Biodynamic Gardening Notes 28 December - 3 January

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The moon continues descending – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil. On Tuesday the 3rd at 05:01, 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).

“Spraying 501 when the moon and Saturn are in opposition has been found to be very effective in bringing healing and strengthening qualities.  In many cases, this has been found to strengthen the plants against specific fungus attack (Proctor, 50)”

Tuesday the 3rd at 06:20 is also 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 Resource Manual, 53).

The moon is in an earth sign until Thursday at 00:16. 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.

The moon is in an air sign on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 09:44.  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 Saturday, Sunday and Monday until 21:56, 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 the rest of  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 10:35, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, strawberries and fruit trees.

-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

Links for more information

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” .

For more information about Biodynamics and to purchase biodynamic preparations, I know of three organisations in Australia:

Demeter Biodynamics at http://www.demeter.org.au/index.htm

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia at http://www.biodynamics.net.au

Australia Biodynamic- Victoria Inc.  at http://www.biodynamicsvictoria.org/

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 21 - 27 December

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The December solstice occurs at 15:30 on the 22 December-  Happy Summer!! With the perigee of the moon on Thursday, the 22nd, the moon is at its closest to the earth.  Perigee brings greater moisture and a tendency towards fungal growth. So keep a close eye on those plants prone to blights and mildews.

Casuarina tea, seaweed brew and witch’s brew give support to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.

With the new moon on Sunday 25th at 04:06, the moon is again waxing.  Indian agriculture recognized the day before New Moon as No Moon day, a day on which no agricultural work was done.

A Moon node will occur on Friday the 23rd at 21:37.  Moon nodes occur where the moon’s path crosses the path of the Sun.  The influence of the node lasts for approximately 2 hours on either side of the node.  The effect is similar to that of an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon and it is best to avoid any agricultural or horticultural work for this brief period (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 53).

The moon is ascending this week until Saturday morning – The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53).

The moon begins descending on Saturday evening – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil.

The moon is in an air sign on Wednesday and Thursday until 13:40.  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 Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 15:16, 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 the rest of Saturday, Sunday and Monday until 18:19, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, strawberries and fruit trees.

The moon then moves into an earth sign until Thursday at 00:16. 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.

-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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 14 - 20 December

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The moon is ascending this week – The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53). The moon is also waning this week.  Each night it rises about an hour later and is getting smaller, approaching the new moon on Sunday 25th.

This is a great week to weed.  Maria Thun emphasized that working in your garden on the constellation in which the plant you are trying to encourage lies, emphasizes that plant’s qualities.  Based on her research, weed around 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.

This is also a great week to harvest herbs - medicinal for tinctures, salves or drying; culinary for drying; or for using in biodynamic preparations.

For kitchen and medicinal herbs we recommend the following: harvest leaf and flower herbs on flower days; seeds and wild fruits on fruit days; and roots on root days.  This will ensure the best aroma and vitality.  For preserving one should choose a flower day.  - Maria Thun

Following the rhythm of the earth, it is best to harvest leaf, flower and seeds in the morning when the earth's forces are streaming upwards.  After 3pm, the earth's forces stream down to the roots and that is the best time of day to harvest roots.

With the moist spring that we have had, we have been spraying Casuarina tea, seaweed brew and/or witch’s brew weekly to fortnightly to give support  to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.  Pay careful attention to cucumbers, grapes, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, and zucchini and summer squash plants.

Plants like tomatoes, zucchini, corn, capsicum and eggplant would benefit from a liquid feed.  Try making compost tea by mixing a few bucketfuls of compost into a drum of water.  Apply this during a leaf or root sign.

You can continue to plant or sow beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, eggplant, leeks, lettuce, marrow, spring onion, parsnip, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, silverbeet, sweetcorn, tomatoes and winter squash.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 04:55, 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.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 09:23, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, strawberries and fruit trees.

The moon then moves into an earth sign until Tuesday at 12:04. 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.

The moon is in an air sign for the rest of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 13:40.  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.

