.....by Patricia Telesco

The anicents believed that a Witch received power from the moon, which may be why many Pagan calendars stress the lunar cycles so much even today. For the goddess gardener, however, the moon is also a symbol of the Lady herself. In literally hundreds of ancient settings, the moon was characterized as female, and Her names were many. They include Chia (Columbian), Hina (Polynesian), Luna (Roman), and Selene (Greek), to name just a few.

Beyond the potent symbolic value here, our ancestors felt that timing the planting, tending, or harvesting of one's plants could be more effective if we followed moonsigns and moon cycles. For example, when the moon was dark, it was time to plant underground vegetables. When the moon was waning it was time to plant peas or other items that vine counterclockwise. According to most really talented gardeners that I know from the old school, this type of reverence toward nature's hints really works.

If you'd like to apply this concept in your own goddess gardens, here's a list that will help you.

                 

GARDENING BY MOONSIGNS

* Moon in Aries: Plant garlic and onions, but nothing that requires really fertile soil.

* Moon in Taurus: Plant potatoes, root crops, leafy vegetables, and bulb-bearing items.

* Moon in Gemini: Weed and cultivate or harvest root crops.

*Moon in Cancer: Graft, sow, transplant, and force budding.

*Moon in Leo: Focus on deterring bugs using natural treatments and companion planting. Harvest items.

*Moon in Virgo: It's best not to do anything new in the garden at this time other thatn planting morning glory, honeysuckle, tulips, and endive.

*Moon in Libra: Plant above-ground flowers and vegetables.

*Moon in Scorpio: Plant vining greenery, berries, and grains.

*Moon in Sagittarius: Plant onions. Transplant and preserve your harvest.

* Moon in Capricorn: Plant root crops and tubers. Fertilize the soil.

* Moon in Aquarius: Cultivate, weed, and turn the soil.

* Moon in Pisces: Work with plants that require strong root growth, such as aspargus. Plant flowers.
                              
GARDENING BY MOON CYCLES

FIRST QUARTER:
Plant annuals and vegetables that yield their fruit above grouns (such as celery and lettuce). Green vegetables and herbs (such as cabbage and basil) seem to like this phase.

SECOND QUARTER: Plant any "roundish" flora and vegetables (such as tomato and melon) and any flowering vines.

THIRD QUARTER: Plant root crops and bulbs or anything that yields below ground (such as garlic). This Quarter is also good for fruit-bearing plants (such as strawberry and cherry).

FOURTH QUARTER: Let the land rest. Weed your soil, and then turn and fertilize it.

Note that these two systems (gardening by moonsign and gardening by moon phases) can work together nicely. For example, if the moon happens to be in Aquarius at the same time it's in the fourth quarter, this would double the effect of weeding and turning the soil. After the quarter passes, move forward with sowing knowing that the land is rejuvenated!