123
11
Astronomical Rhythms in
Biodynamic Agriculture
A Brazilian Case Study on the Yield
and Quality of Daucus carota L.
under Biodynamic Management
Pedro Jovchelevich
Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture
INTRODUCTION
The history of the great civilisations of the past ( such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Incas
and Aztecs) shows the importance they gave to astronomical rhythms, not only for agriculture, but
for all daily activities ( ethno-astronomy). Today in Brazil and elsewhere, indigenous populations
still apply this knowledge in agriculture. In the 1920s, Rudolf Steiner reconsidered this popular
knowledge and extended it, incorporating other rhythms of the Moon and the movement of the planets and the Sun into the planning of agricultural activities. In the international biodynamic movement, the best known astronomical/ agricultural calendar is the one created by the farmer Maria
Thun ( Thun, 1986), which is translated into several languages for worldwide use, and updated every
year. Some biodynamic researchers, such as Spiess ( 1994) and Goldstein ( 2000), have studied this
theme of chronobiology or biological rhythms in cultivated plants. This chapter aims, first of all,
to provide some examples of the use of ethno-astronomy in the South, mainly in Brazil, and then
reviews selected scientific research on the influence of the Moon on plants and animals, and in
biodynamic agriculture. It concludes by reporting the results of some of the author’s own field trials
on chronobiology.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHNO-ASTRONOMY, PAST AND PRESENT
Various ethnological studies document the relationship between the farming practices of indigenous
peoples and their knowledge of astronomical phenomena. This knowledge is disappearing, but it
can still be observed in traditional populations and especially the use of Moon phases in agriculture
and forestry management ( Restrepo-Rivera, 2004). Miller ( 2004) reports the discovery in 1993
CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 123
The Importance of Ethno-Astronomy, Past and Present ................................................................ 123
Influence of the Moon on Plants and Animals ............................................................................... 124
The Use of Astronomical Rhythms in Biodynamic Agriculture .................................................... 126
Final Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 129
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 129
References ...................................................................................................................................... 129
DOI: 10.1201/9780429440939-13
11
Astronomical Rhythms in
Biodynamic Agriculture
A Brazilian Case Study on the Yield
and Quality of Daucus carota L.
under Biodynamic Management
Pedro Jovchelevich
Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture
INTRODUCTION
The history of the great civilisations of the past ( such as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Incas
and Aztecs) shows the importance they gave to astronomical rhythms, not only for agriculture, but
for all daily activities ( ethno-astronomy). Today in Brazil and elsewhere, indigenous populations
still apply this knowledge in agriculture. In the 1920s, Rudolf Steiner reconsidered this popular
knowledge and extended it, incorporating other rhythms of the Moon and the movement of the planets and the Sun into the planning of agricultural activities. In the international biodynamic movement, the best known astronomical/ agricultural calendar is the one created by the farmer Maria
Thun ( Thun, 1986), which is translated into several languages for worldwide use, and updated every
year. Some biodynamic researchers, such as Spiess ( 1994) and Goldstein ( 2000), have studied this
theme of chronobiology or biological rhythms in cultivated plants. This chapter aims, first of all,
to provide some examples of the use of ethno-astronomy in the South, mainly in Brazil, and then
reviews selected scientific research on the influence of the Moon on plants and animals, and in
biodynamic agriculture. It concludes by reporting the results of some of the author’s own field trials
on chronobiology.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHNO-ASTRONOMY, PAST AND PRESENT
Various ethnological studies document the relationship between the farming practices of indigenous
peoples and their knowledge of astronomical phenomena. This knowledge is disappearing, but it
can still be observed in traditional populations and especially the use of Moon phases in agriculture
and forestry management ( Restrepo-Rivera, 2004). Miller ( 2004) reports the discovery in 1993
CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 123
The Importance of Ethno-Astronomy, Past and Present ................................................................ 123
Influence of the Moon on Plants and Animals ............................................................................... 124
The Use of Astronomical Rhythms in Biodynamic Agriculture .................................................... 126
Final Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 129
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 129
References ...................................................................................................................................... 129
DOI: 10.1201/9780429440939-13