Biodynamic Agriculture at Portugal, The effect of moon on plant growth

Aqui está como rabanetes semeados ao longo de meio mês, em diferentes fases lunares e signos lunares, crescem de diferentes maneiras. Os resultados são espantosos. Ver post anterior para saber como a experiência foi desenhada. Nada disto é novo; já Maria Thun estudou estas coisas há mais de 20 anos.

Here are how radish responded in incredible ways to moon phases and signs. Apparently, the results are very clear and awesome. Please check the previous post for seeing how the experiment was designed. Nothing of this is new, Maria Thun has already studied this 20 years ago.


Radish seem to grow well during in Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces and Taurus. They grow worst around new moon and when seeded in Aries. Higher leaf growth was obtained in Aquarius and Pisces (air and water).



Incredibly, plants grow taller and taller from new moon to full moon (0.5cm to 3cm), despite the fact that those radish seeded on new moon were planted first!
Full moon (or ascendent moon) tends to pull plants towards higher vegetative growth.


Radish seeded on days with moon passing in earth signs yielded best. Radish seeded on watery sign days also yielded good compared to others.


Spinach, on another way, grew better during Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces (mostly watery signs) and badly in Aries. The plants also grew much taller around full moon compared to new moon.


In left side those were the first radish, seeded around new moon. In right, those seeded around full moon. Despite the fact that the second ones were seeded about two weeks later, they grew much faster and developing taller plants. If this is good or not for high-quality edible roots, this will be a future question of research.


Here we can see carrots seeded on earth day compared to others and cultured with same soil but containing horsetail and sand (which contains silica that aids the plants to develop it long roots): the different is clearly visible!

Biodinamica, o efeito espantoso dos ciclos da lua nas plantas e no tempo

Biodynamics, the amazing effect of the moon cycles on plants and the weather -English translation following the portuguese text-

***** O efeito da Lua nas plantas e no tempo

Estes são os primeiros resultados de uma experiência séria que tenho estado a efectuar nos meus tempos livres de horticultura, com implicações sérias.
Mas experimentei porque tinha um tabuleiro de alvéolos, semear rabanetes (um vegetal raíz) e espinafres, todos os dias de 6 Dez 2007 a 27 Dez 2007.
Anotei a hora, a posição astronómica e fase da lua e o tempo que fazia.
As fotografias seguem-se no final.

Bem, não percebo porque a ciência ainda não reparou nas conclusões a que eu de um modo muito simples cheguei. Talvez seja por interesses ou simples teimosia em querer investigar áreas mais "místicas", talvez pelo seu absurdo foco materialista.

Mas falando já das conclusões, é facilmente evidente que ao semear nestes dias todos, pude verificar (tal como já ia verificando ao longo de 2007) que as sementes têm uma tendência *notória* para germinar e depois crescer mito mais rápido quando semeadas perto da lua cheia, e muito mais lentamente, quando semeados na lua nova (e inclusivé germinando mal, quando semeadas dois ou três dias antes da lua nova)
Talvez, agora retirando os ensinamentos de Maria Thun e de Rudolf Steiner, assim como da sabedoria popular, verificámos que estas observações já foram corroboradas por muitas outras pessoas.

Além disso, há uma *clara* correlação entre o tempo que faz, e a fase e signo da lua (observei isto ao longo de todo o ano de 2007, maioritariamente). Ora, com a lua em signos aquosos, o tempo ao longo das observações que fiz e faço, costima ser mais húmido e fresco; com a lua em signos de elemento fogo (sagitário, carneiro, leão) o tempo mostra uma clara evidência para aquecer, ou seco. Nas experiências que tenho repetidamente feito, os espinafres crescem mais rápido quando semeados com a lua passando em signo água ou terra, e os rabanetes em terra ou fogo.

Que efeitos terão estes ciclos e outros na essência e comportamento humano? Afinal muita gente denota ignorância ou preconceito ao rejeitar linearmente tais observações como misticismo, mito ou pseudociência. Como Einstein dizia "é mais fácil destruir um átomo que um preconceito"

Afinal já Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, Filósofos gregos e muitos outros famosos, estudavam a Astrologia e seus efeitos dos ciclos cósmicos e celestiais nas pessoas. Tudo remonta á raíz da religião, à natureza da alma, karma e destino, espiritualidade e transcendência de algo superior que a humanidade de hoje infelizmente optou por ignorar (precisamente numa época em que a moralidade está em baixo e faz tanta falta para salvar o planeta e suas gentes)

E para que nos preocuparmos em arranjarmos soluções para os dilemas da nossa nação, do nosso emprego, das nossas necessidades de dinheiro, do aquecimento global? Quando acima de tudo, temos todas as melhores respostas dentro de nós, todo o poder dentro de nós, como expliquei aqui em apenas uma parte pequena disso. Pois tudo o que é preciso é conectarmo-nos um pouco mais com a harmonia e os ciclos e os chamamentos do universo acima e em redor e também dentro de nós.

