Farmer's Almanacs; Planting by the Signs of the Moon
Discover how to plant patio container gardens, small farms, raised beds, and backyard gardens according to the signs of the moon. Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels.
Moon Lore & Herbal Folklore
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| Discover how to plant patio container gardens, small farms, raised beds, and backyard gardens according to the signs of the moon. Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels. |
“First, thou shalt know and observe the moon’s age for thy working.”
-S. L. MacGregor Mathers, The Lesser Key of Solomon
Farmers are responsible for the planting, growing, and harvesting of a variety of food crops which are a necessary component of our food supply. In the past farmers used imitative magic techniques such as leaping high into the air astride their pitchforks in order to cause the crops to grow tall and prosperous.
Farmers pay close attention to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac when planning any of their gardening chores. Consult a good book such as Llewellyn’s yearly Moon Sign Book or one of the farmer’s almanacs for detailed information regarding the phases of the moon.
Farmer’s almanacs such as the yearly Old Farmer’s Almanac contain a plethora of information regarding weather forecasts, high tides, average frost dates, planting tables, gardening by the moon’s sign, holidays, astronomical tables, tides, eclipses, and zodiac secrets.
Natural Astrology Gardening Clues
Much of the information included in farmer’s almanacs are of astrological significance especially to the ancient branch of astrology referred to as natural astrology. Natural astrology foretells the future of weather and other natural phenomena and attempts to predict when is the best time to plant and harvest crops.
The modern-day farmer’s almanacs are filled with natural astrological information such as astrological timetables, gardening by the moon’s sign, the moon’s place in the astrological zodiac, and secrets of the zodiac.
Phases of the Moon
The farmer’s almanacs give the dates and times of the four main phases of the moon namely the new moon, the first quarter moon, the full moon, and the last or third quarter moon. Astronomers classify the moon into 8 distinct phases as follows:
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| New moon |
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| Waxing crescent moon |
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| First quarter moon |
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| Waxing gibbous moon |
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| Full moon |
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| Waning gibbous moon |
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| Third quarter moon, AKA last quarter |
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| Waxing crescent moon |
This cycle of moon phases begins all over again with the occurrence of the next new moon. If a second full moon occurs in a month it is called a blue moon. A blue moon occurs approximately once every 2.7 years hence the term ‘once in a blue moon’ meaning something that doesn‘t occur with great frequency.
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| Pay attention to signs from nature and plant your crops according to the phases of the moon. Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay |
Planting by the Moon Phases
"Sow peason and beanes in the wane of the moone,
Who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soone,
That they with the planet may rest and aries,
And flourish with bearing most plentiful wise."
-Thomas Tusser, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry
The lunar phases of the moon go from the new moon to the first quarter to the full moon to the last quarter and back to the new moon. This cycling of the phases of the moon is also known as the synodic month in astronomy. A synodic month is the length of time that it takes the moon to make one complete revolution around the earth as measured from one new moon to the next consecutive new moon and is equal to approximately 29.53 days.
Full moon
An auspicious time for the harvesting of plants. Herb leaves can be gathered during the full moon prior to the plant going to flower.
New moon
This is the best time for planting seeds. Dig out herb roots during this dark phase of the moon. This will ensure that the roots are at their most potent. This should be done in the fall prior to the plant going to flower.
Waxing moon
The moon appears to be increasing in size as it phases from the new moon to the first quarter to the full moon. The waxing moon phase occurs from the day of the new moon to the day of the full moon. The waxing moon is the perfect time in which to plant above-ground crops such as flowering annuals and perennials and leafy green herbs and vegetables.
The increasing light of the moon will encourage healthy growth from any seeds that are sown or plants that are added to your garden during a waxing moon. The waxing moon is also the best time to work positive magic such as love spells and healing rituals. The power of the waxing moon will help draw your wishes and desires to you.
Waning moon
The moon appears to be decreasing in size, from the full moon to the new moon. This phase of the moon is best for the planting and harvesting of underground root crops such as potatoes, carrots, beets, and turnips. This is also the best time to pull out weeds from your garden as the influence of the waning moon will discourage the weeds from re-growing.
Waning moons are the best time to perform any type of negative magic such as banishing spells and rituals whose goals are to get rid of negative energy and bad habits.
Types of Full Moons
Native American Indians typically gave a name to each full moon of the year in order to keep track of the changing seasons. These names are often listed in farmer’s almanacs as follows:
January - full wolf moon - this is the time of year when the howling of wolves can be heard as they search for prey in the dead of winter.
February - full snow moon - this is the time of year when blizzards and an abundance of snowfall are most common.
March - full worm moon - as the ground begins to thaw out with the return of warmer weather earthworms can be seen making their way to the surface of the soil.
April - full pink moon - the pink flowers of wild ground phlox are blooming in abundance at this time of year.
May - full flower moon - flowers are blooming in abundance at this time of year.
June - full strawberry moon - this is the time of year in which strawberries become ripe and are ready to be harvested.
July - full thunder moon - thunderstorms are very common during this time of year.
August - full sturgeon moon - these fish are in abundance and readily captured at this time of year.
September - full harvest moon - the time of year in which the majority of the fall crops are harvested. The harvest moon is the name given to the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. If the harvest moon occurs in October then the September full moon is called the corn moon.
October - full hunter’s moon - after the fields have been harvested this is the time of year in which to go hunting.
November - full beaver moon - beavers are very active at this time of year getting ready for the cold winter months.
December - full cold moon - this is the coldest time of year and the month with the shortest day and thus longest night (winter solstice).
You could use the names of the full moons as a guide to hosting your monthly esbat celebrations. For example, your esbat celebration for May could include recipes that incorporate a variety of edible flowers. The esbats occur on the full moon of every month. If a second full moon occurs in a month it is called a blue moon.
In the past, our ancestors based the passage of time on the lunar agricultural calendar. A lunar year contains 13 moon months of 28 days each which equals 364 days. 364 days plus 1 day equals our modern year of 365 days. The phrase a year and a day was commonly used as the amount of time necessary for the initiation of a candidate into certain mystery rites such as the initiation of a witch into a coven.
Peace, Love, and Light
The White Witch, AKA Lynn Smythe
Founder of Craft of the Wise, the Essential Survivalist, and the Creative Cottage
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