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Moon Calendar October 2024

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Cosmic planting calendar

By Monique Macfarlane

As the weather warms, days get longer, the garden flourishes in new ways – as do we. In many warmer parts of the country, Labour weekend is traditionally when we get summer crop seedlings such as tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers
into the garden.

Timing is everything. I urge you to witness. Spend more time in your garden, watching, waiting, connecting this month. Sit with your environment: it is speaking to you.

Although we have these ‘days’ such as Labour weekend, or what is suggested in the calendar with the moon and planetary placements earlier in the month this year… It will be the tohu, or signs in your garden, which are the best teachers and informants on when to plant.

It is a skill to learn this, to know this. If you are new to the journey, that is OK. It will unfold over time with your commitment, enthusiasm, and inquiry. Although I have been playing with this for many seasons, I too am still learning to listen to the deeper aspects.

While you are waiting to get new crops into the garden, ensure you acclimatise them to where they are going. Whether you have purchased them as seedlings, swapped with friends, or grown from seed, slowly expose them to different weather conditions to ensure a smooth transition into the garden. Seaweed tonics, worm juice and fish emulsion help with the nutrition too through this stage.

Enjoy the excitement – enjoy the process. It is one of the most beautiful gifts to garden, to nourish the soil, ourselves and our communities.

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Monique Macfarlane is a holistic food systems facilitator, teaching biodynamics, planting by the moon, no-dig food growing and self-sufficiency. See www.natural-wisdom.net 

Monique co-creates with organic, biodynamic, regenerative, no-till, and natural principles on eight hectares in Waihi that includes a small market garden, orchard, pastoral grazing, chickens and agroforestry.

Monique Macfarlane

Moon Calendar September 2024

/in

Cosmic planting calendar

By Monique Macfarlane

There are many different reference points for starting or continuing your journey with the relationship of your garden or farm within the cosmos. Here, we utilise aspects of the Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Calendar 2024-2025, to assist us when knowing when the most favourable times are for our endeavours.

This particular calendar divides crops into four categories – root, leaf, flower and fruit – based on the part of the plant you are wishing to cultivate for the most part. So if you are planning on sowing root crops – carrots, beetroot, radish – then you look for a root day in the calendar, weather and soil conditions permitting.

We also utilise the ascending and descending periods – this is the path of the moon across the sky (as opposed to waxing and waning which is the illumination of the moon). Typically, in ascending periods (when the moon’s path is a higher arc) we sow seeds, and in descending periods (a lower arc) we transplant seedlings, do soil work, as well as make compost.

The suggested seasonal tasks on the following page are a wonderful starting point for investigation, as each farm, property or garden is a unique organism. Take notes, pay attention to the entirety of the ecosystem. Notice when certain birds are arriving, when trees are flowering, when the winds blow from a certain direction. Nature is always speaking to us, listen to her wisdom. Begin to craft your own journey with the cosmos through the process of these pages, and your own unique observations.

The following content is only available to logged-in members – log in here. Not a member? Join us to gain access to a wide range of content.

Monique Macfarlane is a holistic food systems facilitator, teaching biodynamics, planting by the moon, no-dig food growing and self-sufficiency. See www.natural-wisdom.net 

Monique co-creates with organic, biodynamic, regenerative, no-till, and natural principles on eight hectares in Waihi that includes a small market garden, orchard, pastoral grazing, chickens and agroforestry.