Wednesday 22nd January

Wednesday 22nd January
The Moon continues its descent into the constellation of Virgo, a sign known for its focus on precision and planning—qualities essential in gardening, particularly in commercial market gardens. Here, careful crop rotations and well-structured plans are vital for maintaining both productivity and sustainability. In our own lives, thoughtful planning serves a similar purpose. It allows us to navigate the abundance of choices we face, providing direction and focus. By committing to a chosen path for a set period, we can work steadily toward our goals, knowing that new opportunities will present themselves in due course.

Tuesday 21st January

Tuesday 21st January
The Moon rises in the constellation of Virgo, bringing grounding forces. However, with the Moon positioned at apogee, it becomes favourable to tend to flowers, as the intensified light reflects the Sun’s radiance. By the afternoon, this element of light subsides, allowing Virgo’s grounding influence to take hold. This creates an ideal opportunity to test our soil—examining its physical, chemical, and biological composition. We can gain valuable insights into its condition through simple or elaborate methods. From there, we can work to enhance the soil using cover crops, biodynamic preparations, animal fertilisers, and by nurturing a conscious relationship with the Earth.

Monday 20th January

Monday 20th January
As the Moon deepens into Virgo, it brings a beneficial period for organizing and paying close attention to details. This makes it a great time to work on your gardening plan for the year. Having an overview plan for your garden helps manage crop rotations, grow the plants you desire, and increase efficiency in your gardening tasks. Market gardens often follow a gardening plan that evolves over time. As your experience grows, you can gradually refine an ideal planting plan unique to your garden's layout, location, shading, elevation, soil type, and more.

Sunday 19th January

Sunday 19th January
Today, the Moon continues its descent into the constellation of Virgo. The Greeks associated this sign with Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and the harvest. It is perhaps for this reason that Demeter is used as the certification and quality mark for biodynamically produced food. Biodynamically grown food is cultivated using methods that care for the soil and the Earth, resulting in food that is intrinsically nutritious due to the health of the soil and the vitality of the farm organism. Demeter-quality food is common in Germany and Switzerland, but it is gradually making its way across the globe as more farmers adopt biodynamic methods and more consumers become aware of the importance of well-grown, nourishing produce.

Saturday 18th January

Saturday 18th January
As the Sun transitions into Capricorn, an earthy sign, we are reminded of the steady rhythms of the zodiac. On Christmas Eve, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made its closest approach to the Sun, coming within 3.8 million miles of its surface to enhance our understanding of this vital star. Today, the Moon also shifts from a fiery sign into the earthy sign of Virgo, aligning perfectly with the Sun’s transition. This is an ideal time to tend to root crops in the garden and enrich garden beds with compost, preparing for the work of spring. The movement of both the Sun and Moon invites us to ground our actions in the natural rhythms around us, supporting the cycles of growth and renewal.

Friday 17th January

Friday 17th January
The Moon deepens into Leo, making it an ideal time to tend to fruits, particularly by pruning fruit trees. Each type of fruit tree has its own unique pruning requirements, so for the best results, I recommend consulting a reliable guide or book on pruning. Pruning can feel like sculpting—it blends logical thinking with an eye for aesthetics. With Venus in a 180-degree opposition to the Moon today, it is especially beneficial to focus on pruning fruit trees in the Rosaceae family, such as apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, and cherries. These fruits share a special connection to Venus’s journey and may thrive under the influence of this planetary alignment.

Thursday 16th January

Thursday 16th January
As the Moon transitions from Cancer to the vibrant and creative sign of Leo, we shift from the nurturing energies of the chest and stomach, associated with Cancer, to the expansive, heart-centred qualities of Leo. This cosmic journey reflects the progression through the zodiac, which also mirrors the human body—from Aries at the head, to Taurus at the throat, and finally to Pisces at the feet. In biodynamics, we honour this interplay of macrocosm and microcosm, recognising their deep interconnectedness. With the Moon now in Leo, let us open our hearts fully and share our gifts with the world.

Tuesday 14th January

Tuesday 14th January
Mars is visible in the night sky, retrograding through Gemini and conjuncted by the Moon. The Moon passes through a zodiac sign every 2.5 days from Earth’s perspective. With Mars in retrograde, it’s a time to reflect on past decisions, particularly in communication and intellect. As the Moon aligns with Mars, it amplifies introspection, urging us to reconsider goals and relationships. This is a period of recalibration, offering an opportunity for growth through thoughtful reflection.

Monday 13th January

Monday 13th January
Today, we are greeted by the first full moon of the new year, positioned in the constellation of Gemini. The moon has also just reached its zenith on the horizon—a rhythm observable only through careful nightly observation. This lunar rhythm is significant in biodynamic agriculture. From today, the moon will gradually descend over the next two weeks, drawing energy downward within plants. This makes it an ideal time for tending the soil, sowing seeds, and transplanting.

Sunday 12th January

Sunday 12th January
The moon departs from the constellation of Taurus and moves into Gemini, bringing a sense of lightness to the day—often welcome at the start of January, as we transition from the warmth of festive celebrations that illuminated the dark winter nights. Biodynamic winemakers may begin pruning their vineyards, often choosing a flower day, like today, with the moon in Gemini, or alternatively waiting for a fruit day. Biodynamic wine has long been a forerunner in the biodynamic agriculture movement, with winemakers from diverse backgrounds finding success by adopting these methods to craft exceptional wines. It is likely that other types of biodynamic produce will gain prominence as their exceptional taste and nourishment become more widely recognised.

