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Astrological gardening with Old Farmer's Almanac
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Photo credit: Old Farmer's Almanac
Gardening by the stars? Yes, you can. It’s as old as agriculture and still going strong if the Old Farmer’s Almanac (OFA) has anything to do with it. As the sun passes into the northern hemisphere today heralding the official start of spring, we’ll start to feel and sense, with great drama, the increasing warmth and extending length of our days. What perfect timing that the White House just announced its plans for a vegetable garden.
Celeste Longacre writes the astrological gardening forecasts for the OFA and, as an avid gardener who lives off her New Hampshire garden, she offers very basic ground rules for those inclined. Plant above ground crops between the new moon and the full moon as the waxing moon pulls things up and plant below ground crops between the full moon and the new moon. The Old Farmer’s Almanac website offers informative charts for gardeners that can be specific to your zip code. She also noted that in the USA chart (July 4, 1776), “Pluto is opposing Venus indicating that the American people are shifting what they want.”
Whether astrology or economy, seed companies are noting the change. According to Gretchen Flanley, vice-president of communications for the American Seed Trade Association, the industry has seen a jump in seed packet sales between 20% up to 40% with the bulk of the sales being vegetables.
“The last few decades saw a decline with people focused on quick and easy. Now we think the sales have been spurred by an increase in food prices, an awareness of locally grown and organic products and a return to simpler things,” she said adding that teaching children more about the natural world is part of this trend.
So what are you waiting for? The next series of DC Gardening Examiner columns will highlight the following:
• The basics. Finding seeds that fit your needs and how to do it
• Container growing for veggies
• Growing seeds with kids and local programs that help
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