But does it work?
Knowledge of the influences of the moon and astrological positioning of the stars is common among ganja farmers in Northern California. One such gardener, who has been working
with a professional astrologist, claims
he takes his best cuttings when the sun, the moon and the rising sign are all in Scorpio. Even if it is three o’clock in the morning, he’ll wait for the precise moment to take cuttings. He attributes this method for the increased vigor in his young plants once they root.
Roots and Harmony Farms, a medical marijuana establishment for some twenty years, has been applying these ancient farming ideas to everyday practices since 2003 and developed quality nutrient products that dovetail with the natural lunar rhythms. Blue, the master grower at Roots and Harmony Farms (R&H), keeps a daily log in his moon calendar and says it is easy to apply astrological gardening techniques to his outdoor and greenhouse gardens. However, it has been more of a challenge to work by the phases of the moon and its placement in the zodiac indoors due to the needs of various strains and the more frequent harvests. But Blue still encourages indoor farmers to give it a try. “If you miss optimal times or most preferred times to do an action, then continue in the next best way. Not all books or references agree, including ones on lunar gardening. What is important is keeping that
intuitive con-nection between the plants and the moon.”
Blue started germinating seeds in Spring 2006 when the moon was transitioning into Libra – a time of strong root growth – and stayed on schedule with the zodiac by thinning, releasing, transplanting, applying Neem oil, fertilizing, etc. at appropriate times. He scheduled the harvest time for just after the full moon in Gemini, but due to an unseasonable rainstorm it was done before the full moon in the sign of Aquarius. Despite the early harvest, the yields proved to be one-third larger than previous calculations because it was done during a very good harvest time.
All situations are unique, of course – the grower, soil, location, weather, and unforeseen events produce an outcome that may or may not be predictable. Through understanding moon farming and applying the basic principles of cycles and rhythms, your marijuana garden should be brilliant in color and life force. Purchase a calendar or almanac that includes the moon cycle and signs of the zodiac, and keep a journal for times, methods employed, consequent results and observations.
Further research with the aid of books and websites is highly recommended. I believe that with knowledge of the moon, sun and earth and their relative positions in the sky, you can improve your harvest and develop a stronger spiritual kinship with the incredible cannabis plant and the natural world around you.
Further Research:
• “
Planetary Planting: A Guide to Organic Gardening by the Signs of the Zodiac” by Riotte Louise, Simon and Schuster, 1975
• “How To Grow More Vegetables: A Primer on the Life-Giving Biodynamic/French Intensive Method of Organic Horticulture” by John Jeavons, Ten Speed Press, 1982
• “
Gardening By the Moon” by Caren Catterall,
www.gardeningbythemoon.com
• “National Geographic: Age Old Moon Gardening Growing In Popularity” by John Roach, July 2003
• “Lunar Organics”,
www.lunarorganics.com
• “Growing by the Stars”,
www.plantsandplanets.com
• “Lunar Gardening”,
www.planetfusion.co.uk/pignut/Lunar_gardening.html
• “Gardening and Farming by the Moon”,
www.home.earthlink.net/planthow7/lunargardening.htm
• Electromagnetic Fields in Space”,
http://what.gi.alaska.edu/ao/msp/chapters/chapter3.pdf
• “
Astrology, the Guidepost of Your Life”,
www.under-one-roof.net/spiritual/astrology.html