Friday 10th January

Friday 10th January
The moon deepens into the constellation of Taurus, quickly passing Jupiter, bringing the potential for good fortune as the steady energy of Taurus meets the jubilant influence of Jupiter. In the garden, it's an ideal day to work with the soil and tend to root crops like carrots and potatoes. As we settle into our routines at the start of this new year, it's a good time to vision our garden. The foundation we lay now will significantly shape the growth and success of our garden come spring.

Saturday 11th January

Saturday 11th January
Today the moon continues its transit through the constellation of Taurus, which helps with the development of the roots, this energy also corresponds to the time of year, when the earth is most inwardly active, while its outer appearance is that of decay and stagnation. We can consider adding composts and manures to our vegetable beds, ready for the worms and soil life to bring down, and transform. If you are able to get hold of cow manure, or animal manure, this will bring a warmth and vitality to your soil which will help grow rich vegetables later in the season.

Thursday 9th January

Thursday 9th January
As the moon moves deeper into Taurus, bringing its steady and grounded energy, our attention is drawn to the Pleiades star cluster, just northeast of the constellation. Barely visible to the naked eye, the Pleiades were revered by ancient cultures and featured prominently in ancient calendars used to guide agricultural practices worldwide. On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, 3,500-year-old nuraghes—towering hive-shaped stone structures—stand as a testament to ancient ingenuity. Researcher Augusto Mulas identified a group of these nuraghes spread across miles, mirroring the Pleiades with remarkable precision. This celestial alignment hints at an enigmatic connection between the heavens and the earth, urging us to consider the profound wisdom encoded in these ancient structures.

Wednesday 8th January

Wednesday 8th January
As the moon transitions from the assertive energy of Aries to the grounded stability of Taurus, it’s an ideal time to focus on practical, earth-centred tasks in the garden. This phase is perfect for tending to root crops like carrots and potatoes, preparing the soil, or enriching it with compost. Taurus’s steady influence supports activities that build a strong foundation for long-term growth and vitality, fostering a deeper connection to the rhythms of the earth.

Tuesday 7th January

Tuesday 7th January
The moon’s elliptical orbit brings it closest to Earth today, a point known as Perigee. This stronger gravitational pull affects tides and can create a sense of cosmic imbalance. In biodynamics, Perigee is considered an unfavourable day for gardening, as it may disrupt plant rhythms. Instead, use this time for planning—organise seeds, prepare tools, or reflect on your connection to the land. Adapting to the moon’s cycles supports both your garden’s vitality and your alignment with nature’s rhythms.

Monday 6th January

Monday 6th January
Today marks the half-moon in the constellation of Pisces, as the lunar cycle continues to wax towards the full moon. This phase signals a time for new beginnings, coinciding with the moon's return to Pisces and the celebration of Epiphany, which concludes the 12 days of Christmas. As the festive period draws to a close, we are called back to the rhythms of daily life. Biodynamic farmers honour this moment with the Three Kings Preparation, a special blend of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. This preparation is carefully stirred in water for one hour to potentise its forces before being sprayed along the perimeters of farms and gardens. This ritual serves to protect the land from negative influences and set a harmonious foundation for the year ahead.

Sunday 5th January

Sunday 5th January
The Moon transitions into the constellation of Pisces, opening the doors to spiritual connection and creativity. This can be a good time to start planning your garden for the coming year. January is often a slow time in the garden, offering many devoted gardeners a chance to take a break for a few weeks. The Moon crosses the Sun's path at the ascending node, creating some cosmic confusion and making the afternoon unfavorable for garden work. This further emphasizes the opportunity to focus on garden design or take a well-deserved break.

Saturday 4th January

Saturday 4th January
The Moon moves into the constellation of Aquarius, a sign that corresponds to the element of air, which is also linked to the flowers of a plant. Under the influence of Aquarius, it is considered a favorable time to tend to and cultivate flowers. This presents an opportunity for us to carry out our own planting trials, testing these theories ourselves in order to develop a personal relationship with the phenomena and deepen our understanding of natural rhythms. In the afternoon, the Moon forms a conjunction with the planet Saturn, creating a brief period that is unfavorable for working in the garden.

Friday 3rd January

Friday 3rd January
As the Moon moves from the constellation of Capricorn into Aquarius, it quickly aligns with Venus, forming a conjunction that channels the forces of love and harmony down to Earth. This celestial alignment encourages us to nurture the spaces we inhabit. It’s a perfect time to attend to our houseplants, ensuring they are placed in the best locations and provided with the right conditions for growth. These plants not only bring beauty and tranquility into our homes, but many also help purify the air, creating a healthier, more balanced environment. By caring for these living beings, we align ourselves with the natural rhythms of life, bringing both peace and vitality into our homes.

Thursday 2nd January

Thursday 2nd January
The Moon rises in the sign of Capricorn, bringing an earthy dimension to the day. Perhaps the gravity of this sign makes us feel more grounded. With this influence, we may find ourselves reflecting on long-term goals in our careers, relationships, and perhaps even in our gardens. As we consider what we’d like to grow, we might think about how we can create our own symphony in our garden or in a community garden. Just as we help nature express itself in beauty and abundance, we also cultivate care and understanding for the garden. This is the essence of biodynamic gardening.