Tenho a 'data' destas experiências, detalhada, a quem quiser.

****** The Moon effect on plants and the weather

This is the first results of a serious experiment I have conducted, independently in my free times of gardening, with serious implications. In December I have tested seeding spinach and radish over a period of nearly a month, taking note of its growth, the moon phase and astronomical position, and weather during each day. Photos follow in the end.

But getting to the conclusions, it was *clearly* evident (as I could also observe all during my seeding in 2007, that seedlings grow well faster when seeded around full moon days than in new moon days (seeds do indeed grow badly when planted just before new moon)

I do not undertand why science has not yet notice these easy conclusions, as I have reached, as many did. Maybe its because its materialistic and skeptical obsessions, people have no guilt in this, after all they were educated to think that way and not into another. It is often considered as mystic to do otherwise.

Going further to tradicional folklore and wisdom, and to the independent and solitary research by Maria Thun and Rudolf Steiner, back to early 20st century, we can see that these conclusions were already known and understood at those times. People knew it.

Besides that, going to the conclusions I have achived and studied, there is a *clear* correlation betwen the weather that happens in a specific day, and the moon phase and astronomical sign position. So, I have clearly observed (for an entire year) that during moon positionated in water constelations, the weather tends to get wetter and fresh, when in fire constelations, the weather tends to get hotter and drier (sagitarius, aries or leo astrological signs). Radish grow easier when seeded with moon going in earth-element constelations and spinach in water-element constelations.

Which effects, may have these cosmic cycles in human behaviour and trends? After all, many people demonstrated inner ignorance by blowing away these crystal-clear wisdom, hanging by a low-logical prejudice.
As Einstein have put it " it is easier for us, to destroy an atom, than to destroy a prejudice"

Going back centuries and even millenia ago, Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, greek philosophers and many other famous people, have studied Astrology and the effects of cosmic cycles in the lifes of people and societies. All goes backwards to religion, spirituality, to the nature of reality and of human soul, to the transcendent nature of subtle and hidden and cosmic energies that work in our world, together with us. Unfortunely to our history, man kind has opt to ignore this, mainstream thinking, precisely at a time where morality and spirituality and so kindly requested to save ourselves and our beautiful planet

Why worry about our nation situation, our job loss, money needs and global warming? We have after all answers and power inside ourselves, a portion of it was just plainly explained before, and all we need is to connect a little bit more with the harmony, the cycles and the prayers of the above-all universe.

I have the detailed data from these experiments to whoever needs it.

Quinoa, Perenial tomatoes and Delicious dishes

Olá a todos! Hi All!

Its almost winter season and we still mantain our tomatoes blooming, although very slowly and spending the nights indoors and days outdoors. Today we bring you photos of some interesting herbs we use for medicine purposes, a faboulous ornamental eggplant, and even quinoa growing!
É quase Inverno e no entanto ainda um tomateiro em flor, se bem que muito lentamente, apanhando sol durante o dia, e protegido dentro de casa durante a noite. Hoje trazemos fotos também de algumas ervas medicinais interessantes, a fabulosa beringela ornamental e até quinoa que conseguimos crescer!

Lately there is plenty of lettuce on our balcony, nearly 10 containers of them, tasty nhami! spinach, peas, turnips, two beautiful kohl rabi and some starting celery and florence fennel. Everything with absolutely no chemicals. Solely a plastic covering the icy frost these last days, lol!
Recentemente, temos montes de alface crescendo na nossa varanda, quase 10 vasos e floreiras, deliciosos espinafres, nabos, ervilhas de grão, duas belíssimas couves rábano, e novos rebentos de aipo e funcho da florença. Tudo absolutamente natural, sem qualquer químico. Apenas um plástico que pus a cobrir algumas plantas da geada forte destes ultimos dias.

We have currently ongoing a biodynamic experiment to once for all evaluate the effect of moon cycle on seed sprouting. Very clearly, seeds sprout much better during full moon than moon and some of them (mostly leaf vegetables) during watery moon signs and radish during the passage of moon on earth signs! It's true, I came to watch it!
De momento, estamos também a fazer experiencias muito curiosas biodinamicas! Muito claramente, as sementes de vários vegetais germinam bem melhor aquando da lua cheia do que na lua nova, e os vegetais de folha crescem melhor quando semeados em dias de lua em signo aquoso, e os rabanetes quando semeados em dias de lua em signo terra. Sim, é verdade! Foi isto mesmo que obtive e vi com os meus próprios olhos!
Secondly, we are growing carrots in 80% sand soil, mixed with horsetail (which increases silica contents in soil) to see whether the plants will grow longer roots, as they do in their native very sandy soils.
Por último, estamos também a crescer cenoura em ambiente que se assemelha ao que elas verdadeiramente gostam, em solo arenoso, e misturado com silica que é referido como substância requerida por aquelas para desenvolver raizes maiores!