-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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

A favourite garden companion - the pobblebonk

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Frog

Companion planting and garden companions.  The two go hand in hand. Create the right environment, and the garden companions will come.  Our garden companions are our garden predators.  Lady birds, frogs, skinks, blue tongue lizards, tree dragons, preying mantis, dragon flies, spiders, birds, bats, predatory beetles, predatory wasps, tachinid flies, hoverflies, stick bugs and many more I have yet to meet and/or identify.  Building an ecosystem will encourage the garden predators to come, keeping the garden "pests" in balance much better then any "intervention" us humans may devise.  As Linda Woodrow says, "you do not have the eyesight, dexterity, or speed to hunt insects."

Frogs are wonderful garden companions.  Once we installed the pond, we just waited and the pobblebonks or eastern banjo frogs found us. Our ponds range from bathtubs to terracotta pots with their bottom holes filled in, dug into the ground.  Both are surrounded by some rocks and overhanging plants for shelter and some logs half in the pond and half out acting as bridges.  Inside the ponds we grow a range of water plants.  Watercress, water chestnut, and Vietnamese mint not only provide coverage of the water surface, they are also edible plants.  Water lilies and "fairy weed" help to establish the pond ecosystem providing shade and shelter within the water.

Around the edge of the pond we have planted a few reeds and rushes and some other natives that like the moist environment and also provide shelter for not only the frogs but also their prey, slugs.  Maybe it seems strange to encourage garden "pests" like slugs.  But the best way to encourage the garden predators is to ensure there is a healthy food supply for them.  They will find the ones provided and then some!

Since the frogs found us, we have delighted in the various frog calls and tadpoles that are as small as a pinhead to ones with bodies the size of 20-cent pieces.  Finding the frogs is an endless source of garden amusement for both adults and children.  Usually they are found by chance.  But the wonder of looking for where the call comes is lots of fun.It may sound like a leap of faith...provide an environment to encourage slugs and slaters for example, and their predators will come.  Our experience with doing just that has proven that there will be enough for everyone in the healthy ecosystem.  And our input of time and effort in eliminating the "pests" as well as the various "organic" and not sprays and poisons we may employ to try and help us "battle" the pests, will become nothing more than the time we spend observing nature's balance be tipped from one side to the other.

Adding water to the home garden is as simple as sinking a pot large enough to hold a few water plants and surrounding the edge with a variety of plants, rocks and logs. Or as involved as making a lined pond with multi levels capable of supporting fish, frogs and a variety of insect larvae.  Ensuring that there is a healthy balance of underwater oxygenators (available from nurseries or pet stores), surface cover to shade the water from the sun which encourages rampant algae growth, and higher plants inside the pond and/or around the edge that provide shelter, will allow a balanced ecosystem to grow.

Our pond deos not have a pump or filter and yet it is still crystal clear.

In Peru, frogs are a symbol of fertility.  And here, too, the frogs know before us humans when the soil is beginning to warm.  Make the right environment and enjoy the excitement when you hear the first frog call in the late winter...foretelling the end of the cold season and the coming of spring.

 

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 7 - 13 December

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The moon continues descending until Sunday 11th – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil. On Sunday, the moon begins its ascension – The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53).

Saturday night is also the full moon and a chance to witness a full lunar eclipse if you live in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia.  In Melbourne, the partial eclipse will begin at 23:46 with the moon turning red by 01:32.

A Moon node will occur on Saturday at 17:02.  Moon nodes occur where the moon’s path crosses the path of the Sun.  The influence of the node lasts for approximately 2 hours on either side of the node.  The effect is similar to that of an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon and it is best to avoid any agricultural or horticultural work for this brief period (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 53).

With the moist spring that we have had, we have been spraying Casuarina tea, seaweed brew and/or witch’s brew weekly to fortnightly to give support  to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.  Pay careful attention to cucumbers, grapes, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, and zucchini and summer squash plants.  Full moon ia also a stress time for plants because it brings a watery influence to the earth.  Spray with Casuarina tea before and after the Full Moon.

We also find that keeping up the plants health with seaweed brew and biodynamic preparation 501 is the best way to help a plant grow through the damage a pest may do.

The best time to apply liquid manures is just before the Full Moon in the afternoon.  Saturday is an earth sign as well.  The energy of the plant will be in the roots which is a perfect time to feed the whole plant.

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

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 02:48, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees. You can take advantage of the descending moon on these days and summer prune your fruit trees.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 13:38, it is in an earth sign. 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.

The moon is in an air sign on Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday until 22:23. 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. With the ascending moon, these are good days to harvest flowers for preparations or medicinal purposes.

