Monday 28th October

Monday 28th October
The moon rises in the fiery constellation of Leo before transitioning to Virgo in the afternoon, bringing us down from a state of fire and fructification to one of grounding and physicality. When comparing plants or elements to the four states of matter in a fourfold manner, we could pair roots with solids, leaves with liquids, flowers with gases, and fruits and seeds with plasma—the fourth state of matter. Morning is an ideal time to tend to fruiting plants, while the grounded afternoon brings us to the physical plane, making it well-suited for tending to root plants, which benefit from the moon’s position.

Sunday 27th October

Sunday 27th October
The moon continues its journey through Leo and can be seen rising on the horizon. The moon, sun, and planets create a unique rhythm each day, one that will never be repeated. This macrocosm reflects the microcosm within us, as we are mirrors of the cosmos. We gaze at the planets and stars while standing on the Earth, our cosmic home. To create gardens of pure imagination and beauty, we must act as conductors between the Earth and the cosmos. If the world were filled with gardeners and kind souls, the entire Earth could become a Garden of Eden.

Saturday 26th October

Saturday 26th October
The waning moon deepens into the constellation of Leo, a sign associated with fire and strength. This brings warmth from the cosmos throughout the day, which, although different in quality from the weather, can still be sensed. Biodynamic farmers and gardeners follow the rhythms of the moon, the rhythms of the seasons, and the rhythms of the day to guide their decisions, as they strive to work with these natural rhythms rather than against them.

Friday 25th October

Friday 25th October
Today, the moon crossed the constellation threshold, moving from Pisces to Leo, bringing a renewed energy into the day that we can harness for transformation and self-expression. In these darkening autumn days, we can transplant strawberries in the garden to prepare for the fruits of spring, as well as harvest any remaining fruits such as apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. Much of the garden has completed its metamorphosis from seed to an abundance of fruit, and now the fruits hold the new seeds, which can be collected and resown next season. By continually collecting seeds and sowing new vegetables, we can begin to reflect the terroir of our garden in our produce.

Thursday 24th October

Thursday 24th October
The moon rises in the constellation of Pisces, infusing the day with a gentle, watery quality. In the garden, it’s the perfect time to transplant herbs like thyme, rosemary, and lavender, as they will establish stronger roots under the descending moon in Pisces. This constellation also enhances intuition, opening pathways to artistic and spiritual pursuits.

Wednesday 23rd October

Wednesday 23rd October
The moon has reached its highest point on the horizon and will now begin to descend. This sidereal rhythm differs from the synodic rhythm that governs the phases of the moon. The sidereal rhythm is particularly influential in biodynamics. When the moon is descending, it is an ideal time for transplanting, as root development is favoured. Conversely, when the moon is rising, it benefits the development of the plant above the soil. In the southern hemisphere, the moon's synodic rhythm is reversed—when the moon is descending in the northern hemisphere, it is ascending in the southern hemisphere. The moon transitions from descending to ascending approximately every two weeks.

Tuesday 22nd October

Tuesday 22nd October
Today, the moon rises in the constellation of Gemini, making it an ideal day for working with flowers, due to the influence of air and light. As Mercury and Saturn form a trine, being 120 degrees apart in air constellations, this further strengthens the forces of air and light, making it an especially beneficial time for tending to flowers. Just as these celestial movements influence garden activities, they also bring a sense of lightness to the day, encouraging joy and making it a wonderful time for socialising and spending time with friends and family.

Monday 21st October

Monday 21st October
The moon rises in the constellation of Taurus. In the garden, consider sowing or transplanting onions, which will have ample time to develop strong root systems and complex flavours, ready for harvest in the spring. This also keeps a garden bed productive throughout the winter. In his eight lectures on biodynamic agriculture delivered 100 years ago, Rudolf Steiner compared the plant to an upside-down man, with its head in the ground. He linked the root system to the human head, suggesting that root vegetables are beneficial for ailments affecting the nervous system. According to biodynamic nutrition, flowers support the digestive system, fruits and seeds benefit the reproductive and cardiovascular systems, and leafy vegetables are good for the respiratory system.

Sunday 20th October

Sunday 20th October
The moon continues its journey through the constellation of Taurus, an ideal time for working with the soil, often after clearing vegetable beds in preparation for new crops. As we learn more about mycelium and soil structure, there is a growing movement towards no-dig methods of vegetable cultivation. This approach incorporates wood chip paths and uses only light cultivation techniques to manage weeds. However, it requires significant initial effort to remove all weeds from the soil and demands careful, diligent management thereafter. Many biodynamic gardeners are successfully integrating biodynamic principles into no-dig gardens, using resourcefulness to align with the concept of a farm organism, which is a key principle of biodynamic agriculture.

Thursday 17th October

Thursday 17th October
The Moon rises in the constellation of Pisces, reaching its fullness as a symbol of culmination and a time for celebration. Spectacularly, this October full Moon coincides with perigee, meaning that the full Moon is also at its closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth, making it a supermoon—the biggest Moon of the year. Take an evening walk and observe our beautiful guardian in her Majesty.

