That Harvest Moon

My focus a fortnight ago on the moon, and the Harvest Moon in particular, certainly aroused quite considerable interest in the form of letters and ’phone calls.

The moon is nice to look at; but not just nice to look at -it’s been useful ever since Adam figured out (or asked) what to do with it.

The first chapter of Genesis spoke of this ‘lesser light’ that’s to ‘govern’ the night, as well as its co-duty (with the sun) of marking seasons and days and years. Then in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon spoke of ‘seasons’ to everything in life (which includes our farms and gardens).

Now there are many things that are quite plain and easily understood in scripture. This understanding of the marking of seasons by the sun and moon, however, is not necessarily one of them; and I’m certainly not going to pretend to claim special insight into all the mysteries of God’s wonderful creation. But, if the sun and moon are marking the seasons, it does make sense that God has made provision for ideals or “best seasons” for accomplishing certain tasks we perform within the bounds of His nature.

HAPPENINGS!

So how does the moon affect our ploughing, planting, cultivating, or doing a number of other things on the farm? Well, I don’t know exactly but ‘how’ is not the important question; ‘how can we use what we see happening’ is.

There are observable things that happen at the same relative time we see the moon in one phase or another. Place some timber, obstacle or a big rock out on your yard during the first half of the moons cycle (I’ll explain these cycles in just a bit) and it will sit there on top of the ground as long as it’s left. Put another of the same size right next to it during the last half of the lunar cycle and the latter one will sink a bit into the ground.

And then there are the tides of the world’s seas. You know, I’ve never really heard a clear reason why the moon causes the changing tides. It’s simply said that it somehow yanks on the earth with differing gravitational pulls depending on its position to the earth.

Sounds good to me, albeit not very understandable, but all I know is, of the few times I’ve ever been to the beach the water never stops going in and out. The point is, without fully comprehending it, the truth of what it does can be apprehended…and might be utilized to some advantage on the farm.

Before we get into how this ‘governing-agent-of-the-night’s’ seasons might be used to advantage, let’s get the basics of the moon’s phases laid out on the table.

REVOLUTION

The cycle of the moon’s revolution around us here on earth can be divided into 4 distinct phases or “quarters”, each of which lasts a little better than seven days…and each of which has a different appearance as viewed from earth.

The first quarter (which is also the beginning of the entire cycle) starts at the point called the ‘new moon’ in which the moon is practically invisible to us (since the sun is shining on the side of it we can’t see) and continues to that point in which half the moon is illuminated by the sun. This 1st quarter (like the others) lasts a little more than seven days.

The second quarter then begins and lasts for about another seven days until the full moon is reached. Now we’re halfway through the lunar month (or cycle). This entire 1st half of the cycle (about 14 days) is called several things: The ‘waxing of the moon,’ the ‘growing of the moon,’ the ‘light of the moon,’ the ‘new of the moon’…or simply…the first half of the lunar month.

Now, the second half of the cycle - this begins with the third quarter (again, a bit more than seven days long), which takes place from the full moon to that point when the sun shines on exactly the other half of the moon.

BEGINNING AGAIN

At this point begins the fourth quarter which lasts (did you guess about seven days? If so, you’re correct) until the new moon, at which point everything begins again, and you are now one lunar month older and wiser. This last half of the lunar cycle (the third and fourth quarter or about the last 14 days) also has names: The ‘waning of the moon,’ the ‘decrease of the moon,’ the ‘dark of the moon,’ or the ‘old of the moon.’

Now all of this is just labeling, or putting names to what we ‘see’ the moon doing. But there are actions or forces that the moon exerts upon the earth (much like the tidal influence), which correspond to these visible stages.

Let’s talk again about the two halves of the moon’s cycle. During the waxing of the moon (that is, the increasing light of the first half of the lunar cycle, or the first and second quarters), there is, somehow (and don’t ask me how ‘cause I don’t know), more ‘get go.’ Call it influence, motion, tension, energy; or probably best put…expansion. It can be thought of as a ‘growth’ season, where material in nature (probably mainly water or moisture) grows or expands.

CONTRACTING

The opposite is true for the waning of the moon (the second half of the cycle, or third and fourth quarters), where a period of contracting occurs. A daily expanding and contracting of tidal waters is easily observed at the beach, but the monthly expanding and contracting of the moisture soaked earth is less easily observed at your home or farm…but evidently occurring all the same.

Have you ever dug a posthole and set a fence post only to find that you had less earth left over than would otherwise fill the space the post was now taking up? Why was that? The odds are these lunar expansions and contractions are at work depending on the time of the month you were working.

So why not use this to advantage: Dig the posthole during the waxing of the moon, when the soil is expanded and also a bit easier to dig in, and then set the posts at the waning of the moon when the dirt can be more compacted around the post. This results in a sturdier set of the post, which is pretty critical with corner posts or gateposts.

Now through the course of this writing, keep this in mind: We’re talking ‘rule of thumb’; not every chore can be done at these specific times. So all this is not a matter of ‘do or don’t,’ but a matter of ‘good or better.’

DOMESTIC CHORES

What of the moon’s effects upon domestic farm chores? Perhaps the most important of these tasks is food preservation; namely, the preserving and drying of garden produce. Best results might be obtained in that lunar phase of ‘no growth’ or the waning period of the moon. But with baking (specifically the rising doughs) the increase of the moon might be to your advantage since yeast is a growing thing.

Now I want to conclude by mentioning that you can’t always do things when the moon suggests. There are times when things ripen or you have to bake during a contrary moon phase. Animals are born when they’re born…not earlier or later. If you need fresh meat, you need it.

A down fence posts needs repair right now before the bull gets out and not in 15 days. As I said earlier, it’s not a matter of ‘do or don’t,’ but of ‘good or better.’ Bread baked during the last half of the month is certainly much better tasting than none at all!

I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: All of this is ‘rule of thumb’ type stuff. But do your own experimentation. With a keen and watchful eye, begin to see if you notice some differences in your daily chores done within the waxing or waning moon. And always remember this: It’s God that gives prosperity…and not His moon.

SHORTER DAYS

According to astronomy author Guy Ottewell, the idea of the Harvest Moon originated in Europe (average latitude about 50 degrees north), where the Harvest Moon rises only ten to 20 minutes later each night. It must have seemed a boon that just when days were getting rapidly shorter and the sun seemed to go down all too soon, the Harvest Moon arrived to extend the hours that harvesting could be done

Ever notice that the low-hanging Moon looks especially big near the horizon? It isn’t really significantly bigger.

By the way, shortly after midnight tonight (Friday), if there is a clear sky, you should be able to see a new moon.

Chinese Harvest Moon Traditions

As a final note, I should add a reminder that has been passed on to me that it is not just Western civilisation that has given special importance to the Harvest Moon.

For Chinese people everywhere, this full moon is the occasion for the Festival of the August Moon (the ‘August’ is through a calendar discrepancy) or Mid-Autumn Festival (in some cultures, the equinoxes and solstices have been considered the middle of the seasons). This festival is celebrated with joyful games and the eating of ‘Mooncakes.’