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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 30 November - 6 December

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The moon continues descending – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil. On Tuesday the 6th, 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).

"Spraying 501 when the moon and Saturn are in opposition has been found to be very effective in bringing healing and strengthening qualities.  In many cases, this has been found to strengthen the plants against specific fungus attack (Proctor, 50)"

Tuesday the 6th at 11:14 is also 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 Resource Manual, 53).

With the past days of wet, moist weather, we are taking every advantages of breaks to spray Casaurina tea, seaweed brew and witch’s brew to give support  to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.  Pay careful attention to cucumbers, grapes,  melons, pumpkins tomatoes, and zucchini and summer squash plants.

You can seed successive plantings of arugula (rocket), beans,  beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lettuce and summer greens spinach, spring onions and zucchini.

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

The moon is in an earth sign on Wednesday and Thursday until 15:02. 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 01:39.  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 Sunday, Monday and Tuesday until 14:15, 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.

Tuesday afternoon until early morning Friday, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

 

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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 23 - 30 November

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This week seems a bit jumpy with lots of events bringing their own energy.  I try to remember to take all of this information as another way to view the particular nuances of each day.  I try to not overly intellectualize it or get lost in the jargon.  With that said, here is some insight into our plans for the week. With the perigee of the moon on Wednesday, the 23rd, the moon is at its closest to the earth.  Perigee brings greater moisture and a tendency towards fungal growth. We will harvest the herbs for a “witch’s brew” on Wednesday afternoon when the ascending moon is in an air sign and spray that out on Friday.

With the past days of wet, moist weather, we are taking every advantages of breaks to spray Causurina tea, seaweed brew and witch's brew to give support  to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.

With the new moon on Friday 25th at 16:10, the moon is again waxing.  Indian agriculture recognized the day before New Moon as No Moon day, a day on which no agricultural work was done.

A Moon node will occur on Saturday at 11:02.  Moon nodes occur where the moon's path crosses the path of the Sun.  The influence of the node lasts for approximately 2 hours on either side of the node.  The effect is similar to that of an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon and it is best to avoid any agricultural or horticultural work for this brief period (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 53).

The moon is ascending this week until Saturday evening – The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53).

The moon begins descending on Saturday evening – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil.

After Friday, seed those things that produce above the ground.  You can seed successive plantings of beans,  broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lettuce and summer greens and zucchini.  We will use the last few days of the ascending moon to finish weeding and harvest flowers for making preparations.  We then shift our focus to more seeding,  transplanting seedlings and summer fruit tree pruning.

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

The moon is in an air sign on Wednesday until Friday at 03:47.  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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 04:35, 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.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday until 07:58, it moves into a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

The moon then moves into an earth sign until Thursday at 15:02. 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.

-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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 16 - 22 November

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The moon is ascending this week - The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53). The moon is also moving closer to the earth, approaching its perigee on Wednesday 23rd.  Plan for an increase in moisture and the possible start of mildews and fungal infestations around this time.  You can harvest the herbs for a "witch's brew" on Wednesday 23rd when the ascending moon is in an air sign.  Although this would not be a good day for storing these herbs, we will use this day to soak them to use in 48 hours.

The moon is waning this week, with the new moon on Friday 25th.  The fourth quarter of the moon is favourable for cultivation, pulling weeds and destroying pests. Especially when the moon is in a fire sign (Riotte, 14).  Maria Thun emphasized that culivating on the constellation in which the plant you are trying to encourage lies, emphasizes that plant’s qualities.  Based on her research, weed around your cabbages in a water sign, around your broccoli in a flower sign, around your carrots and root crops in an earth sign and around your corn in a fire sign.

Keep a good watch on all of the plants you have put in this spring as pests may already have found them.  We find that keeping up the plants health with seaweed brew and biodynamic preparation 501 is the best way to help a plant grow through the damage a pest may do.

The moon is in an air sign on Wednesday until16:48. 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 Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday until 23:20, 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.

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday until 02:48, it moves into a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 03:48, it is in an earth sign. 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.

-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

Links for more information

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” .

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

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.

