moon phase

[swift4me]

I was cutting chestnuts at my place with my neighbor last week for fence posts. The Basques around here are adamant about cutting trees for fenceposts or beams only on a waning moon, saying the stay insect free and strong much longer. They also like the winter months, but they really believe in the moon phase.

I've searched for a "scientific" explanation, but was curious what anyone here could add.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[oldsaw]

Because they are Basques? I'm unfamiliar with any scientific reason. Now, taking them in the winter or late fall, yes, when the water levels are the lowest in the tree. Spring would be the worst time to get them.

 

[swift4me]

One of the ships in Columbus' fleet, along with many of the best built European ships for hundreds of years, were built here in the Basque country, ( northwestern Spain and southwestern France). I live in a 200 year old stone farmhousehouse with all original chestnut beams and much of the original chestnut flooring.

Cutting in the winter made alot of sense, versus spring or summer, but the moon phase thing is still a mystery.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[BobL]

One of the ships in Columbus' fleet, along with many of the best built European ships for hundreds of years, were built here in the Basque country, ( northwestern Spain and southwestern France). I live in a 200 year old stone farmhousehouse with all original chestnut beams and much of the original chestnut flooring.

Cutting in the winter made alot of sense, versus spring or summer, but the moon phase thing is still a mystery.

Maybe the night time bug eaters can see the bugs better by the light of the brighter moon so by the mid waning moon the bug count is lower than at other times

 

[Manuka Jock]

The pull of the moon on tree sap may be a part of it .
Lunar planting and harvesting and all that .

Also , when I was in the north of Sweden , I was told that tree felling and timber milling were seasonal , due to insect infestation and rot susceptibility.
Autumn may be the off-season
The finer details of it I cannot remember .

 

[BlueRider]

biodynamic farming

I guess because I live in wine country I am familiar with the moon phase aspect of biodynamic farming. I had not known of any moon phase aspect to working with wood. Most of the biodynamic wine is nasty stuff, But I would still be curious to hear more about milling wood acording to the moon phase.

here is a link about biodynamic farming:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Better talk to some of those old hilbillys in Kentucky... They have a moon phase for everything from gardening, fenceing to which direction to wipe their butts! lol

Rob

 

[woodsrunner]

I don't know of any real science that supports the moon phase stuff. It has been discussed in my career circle sometimes but no one I know has done any real research on it. As for the bio-dynamic farming, that is pure hogwash. Mystic mumbo jumbo.

Scott

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

well I don't have an explanation but I am certain that my wood is more randy during the waxing of the moon, comes every month like clockwork.

swift4me I was up your way a few years ago and that is some of the most beautiful land I've seen

 

[YarraValleyDude]

you need to research Apogee and Perigee, heres a brief explanation.....

The apogee and perigee of the moon have a definite affect on the weather and tides here on Earth. When the moon is at Apogee, the furthest distance from the Earth, it has less gravitational pull. Weather conditions can be more stable and the tides more predictable. When the moon is at perigee, closer to the Earth, there is much more gravitational pull and it can whip up the tides and cause weather to become more unstable.

I'm a subscriber to this theory and plan my fishing trips around it,it has great merit as can be seen from the catches we now get.
Understanding this theory is the difference between a good fisherman and a great fisherman, this applies to hunters too.
The closer the moon is the more agressive the animals feed, all animals and inscets too.

 

[swift4me]

I fully agree on moon phases for fishing and hunting.

But I still can't see how it would affect sap levels in a tree.

Thanks for the responses though.

Pete

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

You get ready for some american company you just let me Know when the barn is for rent, I'd love to repeat this trip some day absolutely stunning country and people.

 

[swift4me]

you did it right

Seeing the Pyrenees from one end to the other is an amazing trip. We live on thre western end and the farm is about 1600 ft. elevation, but the high Pyrenees in the center are impressive. They're still skiing up there now and the hiking is incredible in the summer.

Pete

 

[Manuka Jock]

Pete ,
you could test out the theory .

Follow this , well almost follow it .
Plant , till , weed , etc as per directed with one difference , do so at the exact opposite time of the month to the calender , that is , 14 days before ( or after) the listed date.
The proof of the Lunar pudding will be in your garden

April 2010
11th-13th Favorable Days For Planting Root Crops, Extra Good For Vine Crops. Set Strawberry Plants.
14th-15th Poor Planting Days. Break Ground Or Cultivate.
16th-17th Favorable For Planting Beans, Corn, Cotton, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Above Ground Crops.
18th-19th Poor Days For Planting, Seeds Tend To Rot In Ground.
20th-21st Plant Tomatoes, Beans, Peppers, Corn, Cotton, And Other Above Ground Crops On These Most Fruitful Days. Plant Seedbeds. Start Flower Gardens.
22nd-25th Grub Out Weeds, Briars, And Other Plant Pests.
26th-28th First Two Days Good For Planting Corn, Melons, Squash, Tomatoes, And Other Above Ground Crops. Last Day Favorable For Planting Root Crops. All Days Favorable For Sowing Grains, Hay And Fodder Crops, And For Planting Flowers
29th-30th Good Days For Planting Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Peanuts, And Other Root Crops. Also Good For Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Kale, Celery, And Other Leafy Vegetables. Start Seedbeds.


