Ramón Souto
Throughout History, the moon has influenced people’s lives. Many cultures worshipped the stars and used them as a guide for important celebrations, reproduction of their descendants, ceremonial rituals or potential benefits of agriculture.
Some believe that, depending on the moon phase we are on, human mind can be affected. In the field of health, rumours insist there are higher numbers of patients with psychological problems during full moon.
Legends about lycanthropy have also been present for a long time, more commonly known as the werewolf phenomenon. There are plenty of books and movies that deal with this and other mythologically origined fantasies.
But the topic we are discussing today is that, from ancient times, numerous civilizations have used the moon as a guide for their crops and in order to get a better yield.
Science or folk wisdom?
There are no scientific studies that ratify that the moon has any influence on crops. I think it is based on a method of ancient civilisations that has been passed on throughout generations and is still preserved nowadays.
Every year I receive a moon calendar from a well-known agriculture company. This means this belief is totally installed in our society.
Millenary use
When exactly it all started is not known, but the first identified moon calendar dates from 10.000 years ago. The discovery was made in Monte Alto, south of Rome. The object is a stone with several carvings that could indicate the moon cycles by observing their spatial distribution.
Maya, Aztec and Inca were some of the civilizations that followed moon calendars.
How does the moon influence the plants in traditional wisdom?
There are three ways in which the moon would influence crops according to that traditional concept:
- Gravitational attraction. This causes the high and low tides. It is told that it does the same thing to plants’ sap, because depending on the movement it favours the aerial part or the root system. If the movement of the sap is upwards, it’s a good moment to take cuttings, because they have more vigour and vitality. On the contrary, if the sap is on downward motion, it’s the ideal moment for root treatments: germinating the seeds, trimming, transplant, fertilising…
- The reflection of the moon. It is said that plants are affected by moonlight, and that they increase their activity the closer the full moon is. The phytochrome is kept active as if it were daytime.
- Lastly, the magnetic and electric influence of the moon. In each moon phase we would find a different magnetism.
As I mentioned earlier, these are only beliefs and conjectures until proven.
Apogee and Perigee
During its journey, the moon makes two movements, upward and downward, which combined take 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes. While for 14 days it’s on ascending motion, the other 14 it’s descending. When the moon is in the area the farthest from Earth it’s called apogee. The moment it reaches the point nearest to the planet it’s known as Perigee.
What are biodynamic crops?
Biodynamic crops are based in the belief that stars do have an influence on fields, helping increase the yields. This method of ecological agriculture is based in the theories of Rudolf Steiner.
To carry out the biodynamic agriculture all elements must be integrated with each other. We will obtain animal compost with which we can fertilise the plants, and with the plants we feed the animals. A closed circle is created that feeds the ecosystem back.
Although most farmers cultivate these crops outdoors, some of them claim the moon also has an influence in the indoor, artificial light crops. Do you believe in the moon influence over your crops? Can the moon improve the productivity of our plants? I say goodbye to you until the next article, I wish you the best smokes.