Perspectiva parcial da varanda
Quinoa!
Equinácea!
Delicioso prato com abóbora, funcho, alho, pimento, alho francês, caril e cerefólio!
Uma beringela ainda em Inverno (sim, sabiam que elas e os tomateiros são perenes, se forem protegidas do frio!)

Hey! Did you know eggplants and tomatoes are not annuals, but perenials that thrive and grow into next year if protected from the cold weather!

Biodynamic agriculture / Biodynamic preparations

Today, I've tried the other preparations from biodynamic agriculture.
It's pretty curious complex and awesome to read Rudolf Steiner lectures.
He makes so fantastic correlations between the life force of a plant, the overall ecosystem, relationship between plants and animals, their fruits and food purposes and qualities, their state of health and how to prevent plant diseases and, most amazingly of all, the relationship between metaphysics and the spiritual with the material world. How the tales from above, make their influences to our green world below.
This wisdom is quite present in the old peasant lore, that is even reported in Portugal by old practicing rural farmers, the almanaques Borda d'Água and Seringador. The Maria Thun calendar takes some insight from it, but there are some misinterpretations to my belief.

Today I've tried all biodynamic preparations such as yarrow (Milefólio), chamomile (Camomila), horsetail (Cavalinha), nettle (Urtiga) and valerian (Valeriana), except for dandelion (Dente-leão) and oak bark (Casca de Carvalho). Let's see what happens. I had remarkable insights from following the moon-calendar since January, yet still under trying.

Please have a look at http://www.garudabd.org/Agriccourse/contents.html for Steiner lectures,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture for Wikipedia article, and http://mulliganstew.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/biodynamics-the-original-and-future-organics/ for a short introduction on Biodynamics.

Julho 2007 II

Olá a todos,

Decidi dar um boost no jardim e já usei o composto que tinha iniciado em Janeiro e terminado em Abril. Ficou pronto em três meses de compostagem.
Tenho dois baldes de composto e assim pode estar um em decomposição e outro no qual vou juntando os resíduos verdes.
Deste modo, além do lixo reciclável (plástico, vidro, papel, metal), ponho apenas um saco de lixo para os lixeiros, uma vez por mês!

Reguei também o composto e a água "suja" que sai por debaixo deste, usei-a, díluida 1:4, para fertilizar mais as plantas.
Terei ainda que experimentar adubá-las com os chás biodinâmicos de camomila, urtiga, cavalinha, consolda e valeriana. Já experimentei adubar com algas algumas plantas. Os resultados são muito positivos.
Os tomateiros estão espectaculares. Tenho linhaça em flor. E esta semana experimentei as infusões de equinácea e prunela para curar uma pequena virose, com grande rapidez.

Hi all,

Lately, I gave a boost to all my balcony garden with some compost that was finally ready after three months of composting. I keep two bins with composting material, one adding continuously kitchen wastes, the other doing its own thing. I just put a garbage bag outside home, one time in a month! The rest of the wastes I either compost or put for recycling.
I also watered plants with the compost liquid that leaks from the bin, after I water the bin, diluted 1:4.
The tomatoes plants are awesome, and this week I cured a small virus with a echinacea and prunela teas, in a few hours.
I still have to try the biodynamic recomendations of fertilizing plants with valerian root, horsetail, comfrey, chamomile and nettle teas.

Biodynamic agriculture

Down, in order, you may see radish that were cultivated accordingly to the principles of byodinamic agriculture, namely the moon cycle.
I was ceptic in the beggining that it was just pure invention but it turns out to be true (at least on this experiment). Radish were seeded on the second week of January, on four different days in which the moon was passing over a different constelation on the sky. According to the theory, plants seeded or treated at moon passing over water-element constelation will develop more leaves, over earth more bulbs and roots, over fire more fruit and over air more flower. We can thus select higher quality vegetables in harmony with the forces of the cosmos (this is what the theory states).
These radish were seeded in earth, water, fire and air on that week of January and then each container was treated with the same conditions. Earth radish were the last to be seeded at the end of that week in order to check if they would grew bigger bulbs than the others.
As of March you may see for yourself. Earth radish haver the bigger bulbs, followed by the water ones, and fire and air ones have small or no bulbs yet and air ones developed bigger leaves. This was based on Maria Thun calendar which is a sideral-based calendar.


Earth radish


Water radish


Fire radish


Air radish


It is also curious that seeds seeded on earth days take a long time to sprout (since maybe they will focus their growth on root). We also have similar brocculi that were transplanted on air day and then one in water day, two days later (look as this last has bigger leaves already!)
We've also byodinamic carrots, cabbage, turnips, onions, lettuce, endive, peas, chick peas and others.


