Many years ago when farmers had a closer relationship with the land they cultivated, there were reciprocal rules they lived by; a code of sorts. Lone trees in fields are never to be cut down (especially if it was a hawthorn tree), even if they happened to be in the way of harvesting. Always plant row crops from North to South instead of East to West. Never start new farming projects on Fridays. And of course, grow to the rhythms of the moon.

There was a level of respect and understanding our ancestors understood about the land that would seem outlandish and foolish to farmers of modern times. Yet as we look around at how the philosophies of modern farmers have stripped and pillaged the land, leaving poisoned soil, contaminated water sources, chemical ridden crops, and far fewer pollinators, shouldn’t we re-think what is foolish? Agriculture is the third largest source of pollution in the world. An industry that is meant to feed and nourish people is instead making them and the land sick.

So perhaps we should take a step back. Perhaps we should take a closer look at how and why ancient farmers lived by these more esoteric rules, even if it meant more work for them. All cultures had their own rituals and traditions when it came to growing food. Yet one thing that is woven amongst them all stands out. Working with the moon to plant, grow, harvest, weed and more was an essential part of farming practices around the world. In fact, this was the first documented use of astrology ever. Farmers were as closely tied to the cosmos as they were to the ground in which they planted.

Times have changed drastically, and it has been less than a century since large mechanize farming equipment took over replaced thousands of years of hand-in-soil gardening. With this mechanical shift we saw the old ways die out quickly. The traditions and beliefs our ancestors held for generations slipped away into the relentless churning of the combine tines. Just around the time that this shift to big agriculture took place there was a head gardener and WW1 veteran running a large English estate. He still practiced the tradition of gardening by the moon and on his death bed he told his apprentice to carry on the tradition. He said "it is important” without much further explanation. Of all of the things he could be considering at this time, gardening by the moon stood out.

After hearing about this quiet man who had seen much violence and yet tended the garden under moonlight I became intrigued myself. I studied, experimented, and witnessed the shifting of the garden and myself as I changed my daily tasks to align with the movements of the moon. My days became more organized, seedlings transplanted strong and hardy, harvests were potent and abundant, the plants became more resilient. As the climate changes, I saw how something like this could be important to implement when the crops need all of the help they can get. So I created the LUNICA Planner to help myself and others attune to these rhythms amid the daily chaos of modern life. I too feel that it is important.

To understand why this was so important to them, and why it should be to us as well, we need to explore some of the philosophies on why moon gardening actually works. This is of course, a highly debated field of study. Many scientists (like modern farmers) would scoff at the idea that the moon influences crops. But there are reasons both scientific and beyond that point to reasons that we shouldn’t dismiss it so quickly.

How the Moon Influences Crops

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of the moon’s influence is of course the tides. However, the power of the moon is not just confined to the oceans. There is also a phenomenon called “crustal tides”. That’s right, the earth’s crust moves just like the ocean, albeit at a much smaller scale. These earth tides are shown to cycle in conjunction with the lunar phases, displaying a direct link to the moon and the land.

While the actual displacement of these tides is only about 2 feet worldwide per cycle, this can have a noticeable effect on groundwater levels. Scientists studied 115 aquifers and found that the water level did indeed rise and lower with the rhythm of these crustal tides. The fluctuations of water level varied from 3cm to 10cm.

This may seem like an irrelevant shift in terms of growing crops, but let’s step out of the idea that “more is more”. This mentality has gotten us into the mess we’re in now. Instead, to understand the influence of the moon, let’s consider flower essences. These vibrational remedies are considered to be more potent the further they are diluted. After the initial essence is made, it is then diluted twice more. Then for usage, only a few drops of that dilution are utilized. The result is a remedy that reaches below the physical self and into the emotional self. They reach down to levels that physical remedies cannot.

The effect of the gentle tides of the earth can be considered similar to how flower essences work. It is believed that as the tide rises, bioactivity or energy in the soil also rises. The different levels of activity in the soil are beneficial for different tasks.

At the same time, as we consider how water in the soil is affected, we can also think about how the gravitational or energetic pull of the moon affects crops. As the moon waxes, energy aboveground increases. As it wanes, energy belowground increases, a perfect cyclical mirror in the garden. The shifting of this pull is also ideal for different tasks at different phases, which we’ll discuss more later.

The issue is that science will never prove this relationship between moon and earth valid because this relationship doesn’t abide by modern scientific measurements. Scientists will forever call moon gardening pseudoscience while also encouraging farmers to use the newest herbicide or pesticide. While there are some wonderful studies out there that show how the moon and earth “may” affect each other, it is up to the conscious farmer or gardener to close the gap. It is up to them to experiment and see for themselves how their crops germinate at higher rates, how their harvests are more abundant and plants less susceptible to disease and pests.

