Recommendations for Working with Crops, Sequential Spraying, and Ashing

April, May, June, July and August 2008

in the Biodynamic Farm or Garden

(Recommendation for U.S.A. - Eastern Daylight Time)

By Hugh J. Courtney

 

The times indicated are those thought to be the first choice periods for working the soil, applying the biodynamic preparations, sowing seed, or working with plants in general. Since not everyone will have an opportunity to take advantage of these periods, or will need to be working in the garden at other times, for daily indications please refer to Stella Natura 2008 or to The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2008. The sequential spray technique is described in Applied Biodynamics, Issues #6 and #25 (available from JPI for $7.50 each). For greater details on the ashing technique, consult Issues #27 & #28 of Applied Biodynamics (available from JPI at $7.50 per issue). We now have on hand calendars for 2008, including Stella Natura 2008 at $14.95, and Sowing and Planting Calendar 2008 by Maria & Matthias Thun at $13.95. Another calendar option is 2008 Northern Hemisphere Astro Calendar by Keats & Mager @ $12.95. All calendar/book orders should include $6.00 postage and handling (per order, not per title).

 

Eclipse/occultation events for the period:
April 2 Moon occults Neptune @ 5:14 AM
April 12 Moon occults Mars @ 1:51 AM
April 29 Moon occults Neptune @ 3:16 PM
May 10 Moon occults Mars @ 9:50 AM
May 26 Moon occults Neptune @ 10:50 PM
June 7 Moon occults Mars @ 9:38 PM
June 23 Moon occults Neptune @ 4:14 AM
July 20 Moon occults Neptune @ 8:55 AM
August 1 Solar Eclipse     @ 6:13 AM
August 16 Moon occults Neptune @ 2:24 PM
August 16 Lunar Eclipse     @ 5:16 PM

 

Best ROOT Periods:

“ FRUIT “ :

“ SEED “ :

“ LEAF “ :

“FLOWER “ :

 

Other helpful planetary support for the grower:

Moon/Saturn oppositions occur on April 2 at 9:16 PM, on April 30 at 5:15 AM, on May 27 at 1:46 PM, on June 23 at 10:57 PM on July 21 at 9:25 AM and on August 17 at 9:46 PM during periods when the Moon is in the constellation of Aquarius(Water Bearer) and Saturn is in the constellation Leo(Lion). Saturn begins the year with a period of retrograde motion until May 3, when it turns direct. {A retrograde Saturn is deemed to make things dramatically more difficult or opposite to expectations. Biodynamic practitioners in New Zealand regard the Moon/Saturn opposition as one of the most favorable aspects for seed germination and application of the biodynamic sprays} (Aspects can be regarded as having an effect at least 12 hours prior to the event until at least 6 hours after. The closer to the actual time of a Moon/Saturn opposition the more effective is one’s action likely to be)

Since the Moon/Saturn oppositions occur during Ascending Moon periods, the Northern Hemisphere grower may be well advised to take greater notice of Moon/Jupiter oppositions which are now taking place during Descending Moon periods, which are specified as Northern Planting Time by Maria Thun as her 50 years of plant research has established. Accordingly, the Moon/Jupiter oppositions are listed as follows: April 12 at 11:05 AM; May 9 at 8:06 PM; June 6 at 3:24 AM; on July 3 at 9:03 AM; on July 30 at 1:28 PM; and on August 26 at 5:47 PM

 

Best SEQUENTIAL SPRAY Periods:

If moisture lacking – In addition to the periods listed above under Leaf, the following may also be suitable:

Please Note: Other times may require an “abbreviated sequence.” An abbreviated sequence involves a spray combining BC plus BD#500, stirred together for one hour, and applied near sunset on day one. On day two, BD#501 and #508 are stirred together for one hour and sprayed near sunrise. All sprays must be applied during a time when the moon is in a Leaf/Water constellation in order to achieve an influence on moisture conditions. Instead of BD#500 and #501, #(X)500 and #501(5x) may be used in the appropriate combination with BC and BD#508 respectively with a resultant stirring time for each combination spray of only 20 minutes.

If moisture excessive – In addition to the periods listed above under Fruit, the following may also be suitable:

Although the same preparations are used in cases where there is either too much or too little moisture, BD #501 and BD #508 occupy a different place in the sequence according to whether one is trying to stimulate moisture or attempting to achieve a drying effect. In the case of lack of moisture, BD #501 is second in the sequence and one finishes with BD #508 giving a final impulse with the preparation in the sequence that appears to relate most strongly to the watery forces. For maximum encouragement for moisture, all sprays should be applied when the Moon is in a Water(Leaf) constellation. When moisture is excessive, BD #508 takes the second place in the sequence and the last spray is BD # 501, thus using a preparation that relates very strongly to a drying impulse as the final signal in the sequence. For maximum drying effect, all sprays need to be applied during the period when the Moon is in a Fire(Fruit) constellation.