Air and water transplanted brocculi respectively


We also report of a garlic that was seeded on a node day (this is the days when the moon orbit crosses the eliptic plane). Maria Thun calendar stronly advises not to plant on those days. The garlic I planted began to die after one month of growth, then I applied also a biodynamic preparation made of nettle tea leaves and the plant surprinsingly regrew again!


Garlic


Look at a different type of radish, long ones. We seeded both on earth days, yet one has almost on earth-air border (and in tropical sideral, as opposed to sideral system, this day was already an air day). Both are big ones but the air radish is slighty thiner! The same occurs to all replicates in the same container.



It strikes me the fact that since I studied astronomy since my childhood, I was a more ceptic person, but now I can clearly see (not only feel) that indeed the cosmos has magic and that magic affects us all in different subtle ways.

21 de Março - Primavera!

Feliz Primavera a todos!
Embora a temperatura tenha descido vertiginosamente as plantas continuam com um crescimento acelerado. As ervilhas estão em flor. Os grão quase. Os nabos e as cenouras começaram a crescer mais. Tenho também uma bela floreira de alfaces das quais já provei, outra de rúculas e endívias, um vaso de tomates e couves-de-bruxelas pequenas. Os agriões estranhamente começaram a florir (algumas plantas ao serem transplantadas aceleram em direcção á sua floração). Fiz também sabão natural, com aromas de sândalo, alfazema e madressilva (hmmmm..). Fiz a cobertura do solo em dois vasos (com folhas secas até 3cm de espessura) e coloquei pratos em vários e efectivamente reduz as perdas de água.

Nas experiências de agricultura biodinâmica, rabanetes que foram semeados na mesma semana com a lua nos signos de diferentes elementos, já há diferenças notórias. Os rabanetes terra e depois água são os maiores bolbos (e os terra até foram os últimos a ser semeados, cinco dias depois dos de ar). Os rabanetes ar são os que possuem folhas e maiores e com formato bem mais recortado que os restantes. Os rabanetes fogo aparentam estar maior quantidade de folhas amareladas que os restantes. Todos foram semeados em condições idênticas (mesmo vaso, solo, luz e rega). Fotos em breve.

Happy Spring to all!
Despite the weather has cooled significantly plants continue to grow well and fast. Peas and chick peas are flowering. Turnips and carrots grow now faster. There is a flat container with pretty lettuce which I have tasted already! A tomato pot and some bruxels sprouts. Strangely, the cress is also flowering (sometimes transplants cause the plant to do so). I also have made some natural soap with sandalwood, lavander and honeysuckle scents. I have mulched the soil in some containers (with dried tree leaves up to 3cm) and put dishes on their bottom; indeed it's keeping them more humid.

In the first biodynamic agriculture experiments, radish were seeded during the same week on different moon days, when moon was passing on signs of different elements. There are already clear differences. Radish earth and then earth have the bigger bulbs (even when earth ones were the last to be seeded during that week). Radish air have the biggest leaves and with more strange shapes than the others. Radish fire have more yellowish leaves than the others. All were cultivated with similar conditions (same soil, pots, light and water). Photos in soon.


Como era dia da Árvore, um ácer foi plantado
A maple tree was planted on Tree day

Agricultura Biodinâmica

Já mencionámos aqui o que é a Agricultura Biodinâmica.
As plantas respondem significativamente aos ciclos lunares e cósmicos, factos que já foram extensivamente comprovados em experiências científicas. Em especial pelo ciclo sinódico da lua.

As plantas produzem mais folhagem se semeadas quando a lua passa por constelações de elemento água (caranguejo, escorpião e peixes), mais raíz se por constelações de terra (touro, virgem e capricórnio), mais flor se por constelações de ar (gémeos, balança e aquário) e mais fruto e sementes se por constelações de fogo (carneiro, leão e sagitário).

Não entraremos de momento em detalhes teóricos ou explicativos. A figura seguinte parece ser elucidativa que quando as plantas foram semeadas em lua numa constelação de água as folhas tornam-se significativamente maiores (terceira imagem). Em breve publicaremos mais resultados!


Fig.3- Rabanetes semeados em dias correspondentes à passagem da lua pelos quatro diferentes elementos (fogo, terra, ar e água se for considerado o sistema sideral; ou terra, ar, água e fogo se for considerado o sistema tropical)

Biodynamic Agriculture
On the picture above we show our results concerning the seeding of radish when applying the principles of byodinamic agriculture (cultivating by the moon). Radish seeded in water-element moon showes more leaf growth while those seeded on earth-element moon showed less (possibly focusing their growth into the edible bulb) (Tropical zodiac system)