Chamomile - The Plant's Physician

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Chamomile
Chamomile

For over 2000 years, chamomile has been a garden herb favorite.  The famous Greek physician Dioscorides recommended it as a medicine for fever in 900BC.  It was one of nine sacred herbs for the Saxon's who used it widely as a sedative and calming medicine for the stomach (Brooke, 25). It was highly valued as a remedy for hysteria, insomnia, nightmares, convulsions, delirium, tremors of alcoholics, melancholy and a whole range of other nervous afflictions, especially of women (McIntyre, 153).

In the language of flowers, chamomile means patience in adversity (McIntyre,153).  It was known as the herb of humility because, as a lawn plant, the more it was trodden on, the faster it grew. Like a wise grandfather, it is able to calmly quell a tantrum recognizing that these fiery outburst usually stem from fear and anxiety.

Anne McIntyre describes,

The flower essence will soothe tension and anxiety and stop them from accumulating through the day to cause restlessness, insomnia and nightmares.  Chamomile will help one to stand back from the day-to-day things that irritate and annoy, and upset one's superficial equilibrium, and to find a place of calm and serenity where light, like the sun behind the clouds, is always shining .

Chamomile has a marvelous ability to relax smooth muscle throughout the body.  It is a famous remedy for soothing all kinds of digestive upsets, especially those related to stress and tension such as nervous indigestion, heartburn and acidity (McIntyre, 153-154). As it relaxes the nervous system, use chamomile for headaches, anxiety, insomnia, palpitations and general fearfulness.  Chamomile is a pain reliever and an excellent remedy for teething in babies.

Chamomile is a wonderful herb to use with children.  Think about Peter Rabbit's mother, who when Peter returns from his ordeal in Farmer McGregor's garden, wisely tucks him into bed with a warm cup of chamomile tea.  Chamomile is an excellent relaxant for babies and children.  It calms anxiety and nervousness.  It is well known for calming restless babies prone to colic, teething and sleeping problems, as well as overactive, irritable children (McIntyre, 28).  These results can even be achieved through a warm bath using chamomile infused water.

It has a long association with young maidens, used as a bath in Celtic initiation ceremonies and Beltane festivals.   It is very useful in relieving premenstrual stress (including headaches) and menstruation cramps.  Chamomile tea has been drunk throughout childbirth to relax tension and lessen the pain of contractions. It is also helpful to reduce menopausal symptoms.

As a natural antihistamine, chamomile is useful for hay fever.  It has an anti-allergic effect by reducing the body's response to allergens such as pollen and house dust.  Steam inhalations (putting hot water over the flowers in a large bowl and then covering the head and bowl with a towel or blanket and breathing in the infused steam) will help relieve hay fever, asthma, catarrh and sinusitis (McIntyre, 154). The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of chamomile help heal inflamed mucous membrane linings of the lungs and sinuses (Soule, 50).

In the garden, chamomile is like having little rays of sunlight mingling and poking through the perennial border.  It is a wonderful companion of cabbages, onions and mint and its unobtrusive nature makes it pleasant anywhere in the border.  It is also a micronutrient accumulator harnessing calcium, potassium and phosphorous (Woodrow, 35).

Chamomile posy
Chamomile posy

In Biodynamics, the chamomile preparation promotes a good breakdown of the proteins in the compost to humic plant nutrients, and prevents the protein breaking down to ammonia which would be lost to the atmosphere (Proctor,70).  It helps soil to retain nitrogen and calcium, keeping them in the living realm and preventing loss to the atmosphere.  Chamomile preparation strengthens the plant's regenerative life activity and reunites this with the physical (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 22).  This ability has led chamomile to be referred to as the "plant's physician" in folklore.  It has been said that if you have a failing plant, simply plant chamomile next to it and it will revive.

As a mother, a woman and a farmer, I love growingand nurturing plants that benefit humans, animals, plants and soil.  Chamomile is wonderful in its ability to comfort and aid all of the living things on our farm.  I delight in its mercurial quality of popping up in different places in the garden year after year and am always grateful to see it in the spring.

Linda Woodrow's Witch's Brew

To stop fungus diseases like powdery mildew use the following liquid brew.

-Gather stinging nettle, comfrey, causurina needles and/or chamomile. -The first three are high in silica, which is water-retardant and so creates leaf surface conditions unsuitable for fungi.  The chamomile is a mild fungicide. -Cover the herbs with water and let the mixture brew for just TWO days. -Dilute 1:10 and add to perennial seaweed brew. -Spray zucchini, squash, cucumber, pumpkin and anything else you think is susceptible.  The same mixtiure is a foliar fertilizer so there is no worries about over using. -This brew works well if you catch the infestation early and only if the brew is fresh - after no more then 48 hours' brewing.  After this it is still a great foliar fertilizer and compost additive but it does not work against fungus.

