Why we chose to plant our pastures this past week.

Hello

Farming BioDynamically is about farming in harmony with nature. In particular the energies that enable fertility and fecundity.

We have just planted 20 hectares which takes our total hectares under irrigation to 126. The pastures are for our global warming reversing cattle and Eggmobile dwelling chickens to graze. We plant 18 varieties of grasses and legumes (plants that bring atmospheric Nitrogen into the ground, not lentils). I can email you the list if you are interested.

In the photo below, taken yesterday, Murehwa is driving the tractor (a Lamborghini…truly) pulling the Piket minimum tillage planter.

We chose to plant during the week that ended today the 13th of April for three reasons.

First, full moon is 10 hours away which means that the moon has been waxing. i.e. getting fuller. This exerts a force on the earth that is good for germination. (A waning moon is good for transplanting as the forces are going down, into the earth if you wish). Every surfer knows that at full moon there is what they call spring tide and the waves are bigger. The moon is exerting a force on the earth. An example of “the invisible behind the visible” Goethe referred to so long ago. A plant is 97% water and so ignoring the effect of the moon on plants is wilfull ignorance.

Second, the moon is ascending through the planets. This is also an upward force which is good for germination.

Third, if you are lucky enough with your timing full moon will be at perigee which is when it is closest to the earth and is exerting the greatest force upon the earth.

We planted 32 hectares in December 2013 when the same forces were at play and we had excellent germination. The best of the 6 times we have planted pastures.

Now we need to water twice a day until full germination, hope the guinea fowl don’t eat too many of the seeds and then in 8 weeks start the grazing cycle.

Above are the sprayers giving water this evening at Slangpark (snake park) with some of the Eggmobiles cresting the hill.

For those of you interested in more about BioDynamic agriculture click on the green (twice) Recovering the lost art of agriculture – biodynamics for a recent article by the movement’s most erudite protagonist, Nicolas Joly. The last sentence is what is known as a punch line.

Thanks

Angus

13 April 2014