Insight of the Week: Your Garden Horoscope

Libra: Today is a semi-fruitful day, best for planting fragrant flowers, vines and herbs. 

Though passé in our modern, scientific world, farmers have been farming based on the moon's position in the sky for millennia. For those of you who skip the horoscopes in the newspaper, here is some background. 

Astrology divides the night sky into 12 30-degree segments of which a constellation is assigned. The twelve constellations are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each sign is associated with one of the classical elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. 

When the moon is waxing, going from a new moon to a full moon, and in a favorable sign, it is good to plant above-ground crops. When the moon is waning, going from a full moon to a new moon, it is good to plant root crops.  

The water signs are the most favorable for planting, these are: Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio. The moon's gravitational power has the strength to affect the tide; this power is thought to also assist plants in pulling water up and growing. 

The earth signs are also favorable for planting, these are: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. 

The barren signs are the fire signs: Leo, Aires, Sagittarius, and the Air signs: Gemini, Aquarius, Libra. Libra is thought to be an exception. When the moon is in these signs it is best to harvest, till, prune, and weed. 

Planting by the signs originated in ancient times, but Appalachian farmers from the country’s founding to modern times prominently practiced it. I first stumbled upon the concept while reading The Foxfire Book and then noticed The Farmers' Almanac had an astrological symbol listed for each day in the column right before the Sun Rise Time. 

Though, obviously not scientifically proven or supported, it is important to note. Many factors affect our gardens and lives that we cannot see with our eyes. The moon and stars are always moving, unworried if we are looking up at them. 

And now you know! 

Happy Farming, 
Woody