-An Astrological Herbal for Women by Elisabeth Brooke; Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham; The Yoga of Herbs by Dr David Frawley and Vincent Lad; Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar; The Complete Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre; Grasp the Nettle by Peter Proctor with Gillian Cole; The Roots of Healing by Deb Soule; The Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow; Biodynamic Resource Manual by Biodynamic Agriculture Australia

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 9 - 15 November

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The moon continues descending until the evening of Sunday the 13th – 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,  manure concentrate and horn clay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53). View our previous postfor more information about horn manure preparation 500. The moon starts ascending on Sunday night – the earth breaths out. We see this as growth activity above the soil surface.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase plant vitality.  Although germination takes place below the ground, it also takes part in this upward striving.  This is the time to sow seeds, spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53).

November is 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 evening, plan for an application on Tuesday 8 November, the night before the moon is in opposition to Saturn 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.

The moon continues waxing reaching full moon on Friday 11th of the 11th of the 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).

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.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 19:58, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

The moon then moves into an earth sign until Monday at 07:24. 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.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 16:48, the moon is in an air sign. 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.

I continue to find it interesting as a farmer to take all of this information as a" lens" through which I can make observations of the natural world.  By using this" lens", I continue to tune my intuition and hone my observational skills.  As in all aspects of life, observing, doing and observing will build your personal experience through which you gain wisdom.  I like to believe that the wisdom I am gaining is not my unique wisdom but merely my tapping in to the life pool of age old wisdom.  So have a go...spray out some 500 and then some 501 and notice if you sense and observe any changes.  Watch the moon and notice if it begins to look bigger in the coming few weeks as it approaches perigee.  Measure your young vegetables now and then again in two weeks when the moon is ascending and then do it again when the moon is descending and see if there are any changes.  Have fun observing your garden and your part in it.

-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

Links for more information

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" .

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

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.

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 2 November - 8 November

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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.

 

Nettle - The Growth Stimulant of the Garden

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Nettle Despite its cruel sting, there is always room in our mandala circles for nettle.  It self seeds and spreads rapidly, "invasively" I have heard some say.  But as I am so fond of this herb, not only as food for my family and a medicinal herb for acute ailments, but also as an incredible micronutrient accumulator and plant tonic for the whole garden, I have never minded its habit of being everywhere.

Nettle grows easily in temperate climates.  The stinging hairs of the fresh nettle contain formic acid and histamine, and have a long history of therapeutic use.  The Romans, when they entered cold and damp Britain, used to flog themselves warm to ward off the illnesses and infections rife in that weather.  In South America regular stinging has been used to stimulate the circulation, even in serious conditions such as gangrene.  Galen recommended the friction of the leaves against the skin to increase the circulation and stir up 'natural heat', to stimulate desire and cure impotence. The nettle's sting has given it a symbolic meaning of cruelty and spite (McIntyre, 229).

The tough fibers of the stalk are used in fabric making.  Remnants of nettle fabric have been found in burial shrouds that date back to the Bronze Age, and it is still used today to make cordage and fabric  (Gladstar, 250).

Nettle is a great example of Hippocrates' adage, "Make food your medicine and medicine your food".  Nettle is a gourmet green.  Lightly steamed, served with olive oil, lemon juice and a bit a feta, it makes a wonderful early spring addition to a meal.   Nettle can be substituted in any spanikopita recipe making a lovely, wild, tasty delight.  You can also pickle spring nettle tops by layering them in a mason jar and topping them with one part apple cider vinegar and one part olive oil.  You can add garlic cloves and cayenne peppers. Ensure that no nettles surface above the liquid.  Let the herbs marinade in the jar for several weeks or even months (Gladstar, 250,251).  We also add nettles to simple quinoa soups and our "green eggs", a light omelette with nettles, spinach, lemon thyme and chives. In fact, my children tease that the green in most dishes in spring is probably nettles.  The formic acid wilts when the leaves are steamed or cooked and will no longer sting.