May 2010
1st-3rd Do No Planting.
4th-5th Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.
6th-8th Kill Plant Pests On These Barren Days.
9th-10th Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops That Can Be Planted Now. Set Strawberry Plants.
11th-12th Poor Planting, Fine For Cultivating Or Spraying.
13th-14th Favorable For Planting Beans, Corn, Cotton, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Above Ground Crops.
15th-16th Any Seed Planted Now Will Tend To Rot.
17th-18th Most Favorable For Planting Corn, Cotton, Okra, Beans, Peppers, Eggplant, And Other Above Ground Crops. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.
19th-23rd A Barren Period. Good For Killing Plant Pests, Cultivating, Or Taking A Short Vacation.
24th-25th Excellent Time For Planting Corn, Beans, Peppers, And Other Above Ground Crops. Favorable For Sowing Hay, Fodder Crops, And Grains. Plant Flowers.
26th-27th First Day Excellent For Planting Above Ground Crops. Second Day Favorable For Carrots, Beets, Onions, Turnips, And Other Root Crops. Both Days Good For Planting Cabbage, Lettuce And Other Leafy Vegetables, And For Planting Seedbeds.
28th-30th Do No Planting.
31st. Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.


June 2010
1st. Plant Late Beets, Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, And Other Root Crops.
2nd-4th Poor Days For Planting. Kill Plant Pests, Spray, Fertilize, Do General Farm Work.
5th-6th Favorable Time For Planting Late Root Crops. Also Good For Vine Crops. Set Strawberry Plants.
7th-9th Cut Hay Or Do Plowing On These Barren Days.

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

Keep us posted with garden progress reports .

cheers ,
Jock

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Pete ,
you could test out the theory .

Follow this , well almost follow it .
Plant , till , weed , etc as per directed with one difference , do so at the exact opposite time of the month to the calender , that is , 14 days before ( or after) the listed date.
The proof of the Lunar pudding will be in your garden

Keep us posted with garden progress reports .

cheers ,
Jock

American farmers feed the world, do you think they sit at home waiting for the moon??? The farm crops here (where i live) and also the HUGE fields of veggies here, are planted according to the weather, not the moon. We plant "plants" to make a living, and if the moon made much difference, trust me, folks here would be paying attention to it.

I plant more than one garden EVERY year, as did my parents and granparents before me. We never worried about what the moon was doing, other than how a clear night affects the last frost of the season. Our gardens always do better than average, so...

Of course, i'm not superstitious either...

Rob

 

[Manuka Jock]

American farmers feed the world, do you think they sit at home waiting for the moon??? The farm crops here (where i live) and also the HUGE fields of veggies here, are planted according to the weather, not the moon. We plant "plants" to make a living, and if the moon made much difference, trust me, folks here would be paying attention to it.

I plant more than one garden EVERY year, as did my parents and granparents before me. We never worried about what the moon was doing, other than how a clear night affects the last frost of the season. Our gardens always do better than average, so...

Of course, i'm not superstitious either...

Rob

And that has what to do with the lunar calendar ?


By the way , American farmers do not feed the world , they like all farmers feed some of the world .
And like many farmers the world over , they plant by the season .
They also , like many farmers , use chemical fertilizers to boost plant growth .
The moon has an influence on the weather

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

American farmers feed the world, do you think they sit at home waiting for the moon??? The farm crops here (where i live) and also the HUGE fields of veggies here, are planted according to the weather, not the moon. We plant "plants" to make a living, and if the moon made much difference, trust me, folks here would be paying attention to it.

I plant more than one garden EVERY year, as did my parents and granparents before me. We never worried about what the moon was doing, other than how a clear night affects the last frost of the season. Our gardens always do better than average, so...

Of course, i'm not superstitious either...

Rob

Pump enough federalize , genetic modifications and roundup on it I'm sure the little ole moon means little.
It has nothing to do with superstition, It's just do hard for modern simple minds to grasp, flowing with the rhythm of nature.

Since we started super farming , the world population had quadrupled and when the oil that makes it possible stops You can bet you but the ole moon will once again be sought out.

 

[stipes]

Lol!!!

Better talk to some of those old hilbillys in Kentucky... They have a moon phase for everything from gardening, fenceing to which direction to wipe their butts! lol

Rob

Remember Bro...Light of the moon you plant your above crops,,dark of the moon you plant below crops,,like taters,,turnips,,ect....LOL!!

Oh,,forgot to say too...Dont ever plant anything when the sign is in the bowells. You'll be wasting your time!!!!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

And that has what to do with the lunar calendar ?


By the way , American farmers do not feed the world , they like all farmers feed some of the world .
And like many farmers the world over , they plant by the season .
They also , like many farmers , use chemical fertilizers to boost plant growth .
The moon has an influence on the weather

First of all, i never said American farmers were the ONLY one feeding the world, but we do a big part, and a HUGE part of it is FREE to other countries...

Secondly, i do pay attention to the weather, and plant by the weather, but i don't use chemical fert. to boost plant growth, so don't lump everyone into one catagory... I'm not the only one NOT using chem fert either...

Rob

 

[stipes]

Rob gotta say this for ya and pick on ya...

First of all, i never said American farmers were the ONLY one feeding the world, but we do a big part, and a HUGE part of it is FREE to other countries...

Secondly, i do pay attention to the weather, and plant by the weather, but i don't use chemical fert. to boost plant growth, so don't lump everyone into one catagory... I'm not the only one NOT using chem fert either...

Rob

Since your comment about folks in Ky....LOL!! You come here and work for a company my friend has,,he will give you just 1 simple instruction for layin sod...Green side up!!! LOL!!!