Dark of the Moon - time of rest?

Should we plant during the dark of the moon?

Before the internet (back in the dark ages) I read an article about gardening by the moon in India. This article said to do nothing in the garden during the dark of the moon - it was a time of rest.

Since then I have read conflicting information about that -- but it always made sense to me so I do nothing in the garden during the dark of the moon.

First I suggest buying a Stella natura, the biodynamic planting calendar.

Usually root crops are sown in the dark of the moon. I won't say that by 100% because today is a fruit day. Which I will harvest peaches today.

Does "the dark of the moon" mean the new moon? Or is that referring to the waning phase after the full moon? Certainty there are always chores to be done even under barren influences, such as composting, weeding, and like Jordan said harvesting. Although, rest periods, I would agree are beneficial to observe to flow with the rhythm of nature.

Jeanine Gurley wrote:Should we plant during the dark of the moon?

Before the internet (back in the dark ages) I read an article about gardening by the moon in India. This article said to do nothing in the garden during the dark of the moon - it was a time of rest.

Since then I have read conflicting information about that -- but it always made sense to me so I do nothing in the garden during the dark of the moon.

I agree, don't garden in the dark, you'll chop your foot off or something.

Yes Andrea - I should have been more specific. I meant the new moon. And Jordan, thanks for the suggestion - I'll look into the calendar.

When I was practicing moon sign planting before it was more of a general approach. But I have seen such a marked difference in production when I stopped doing it and then started up again.

So now I plan on taking this much more seriously and being more particular about dates and such.

I do remember my grandmothers and great grandmothers gardens being absolutely amazing and I know that they did pretty much everything by the signs. Too bad I didn't pay more attention when I was little.

My friend instructed me that the new moon is a rest period. I will need to get one of those calendars.

This was our first year trying to grow anything. We seen a lil pamphlet at the store that was for our area, Ed Hume's 2012 Garden Almanac. It was only 1.79 so we got it, but we forgot to pay much attention to it after our first couple plantings. Everything we did by the moon did better than everything we didn't. Today it said to plant root crops, so we did. Carrots are my new favorite veggie so I was pretty excited about today, 4 kinds of carrots went in the ground! Wasn't the moon also used for other things in the old days?

Traditionally dark of the moon is not the right time to do anythings with plants...

Thought this was pretty cool

http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/Moon_Planting.asp

I have read that the new moon is the best time to deworm animals...
...the worms are most active at this time.

I would suspect that this would also be the best time to check their manure to see if they do have a worm problem.

have been doing a bit of studying and ordered book and calendar..but do find that MOST info I'm finding is not for my Northern Michigan area..so I would like to find out if there are any persons doing this type of gardening in Michigan or a similar Northern Temperate climate.

I feel I am beginning to understand the processes a bit

When I get a chance I look at this calender
http://www.astrologie-info.com/mocal.cgi?language=eng&sidtrop=sid

Not sure that i understand it all but it gives me the gist.

The bit about baking bread I have to ignore as I bake when we need it (which is almost every day!)

Alison - love the link!

I do my planting a bit differently than what is on the chart but I do like that the astrological signs are posted for each day as well as the moon phase.

My aunt does a lot of things based on the moon phase AND where the astrological sign is and I am trying to learn what I can from her but it is confusing. This calendar will help me understand what she is talking about a bit better.