Nettles are highly nutritious, rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and one of the highest sources of digestible iron in plant form.  They have been used throughout history as a nourishing tonic for anaemia, fatigue, edema, menstrual difficulties, allergies and hay fever.  They stimulate the liver and kidneys, cleaning the body of toxins and wastes.  Used as a tea or cooked into food in spring, they help restore vitality to the system.  Nettle enrichs the blood and nourishs the nervous system.  Being hot and dry, it helps the body to release excess mucous from the lungs and colon.  Made into an ointment, nettle helps to relieve irritating skin conditions such as eczema.

In ayruvedic medicine, the nettle has a cooling energy and a pungent effect (Frawley and Lad, 209).

Nettle leaves are safe for pregnant women and provide a nourishing, iron rich tonic which can be drunk throughout the pregnancy.  Mixed with red raspberry leaves, borage leaves, and fennel seed, nettle provides a nourishing postpartum tea for rebuilding strength and adding nutrients to breast milk (Soule, 57). Because of its high Vitamin K content, it helps control and prevent haemorrhaging (Gladstar, 251).

Nettle is a friend to women experiencing menopause.  Warm nettle and sage-leaf tea helps reduce night sweats, and nettles in combination with other herbs such as oat straw, red raspberry leaves, borage leaves and Siberian ginseng, support the body through this changing time by increasing low energy levels and helping to overcome fatigue (Soule, 57).

Nettle builds and empowers the fire element in a person.  It helps a person who is cold and angry to break through their self-pity and victimhood.  It is for evoking the will and contracting the warrior within (Brooke, 162).  Nettle helps people to express and thus release their anger and through its expression to relate to others more openly (McIntyre, 229).

Nettle with cabbage

In the garden, nettle is an incredible micronutrient accumulator.  It accumulates sodium, sulphur, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, chromium, zinc, magnesium, boron and copper, even in soil that is deficient.  This makes nettle a valuable addition to the compost pile and an excellent plant and soil tonic.  While we have nettle growing throughout the garden, and this does sometimes result in children and adults being inadvertently stung, it would also be well placed next to a compost pile where it could be easily harvested for the benefit of the pile.  This in turn spreads the micronutrients to the whole garden.

In Biodynamics, nettle is one of the compost preparations.  According to Dr Rudolf Steiner, the nettle is a plant with healing qualities for both humans and plants.  Stinging nettle conveys intelligence to the soil; helps proper decomposition, aids chlorophyll formation and stimulates iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulpher activity in the soil (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 22).

If there were ever an herb most people would like to keep from their garden, nettle would be high on the list.  But in our garden, I treat it with the same level of care and respect that I have for all of our vegetables and herbs.  It is welcome in the nutrient rich beds because I value the health it brings to the garden and us.

Antidote for the Sting (formic acid) Bruise plantain or yellow dock leaves by chewing them slightly.  Place the poultice onto the affected area.

NETTLE BREWS

Stinging Nettle 24-hour extract Take 1 kg of fresh stinging nettle without root (it should not have gone to seed) placed in a suitable container. Pour over 10 litres of cold or luke-warm water. Leave it to stand for 24 hours. Sieve the juice and use as a spray for larvae or caterpillars, twice within a period of a few days.

Stinging Nettle Manure as a growth stimulant Use same proportions of nettle and water as for 24-hour extract. Leave it to stand until the leaves decompose. May take between three days and some weeks depending on the temperature. Dilute at a rate of 1: 10.  Spray twice within the period of a few days. This manure has a potent effect on growth and is sprayed on the soil either towards evening or in the early morning and watered well a few hours later.  The sap begins to flow more vigorously causing aphids and fungal attack to disappear.

As a general tonic for plant growth Dilute at the rate of 1 litre: 40 litres for water crops (eg. tomato, cucumber, spinach and cabbage). Dilute at the rate of 1 litre: 20 litres and stir for 15 minutes before spraying out through fine jets on to growing plants.

Deb Soule of Avena Botanicals has wonderful  nettle recipes for women -  from those just entering menses to those moving through menupause in her book The Roots of Healing (Published by Carol Publishing Group).