This is important because as I mentioned, moon gardening doesn’t follow science's rules. It doesn’t measure the shift within the gardener as they attune their life and tasks to the rhythms of the moon. It doesn’t see how the garden becomes more intentional, more structured, more vibrant with the care of doing things on a cyclical basis. It doesn’t measure how the effect of the moon on the gardener or farmer is just as important as the effect on the land. It doesn’t measure the spiritual abundance that comes from reciprocity and letting the earth flow to its natural rhythms. It doesn’t account for the thousands of years that humans cultivated the soil by the light of the moon and how those ancestral ties bring land and gardener back into balance.

How to Garden by the Moon

There are many slight variations to how people have grown by the moon around the world. But there are common threads that tie them all together which I will discuss here. Before we start, it is important to note that the new moon and full moon are often considered days for rest and celebration instead of work. Use this time to enjoy the garden and simply be.

Moon Phases

First Quarter

Just past the new moon is when watery influences are strongest. It has been shown that seeds absorb more water around the new moon and therefore germinate well. This makes it an ideal time to plant leafy crops which are full of juicy moisture. Planting fruiting crops would produce harvests that are more watery than flavorful, so avoid planting these types if possible. The first few days after the new moon is also a good time to harvest root crops as the energy belowground is at its peak.

Second Quarter

Energy aboveground is steadily increasing now. Flowering plants and annual fruiting plants (such as tomatoes and the like) are best planted during this quarter. As the watery influence of the new moon diminishes, flavor and vibrancy aboveground flourishes. Planting close to the full moon will further enhance germination rates as the earth tides rise again.

Third Quarter

Just past the full moon is peak time to plant root crops as well as shrubs and trees. The influence of the full moon is still strong while its energy begins traveling downward as the moon wanes, encouraging strong crop development under the soil. The first few days past the full moon is also a good time to harvest above ground crops as you’ve taken advantage of all of the upward growth from the past two phases.

Fourth Quarter

The last quarter of the lunar cycle is often considered a time of rest. Planting and harvesting is put on the backburner. Instead, take this time to work the soil, weed, prune, fertilize or work on garden maintenance. If all is well, perhaps take a step back and simply let things be. In modern society we are rarely given permission to rest. It is thought that rest is lazy and unproductive. But the moon shows us that rest is just as important as the planting and the harvesting.

Barren and Fertile Signs

Many people also incorporate the lunar zodiac into their moon gardening practices. Some methods make things complicated by taking into account oppositions, ascending and descending, apogee and perigee. I personally have found the philosophy of “barren and fertile” signs to be the most sustainable and effective.

Essentially, the zodiac sign in which the moon resides is considered barren or fertile. Water and earth signs are generally considered fertile while fire and air signs are considered barren. Libra, Sagittarius and Capricorn however are considered semi-fertile. Cancer is said to be the most fertile. It is also interesting to note that people work with the barren and fertile model when trying to plan the ideal time for conceiving a child. Land and body are eternally connected.

In terms of gardening, barren days are best for harvesting, pruning and weeding. Fertile days of course are best for planting as well as fertilizing. There are also a few side notes that suggest weeding should be done in the sign of Leo, pruning should be done within a fire sign, root crops should be planted in Capricorn, and above ground crops should be planted in Cancer. Of course these are simply suggestions and experimenting with your own practice and seeing what works best for you and your garden is always the best system.

You can then incorporate the barren and fertile model with the lunar phases to further enhance the vitality of your garden. Or you don’t have to. Use one, or the other, or none. This practice is meant to make gardening more joyful, intentional and abundant. Simply do what feels right. Of course modern life is wild and we don’t always have time to figure out what day is best for which activity. We created the LUNICA Planner just for that reason. It gives a basic refresher of moon gardening but also lists exactly what task is ideal for what day in accordance with the lunar phases and zodiac so you can simply get to work.

When it comes down to it, we are in uncertain times. The world feels like it is changing at an unprecedented rate, but there is still beauty and life out there. There is still a reason to celebrate and connect with all that is around us, both in the sky and under our feet. Moon gardening brings us back to where we began. It helps us work with the rhythms of the earth rather than against. And in the days when droughts are becoming more frequent, storms more violent, food sources less reliable, shouldn’t we want to harness every resource we have with as little force?

The Garden and the Moon: A Lunar Planting Guide

How the Moon Influences Crops

How to Garden by the Moon

Moon Phases

Barren and Fertile Signs