The moon continues descending - The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface. Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, cultivating soil and spraying horn manure preparation 500 with manure concentrate and horn clay. View our previous post for more information about preparation 500. November may be the last opportunity this spring to apply Biodynamic preparation 500. It is best applied late in the day when some moisture has returned to the air and soil. Depending on the season, December evenings can begin to be too hot for these applications. Plan for an application when the moon is in opposition to Saturn on 9 November or with the synthesis of lunar contractions: descending, waning moon in an earth sign on Sunday 13th. On both of these days, you can follow the 500 with an early morning application of 501 to balance the soil and the atmosphere.

Tuesday the 8th is the Apogee of the moon - The moon is at its furthest from the earth. During Apogee there is always multiplicity of form, and it appears a good time to plant potatoes as these multiply. Apogee times bring a stress period and seed sowing should be avoided 12 hours on either side of these times (except potatoes) (Biodynamic Resourse Manual, 53).

The moon continues waxing this week. On Thursday the 3rd, the moon will be half way towards full. Full moon is on Friday 11th.

On Wednesday the 9th, the Moon and Saturn are in opposition to each other. The Moon and Saturn in opposition cycle occurs every 27.5 days. “The Moon forces bring in the calcium processes which are connected to propagation and growth. The Saturn forces bring in the silica processes which connect form and structure. The balancing effect of these two influences streaming into the earth produces very strong plants from seed sown at this time. Tests have shown the 48 hours leading up to this event is optimal time that overrides even the ascending, descending and moon in constellations for best planting time” (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 54).

Take advantage of this time planting any of the following on Monday the 7th. Basil, French beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese greens, coriander, corn, cucumbers, lettuce and salad greens, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rocket, silver beet,spinach, spring onions, sweades, turnips, winter squashes and pumpkins, and zucchini and summer squashes.

Maria Thun emphasized that cultivating and transplanting on the constellation in which the plant you are trying to encourage lies, emphasizes that plant’s qualities. Based on her research, weed around or transplant your cabbages in a water sign, your broccoli in a flower sign, your carrots and root crops in an earth sign and your corn in a fire sign.

The moon is in an earth sign until Friday the 4th at 07:22. Earth signs are favourable for root plants. These included all plants whose roots we harvest: carrots, parsnips, radishes, beetroot, celeriac, swedes, potatoes, onions and garlic.

It then moves into an air sign until Sunday at 18:47. Air signs are favourable for flower plants. These include all the plants, which are grown for their flowers, and where we want a long flowering time: garden flowers, medicinal and preparation flowers, bulbs and broccoli.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 07:26, the moon is in a water sign. Water signs are favourable for leaf plants. These include all the plants whose leaves we harvest: cabbages, cauliflower, parsley, coriander, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, silver beet, asparagus and fennel.

For more information about our Biodynamic Gardening Notes, visit our previous post About our Biodynamic Notes.

For more information about liquid brews for plant health, visit our Seasonal Notes page and click the tag "liquid brews" .

-Gardening Notes are compiled using Brian Keats Antipodean Astro Calendar; Maria Thun’s Gardening for Life; Biodynamic Agriculture Australia’s Biodynamic Resource Manual; Peter Cundall’s The Practical Australian Gardener; Louise Riotte’s Astrological Gardening; and the experiences and farm practices on Transition Farm

For more information about the Antipodean Astro Calendar, Biodynamic Planting and research and more visit Brian Keats’ website at http://astro-calendar.com/index.htm.

For more information about Biodynamics and to purchase biodynamic preparations visit Biodynamic Australia at http://www.biodynamics.net.au.