-Biodynamic Resource Manual by Biodynamic Agriculture Australia, An Astrological Herbal for Women by Elisabeth Brooke, Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham, The Yoga of Herbs by Dr David Frawley and Vincent Lad, Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar, The Complete Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre, Grasp the Nettle by Peter Proctor and Gillian Cole, The Roots of Healing by Deb Soule, The Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow

Biodynamic Gardening Notes 26 October - 1 November

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The moon is ascending this week until Sunday 30 October - the earth breaths out. We see this as growth activity above the soil surface.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase plant vitality.  Although germination takes place below the ground, it also takes part in this upward striving.  This is the time to sow seeds, spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53). On Sunday the moon begins descending.  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.

The moon continues waning until the new moon on Thursday 27th, which is also the Perigee of the moon (when the moon is closest to the earth).  Watch for increase moisture, start of mildews and fungal infestations.  This moon is another "Supermoon" with wild weather worldwide predicted (Keats, 26).  The man who coined the phrase "supermoon" has his own website discussing what it is and means.  Please visit Richard Nolle for more information.

A tea made with fresh Casuarina (She-Oak) needles is useful to tighten the fluids in the plant, balance the water in the plant and prevent fungal infestation such as mildews, rusts and moulds.  For small areas you use 500 g fresh Casuarina needles.  Place the needles into a stainless steel saucepan and cover with water.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes.  Use at a rate of 1 litre of tea to 40 litres water aiming at 1 litre of tea per hectare.

We also use a seaweed brew to help our plants reach optimum health which in itself can increase their resistance to pests and diseases.  Seaweed contains 14 Amino acids and over 60 trace elements and minerals.  You can make your own seaweed brew by taking bull kelp, chopping it up and half filling a 200 litre  food grade drum.  Fill with water.  You can also add Biodynamic compost preparations (available through Biodynamic Australia) or some of the micronutrient accumulating herbs to this brew (Search Companion Planting under Seasonal Notes).  Let it sit for at least a month, stirring occasionally.  When the brew stops bubbling, it is ready for use.  You can use bucketfuls of the tea to moist down the compost pile or use it diluted 1 :10 as a fortnightly plant tonic (like humans use vitamin and mineral supplements).  You can top up the water in the main brew and use it for 12 compost piles (Woodrow, 75).

Maria Thun offered that each activity we do for a plant such as seeding, transplanting and cultivating, when performed on the corresponding moon, further emphasize that quality in the plant.  For example, when we transplant cabbage seedlings during a descending moon in a leaf sign, we are taking advantage not only of the descending moon pulling the forces of that plant down and into the roots to minimize transplant shock, we are also emphasizing the leafy quality of the cabbage.  Sow seeds that produce above the ground during the waxing moon until the full moon on 11 November.  Sow seed that produce below the ground during the waning moon (time from full moon to new moon).

On Wednesday 26th until 17:08, the moon is in an earth sign.  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.  As the perigee is the following day, the chance for increased moisture is good for helping parsnip and carrot seeds to germinate.

The moon then moves into an air sign until Friday at 16:34. 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.

For the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 17:57, 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.

Sunday evening, Monday and Tuesday, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees.

This is a wonderful time in the garden.   Planting now ensures a summer filled with beautiful, home grown produce.  Crops that can continue to be directly sown during this month are French beans, beetroot, carrots, coriander, corn, cucumbers, peas (if it stays cool), potatoes, radishes, rocket, spinach, spring onions, sweades, turnips, winter squashes and pumpkins. Crops that can be transplanted are asparagus, basil, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, Chinese greens, eggplant,  flowers, leeks, lettuce and salad greens, parsley, silver beet, tomatoes and zucchini and summer squashes.

The white cabbage moths may again return this month.  If you see alot of the white "butterflies" flittering about in the garden during the day, watch your young brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage) for signs of eggs and then the green larvae caterpillars. Manual removal works really well to protect young plants. Chickens will happily eat the caterpillars.  There is recipe for nettle brew which can help control caterpillars on our gardening notes post.  Peter Cundall offers another simple, safe and cheap method of control.

Spray the attacked plants with weak salty water.  It is easy to test whether the mix is strong enough because it can be tested on living caterpillars, starting with a dilution of two tablespoons of salt to a bucketful of water.  Spray directly on to the pests, and if the correct strength has been mixed, they will roll off and eventually die on the ground.  (The Practical Australian Gardener,64)

Germinating seeds and newly transplanted starts will need extra moisture to help their roots to establish.  Take advantage of earth and water days for irrigating.