Wednesday 16th October

Wednesday 16th October
The Moon rises in the constellation of Pisces, creating a mood for introspection, where we can reflect on our thoughts, words, and actions. Often, we may fall short of our ideals and need a reminder to live more consciously across all areas of life. In biodynamics, we must also reflect on our practices as we strive to develop a farm organism that is sensitive to both earthly and cosmic forces. This requires farmers and gardeners to apply their intentions and egos to the farm, making decisions that serve the farm’s being, the natural kingdoms, and the community.

Tuesday 15th October

Tuesday 15th October
The Moon continues through Aquarius before entering Pisces, moving from an air constellation to a water constellation, which brings a subtle change to the feel of the day. By observing the phenomena of the weather, light, cosmos, and energy, you may begin to recognise the influence the cosmos has on the Earth, and notice when the Moon advances through the zodiac. In the garden, we can continue to sow salads, sowing inside a greenhouse if necessary. It’s also an ideal time to harvest any seeds from leaf plants such as spinach, lettuce, and cabbage.

Monday 14th October

Monday 14th October
The Moon rises in the constellation of Aquarius, which is an air sign and corresponds to the flower aspect of a plant’s form. This makes it an ideal time to harvest flowers, which could be arranged into a beautiful vase, echoing the autumn colours around us. Interestingly, there is a trine between the Sun and Jupiter, as they find themselves 120 degrees apart in earthly constellations. This trine occurs in the early morning and overrules the Moon, making the first part of the day ideal for tending to root plants, while the afternoon is better suited for tending to flowers.

Sunday 13th October

Sunday 13th October
The planet Mercury crosses the elliptical path of the Earth at a descending node, interrupting the cosmic flow and making it an unfavourable morning for gardening. Instead, we can spend time organising. A biodynamic gardener could ensure they have access to the essential biodynamic preparations: cow horn manure 500, cow horn silica 501, and the six compost preparations—yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion, and valerian. These preparations are crucial in biodynamic agriculture and gardening, as they enliven the soil and support the cosmic and earthly processes occurring within the soil and plants.

Saturday 12th October

Saturday 12th October
The moon rises in the constellation of Capricorn, stirring desires for ambition. The early morning is an ideal time to sow root vegetables, but after midday, conditions become less favorable for gardening due to Mercury's descending node, where it crosses the ecliptic. This shift will be helpful tomorrow, but in the planetary sphere, it is already causing confusion, which influences us and how we should engage with our gardens.

Friday 11th October

Friday 11th October
Today, as the moon enters the grounded sign of Capricorn, the focus shifts toward practicality, structure, and discipline. This is an excellent time to bring order to your projects, manage responsibilities, and set clear goals. In the garden, Capricorn's steady energy favours careful planning and attention to detail, making it perfect for tasks that require patience and long-term vision. You might concentrate on preparing your compost, ensuring the soil will be enriched for future growth. As you work, you’ll notice the bees diligently gathering the last nectar from late-blooming flowers, making the most of what remains before the season shifts. The earthy energy of Capricorn supports slow, deliberate progress, helping you lay strong foundations in your garden and beyond.

Thursday 10th October

Thursday 10th October
The waxing half-moon moves deeper into the constellation of Sagittarius, where it will remain for the entire day. In the garden, you can align with this rhythm by harvesting ripe fruits. Apples are perfect for this moment—they can be picked and pressed to make fresh juice. The natural sugars in the juice have the potential to ferment into alcohol, producing apple cider, as the yeast on the apple skins initiates the process. If left longer, the cider undergoes a second fermentation, transforming into apple cider vinegar. Harvesting and pressing apples is not only a practical way to process the abundance of ripening fruit, but it can also bring people together to share in the work and celebration of the season’s bounty.

Wednesday 9th October

Wednesday 9th October
As the moon transitions from the watery depths of Scorpio to the fiery energy of Sagittarius, its sidereal rhythm shifts, reaching the lowest point on the horizon. Over the next two weeks, the moon will gradually rise, amplifying its influence on everything growing above ground while its effect on roots and soil wanes. This shift in the garden’s cycle provides the perfect opportunity to refocus your efforts, making it an ideal time to maintain and harvest your crops. As the evenings grow darker, take the chance to observe the moon in its sidereal cycle.

Tuesday 8th October

Tuesday 8th October
The moon rises in the constellation of Scorpio, which is known for bringing emotions to the forefront. In the garden, Scorpio is typically associated with working with leafy plants. However, in the cosmic theatre, we find some interesting alignments. Venus and Mars are in a trine, positioned 120 degrees apart, both in air constellations. This alignment fosters romance and also makes it an ideal day for working with flowers. Meanwhile, another trine forms between Mercury and Jupiter, aligning in earth constellations. This creates an intriguing duality between the light and earthly forces influencing us and our gardens.

Monday 7th October

Monday 7th October
The moon transitions into the constellation of Scorpio, bringing an intensity to our day—an intensity mediated by the element of water, which can be visualised as a flowing stream that moves with direction and courage. In the garden, this is an excellent time to harvest leafy greens and salads and perhaps sow oriental salads or spinach. With the right conditions or the use of a greenhouse to provide warmth, these crops can continue to thrive.