This technique should not be approached from the viewpoint of “manipulating” the weather, but rather as a means to restore conditions of harmony and balance when drought or deluge conditions would clearly suggest that there is a decided lack of harmony or balance within the earth in a given location.

For ASHING—

    OF INSECT PESTS:  

Please note: See Thun - The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2008, p. 23, 25, 27 , 29 and 31 for additional recommendations which may differ somewhat from those indicated below.

Moths

Cabbage butterflies, flies, white fly, mosquitoes, etc.

Colorado potato beetle, cabbage root fly, varroa mites, chitinous insects (i.e., grasshoppers, etc.)

Cutworms and mole crickets

Shieldbugs, slugs and snails

Aphids

Weevils

Mites, non-chitinous insects

 

If you are experiencing serious pest problems when conditions are not the most favorable for ashing, it is suggested that you continue to collect the desired 50-60 (more when possible) specimens and preserve them in alcohol (i.e., vodka) until a favorable time occurs. {In any case, the grower should harvest a maximum of troublesome pests whenever the chance exists so as to be prepared at a future time to complete the ashing. As a last resort, ashing of insect pests can be attempted under certain other aspects than a “most favorable” one, but anyone attempting to do so should be advised that a wrong choice in this regard can actually stimulate an increase in the pest concerned rather than the desired decrease or elimination.

     OF ANIMAL PESTS – with respect to vertebrate animals, Steiner specified that the skin of the animal must be burned when the planet Venus is “in the Scorpion.” The resultant pepper is then scattered over the area to be protected from the particular animal. {In the case of deer, mice, voles, gophers, groundhogs (woodchucks), coyotes and the like, one should use as much of the skin/hide as possible, but probably should omit from the ashing process the feet or other parts containing flesh or bone. For crows, pigeons, or other bird pests, skin as well as feathers are probably desired, again omitting flesh and bone from the ashing process. Given the fact that there are times when Venus is in Scorpio/Scorpion when some animals would be in hibernation and thus not as readily “harvestable,” one can probably gather the skin of the “pest” at other times during the year rather than only when “Venus is in the Scorpion.” There is a great deal of research to be carried out on the question of “pest peppers.” We would like to encourage as many people as possible to conduct ashing experiments and especially encourage them to share their results – good, bad, or indifferent – with us, so that we may further share it through the JPI Newsletter Applied Biodynamics.} The next period for a transit of Venus through Scorpio/Scorpion takes place from October 17, 2008 through November 10, 2008. Although Thun inThe Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2008, on page 34 recommends October 16 (@ 4 PM EDT) through October 17 (@ 2 PM EDT), since this fails to meet Steiner’s criteria to accomplish the ashing at “the high conjunction” of Venus in Scorpio/Scorpion, we make the recommendation for later in the month of October. Specifically the recommended optimum dates are believed to be October 28, 29 and 30. {One can only hope that sooner or later the funds will be available to research the finer points of the entire ashing question. It would be a real blessing if an animal pest ashing could take place during the two different periods indicated above to see if one period might indeed be more effective than the other.} 

     OF WEED SEEDS – This is a complicated issue, since it appears each particular weed has a relationship to a particular constellation, and can best be countered or ashed when the Moon is in that constellation. Maria Thun in her research has repeatedly observed that germination of all weeds is greatest when the Moon is in the constellation Leo/Lion and the least germination takes place when the Moon is in Capricorn/Goat. Therefore in soil preparation, one would be well served to cultivate when the Moon is in Leo/Lion, to stimulate the greatest weed germination, and follow with a final seed bed cultivation when the Moon is in Capricorn/Goat. If able to consistently follow this pattern, weed problems would be greatly diminished.

Until one can identify the particular constellation associated with the weed to be controlled, the following approach is suggested. Gather seeds of the weed in question, and ash them at the beginning of the Moon’s passage through a FIRE constellation (with Leo/Lion being first choice), preferably just before a New Moon or just before a Full Moon. The most propitious time for ashing of weed seeds (as well as application of the resultant ash) is likely when both Sun and Moon are in Leo/Lion, which in 2008 occurs August 29 at 7 AM through August 31 at 5 PM. Thereafter, scatter the ashes over the area in which you wish to reduce or eliminate the weed in question. Ideally, the ash should be applied in the form of a D-8 potency (see Issue # 28 of Applied Biodynamics for details on the potentizing process).

Application of the products of the ashing process, whether seed or pest, should probably be done just before New or Full Moon as well. For most effective results the application should be done four consecutive times in a row, and for even greater effectiveness, this four consecutive times application could be repeated within two to four weeks. One is well advised to keep careful records of one’s experiments including both ashing and applications.