes, cucumbers, and much more.

The moon is a great guide in agriculture. It governs the flow of water in and around the Earth, including the tides, the sap within plants, the activity of micro-organisms in the soil, menstruation, and everything where water is involved. As living organisms, including humans, are made mainly of water, it clearly has a powerful influence on our metabolism.

In agro-ecology, there are so many tasks to perform at any given time, it is amazing to have a method for structuring the work-flow. And if that method is also putting the farmer in alignment with natures own rhythms, then it is a win-win situation. That is why, here at Vale das Lobas, like in biodynamic agriculture, we plant and work in rhythm with the lunar cycles.

The moon takes around 29 days to orbit the Earth. This means that it passes through each of the twelve zodiac signs in around 2 – 3 days. Each zodiac sign has its own characteristics, but one very key aspect is the element associated with it. There are four elements – Fire, Earth, Air, Water. When the moon is transitioning through a fire sign, such as Aries or Leo, the focus is on the plants grown for seeds and fruit, such as tomatoes. The earth signs relate to the root plants, such as onions, potatoes and beetroot. The air signs correspond to flower plants, such as cauliflower and edible flowers like calendula. The water signs are for the leafy plants, including lettuce, chard and the cabbages.

Here is a link to a free biodynamic moon planting website. But if you want to know more from us about planting by the moon, just get in touch with the email button below, and I will be happy to tell you more.

If you arrange your work-flow in your garden in this way, you become aligned with the subtle rhythms of nature, and this has untold benefits, for your plants, and for you!

Thirteen Moons

For the past ten years, I have been developing a new way of accelerating soil health, with a view to providing support in the urgent task of revitalising soil ecology, and creating more food sovereignty and food security. This program is now almost completed, and we call it thirteen moons. The 13 moons soil preparation contains more than 300 ingredients, directly from the region, collected on each new moon, then vortexed, fermented, and finally potentised. It is a kind of compost tea, with the addition of some amazing ancient technologies. The 13 Moons is a medicine for the soil, and it works by activating and animating the micro-biome that lives within the soil. The biological life is the key to healthy soil, and healthy soil means healthy plants. This is a fundamental principal of regenerative agriculture, and the 13 moons technology will support farmers who want to join the regenerative agriculture movement and revitalise their soil.

If you would like to know more about Planting by the Moon and The Thirteen Moons Soil Preparation, please send me a message. I would love to share more with you.

 

All the best

A.G. Conway