Recommendations for Working with Crops, Sequential Spraying, and Ashing

October, 2008–January 2009 in the Biodynamic Farm or Garden

(Recommendations for U.S.A. – EDT until November 2 at 2:00 a.m., then EST)

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. For greater details on the ashing technique, consult Gardening for Life by Maria Thun and in issues #27 and #28 of Applied Biodynamics. Please contact JPI for availability and price for all titles mentioned.

Eclipse/occultation events for the period:
October 10 Moon occults Neptune @ 5:50 AM
November 6 Moon occults Neptune @ 1:24 PM
December 1 Moon occults Venus @ 10:44 AM
December 28 Moon occults Mercury @ 10:53 PM
December 29 Moon occults Jupiter @ 4:20 AM
January 25 Moon occults Jupiter @ 11:36 PM
January 26 Solar Eclipse     @ 2:55 AM

Best ROOT Periods

Best FRUIT Periods

Best LEAF Periods

Best FLOWER Periods

Other helpful planetary support for the grower

Moon/Saturn oppositions occur on October 12 at 3:35 AM, on November 8 at 5:30 PM, on December 6 at 5:36 AM, on January 2 at 1:23 PM, and on January 29 at 5:31 PM. Such oppositions are thought to be favorable times for applying the biodynamic preparations.

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 that this opposition is a particularly favorable period for crops. Accordingly, the Moon/Jupiter oppositions are listed as follows: October 20 at 9:20 AM, November 16 at 10:38 PM, December 14 at 5:27 PM, and January 11 at 2:59 PM.

 

Best SEQUENTIAL SPRAY Periods

If moisture lacking – In addition to the periods listed above for 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.

If moisture excessive – In addition to the periods listed above for 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 exchange places in the sequence according to whether one is trying to stimulate or decrease moisture. For maximum encouragement of moisture, all sprays should be applied when the Moon is in a Water(Leaf) constellation, whereas during times of excess moisture, to achieve maximum drying effect, all sprays need to be applied during a 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 conditions would clearly suggest that such harmony is lacking.

For ASHING OF INSECT PESTS

Throughout the period covered by these recommendations, most favorable constellational aspects are not present for the insect kingdom.

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.

For ASHING 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. The next period for a transit of Venus through Scorpio/Scorpion takes place from October 17, 2008 through November 10, 2008. Although Thun in The 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.

ASHING OF WEED SEEDS

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.