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

-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.

Herbs and Perennials in the Mandala

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House Mandala Oct 2011

House Mandala Oct 2011

This week saw the planting of several more mandala "borders".  This area is a two metre wide circle which encloses the six inner mandala circles.  The border consists of fruit trees, perennial vegetables and flowers and a wide variety of  herbs.

Our eleven mandalas are based on the concepts outlined in Linda Woodrow's book The Permaculture Home Garden.  In her introduction she states,

The trick to doing less is doing more of what we humans do best: use our intelligence to see patterns, create designs, invent things - activities that come so naturally they feel like play.  The other side of the coin is to do less of what we do worst.  Humans make hard work of digging, but for worms it is fun.

In planting out the herbs and perennials around the mandalas, I reflected on our house garden, which after three years is a great example of an established border.

artchokes, foxglove, borage, garlic chives, pear tree

artchokes, foxglove, borage, garlic chives, pear tree

The perennial food plants planted in the border include artichokes, asparagus,  fruit trees, strawberries and edible flowers.  These are all producing in abundance now.  In addition to autumn feeds of compost, their roots would be stretching out into the annual vegetable beds receiving the benefits of chickens and cover crops such as legumes which harness nitrogen.

The herbs act as companion plants to the fruit trees and the vegetables. They attract and provide food for predatory insects and insect pollinators. They are a natural apothecary and a culinary pantry within a few steps of the kitchen.  Their flowers are both edible and decorative.

Many of the herbs are also micronutrient accumulators.  These are elements that are essential for proper plant nutrition but that are only needed in minute amounts.  Some herbs accumulate very large amounts of micronutrients, even in soil that is deficient.  Using these herbs in mulch and compost spreads the micronutrients around the garden, making them available to vegetables that may not be quite so proficient at mining them for themselves.

The herbs and perennials have matured since their original planting. In many areas they completely cover the earth.  This is beneficial as it does not offer weed seeds the opportunity to sprout or creep in and it provides a living mulch in summer keeping the roots of the  fruit trees cool.

House mandala border

House mandala border

Herbs can be trimmed and given to the chickens who can self medicate themselves if they are deficient in a nutrient (much like humans use vitamins and supplements) or just scratch them back into the earth adding trace minerals to the soil.  Several of the herbs are compost activators. Alternatively, the herbs can be added to a seaweed brew, making a nutrient rich tea that can be used a s a plant tonic or for wetting down the compost.

snapdragons, poppies, thyme, sage, fennel, rue, apple tree

snapdragons, poppies, thyme, sage, fennel, rue, apple tree

The mandala border acts as a protective barrier for the inner circles.  It prevents weed, grass and pest invasions from the edges.  Again, with the house mandala which began in Feb 2008, one would not know that there are vegetables growing unless they stood on the roof or walked through the pathway entrance to the garden.  The herbs and natives have formed a natural "wall", offering wind protection to the tender vegetables as they are growing.  They also provide predatory birds a vantage point and predatory lizards and frogs habitat.

The circle design of a garden was not new to me as a gardener, nor was planting herbs, flowers and vegetables together.  What I have found  brilliant about the mandala design though is heavy feeding vegetable beds are kept in rotation without ever interfering with the perennial border.  The perennial border is being fed by the vegetable beds while providing all of the other benefits indicated above. The two independent systems work cohesively together creating a very healthy garden ecosystem.

In its first two years, the border did require energy.  We seeded most of the herbs and helped the little plants to get established.  There were more weeds the first two years  as there was still bare earth.    I am continually amazed at the quiet job the herbs are doing at improving our soil.  Our chickens are incredibly healthy. Our time spent combating difficult fungus and pest problems on both the vegetables and the fruit trees has also reduced. Once established, the human effort in maintaining this system is surprisingly minimal.

Baxter

Baxter

This week, our friend Baxter of Palate Earth  joined in to help plant three more mandala borders.  It was great to have the help and also nice to share the beneficial aspects that the herbs are providing to the mandala.  Thank you Baxter.

Link here for more photos of establishing the mandalas.

-For more in depth information about the mandala system, the use of perennial and herb borders, making seaweed brew, having chooks in the garden, and many more topics, we highly recommend The Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow Published in 1996 by Penguin Books