Ep. 366 Monty Waldin on Biodynamic Wine | Celestial Rhythms

Italian wine podcast. Chinchin with Italian wine people. Hello. Welcome to the Italian wine podcast. I'm your host, Monte Walden. In recent years, I've noticed increasing interest in ideas such as organic wines, so called natural wines, and biodynamic wines. I'll read for you some excerpts from my book Biodynamic wine and follow-up with some commentary on the topics covered. Celestial calendars and celestial rhythms have long provided cues for when to perform particular activities around the farm or vineyard. This week, we visit some of the astronomical observations that have led to important biodynamic practices. It is important here to remember we're talking about astronomical things and not astrological things. Working to celestial rhythms. As well as being the oldest organic movement, Biodynamics was modern farming's first attempt to take active account of the movements of and forces exerted by the moon and other planets and by the sun and other stars when timing agricultural work. Our planet was formed by and forms part of a wider universe. Biodynamic methodology assumes that life originates from the whole universe rather than just what the earth provides. That's quite an important idea if you think about it. Although science accepts that the moon's position relative to the earth can influence the earth's shape, its weather, atmospheric pressure, and tidal movements. It disputes the effect. For example, the full moon has on when women give birth. And scientists view as simply fantastical, some of Rudolph Stiner's more esoteric philosophies, and they're not the only ones to be fair. Nevertheless, Steiner viewed each farm as an organism the organs of which are the soil, the crops, the animals, and the farmer. And by extension, each farm organism was to be considered part of the whole cosmos. And not as just earthly or earthbound. Steiner said, quote. The plant is like a butterfly chained to the ground. The butterfly is like a plant liberated by the cosmos. Researching celestial formative forces. After Rudolph steiner's death in March nineteen twenty five, experiments were conducted by his followers. Including at the Gothianyanum in Switzerland from nineteen thirty to nineteen thirty five to try to establish links between the growth of crops and the, quote, formative forces exerted on them by the celestial bodies. Farmers who understand the rhythms and subtle influences of the wider universe on our planet might be considered more sensitive to the earth's own seasonal rhythms of autumn, winter. Spring and summer. The idea of being able to plan agricultural work may be months in advance, according to celestial rhythms, can be both appealing and reassuring partly because it costs nothing. But mainly because it can allow farmers to set aside periods of an unfavorable moon in which to catch up on office chores, not that anybody likes office chores, obviously. So the moon and sun or the cyanotic cycle. The full moon to new moon cycle relates to the moon's position relative to the sun as seen from earth. It is the lunar cycle we are most familiar with because it governs which, if any part of the moon is visible to us. This is due to the combined effect of the sun's light and the earth's shadow from different angles on the moon's surface. The full moon to new moon cycle lasts twenty nine point five days. During which, the moon appears to increase in size when it is said to be waxing and to decrease in size when it is said to be waning. The cycle begins with a new moon when the moon and sun meet in the sky. Astronomers call New Moon an example of a sun moon conjunction. A conjunction occurring when two celestial bodies can join in the sky. The period marked by a planet returning to the same point in relation to the sun is called synodic after the Greek word, synodos for meeting. The synodic period between new moons is the basis for our calendar month. The meeting of sun and moon at new moon symbolized population to the ancient Greeks who saw new moon traditionally as a time of fertility and rebirth. Biodynamic farmers believe the moon's influences on earth are felt through the medium of water. During the waxing moon, there is an increase in the moisture content of the earth and in atmospheric humidity. This helps plant growth, but may encourage fungal diseases. These can be kept in check by spraying horn silica five zero one or common horsetail five zero eight. And by avoiding opening the soil by plowing, which may also encourage weed germination. On the plus side, soil moisture during the waxing moon period makes this a good time to spread solid compost. Or to apply dedicated soil sprays, like Horn manure five hundred or Maria Tunes barrel compost five zero two to five zero seven, and even liquid manure sprays intended for the soil. So this cycle involves the moon and the earth, and it's called the Apache and Perijay. This cycle relates to the varying distance of the moon from the earth. It takes twenty seven point five five days for the moon to return to exactly the same place relative to earth as it is orbiting. However, rather than orbiting Earth in a perfect circle, the moon does a boomerang style ellipse. This means the moon is nearer earth during what is called Perrige. Put farther away from it at what is called Apojay, which is why this moon earth cycle is also called, quote, the animalistic month. So we'll talk about Perajay first. When the moon is at its closest point to Earth at Perigade, two things can happen. Tides are especially strong, and there is more chance of a lunar landing. Neil Armstrong and his nineteen sixty nine Apollo eleven mission, his team saved forty two thousand kilometers of extra flying by going to the moon at Perijay. The Perijay Moon is said to bring a, quote, winter mood. Because the moon's, quote, watery element strongly inhibits the sun's relationship with the earth. Seads, sown at Peracher, may germinate poorly, or grow to produce big yields, albeit of potentially, quote, watery crops. Unsuited to long term storage. This may suit growers of come come again salad or spinach and leaf beets, more than it does wine growers seeking age worthy wines. Biodynamic growers believe fungal disease spores causing mildew and rot become notably or active at lunar perijay. Biodynamic wine grows are especially attentive when perijay and full moon coincide. This happens about once every fourteen or fifteen months. Plowing the soil during this watery lunar double whammy might needlessly set soil borne fungal disease spores in motion. While also releasing humidity from the newly turned soil. The moon's furthest point from Earth or AppleJ is said to bring a, quote, summer mood. Because tides are at their weakest, and the moon's watery element is diminished. This makes it a good time to harvest fruit crops, like wine grapes or so potatoes. Root and leaf crops like carrots and lettuce, sown at Apogee tend to shoot up and run to seed or bolt too quickly. The sidereal celestial cycle, which involves the moon and the stars. So there are eighty eight constellations visible in our sky. But the sun, moon, and planets only pass in front of those lying along the ecliptic as we have seen. So whereas the sun takes one year to pass in front of all twelve of them, It takes the moon only twenty seven point three days. The astronomical constellations form the sidereal zodiac from the Latin word, cidara, meaning star. Tolome of Alexandria drew up a star map with one thousand and twenty eight stars. And this was then used by the International Astronomical Union. W w w dot I a u dot org. When this organization demarcated the constellations in nineteen twenty eight, slightly different astronomical divisions than the I a u are used by the Biodynamic movement, notably by its ideological HQ, the Gothianum in Dornack in Switzerland, which publishes a celestial calendar annually and also by the late Maria Tun from Germany whose own calendar made her the world's most well known biodynamic farmer until her death in April two thousand and twelve. Maria Tun's four element theory, fruit days and fruit days. Maria Dunn's job was market gardening and farming. Her tips on improving crop yields and quality by working to celestial cycles in general and the moon's sidereal cycle in particular are based on her own research studies, none of which, as far as I know, have been peer reviewed in scientific journals. By nineteen fifty seven, Maria Thun was convinced that the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire, as represented by four groups of constellations related to one single element each strongly influenced the growth, not just of plants, but of particular parts or organs of plants. Maria Tun set out to prove that the moon's movement through the sidereal zodiac, catalyzed growth of particular parts or organs in hydrodynamic speak, of plants such as the roots, the leaves, the flowers, and the fruit or the seeds also within the fruits. The idea was that these found expression in the four elements. Maria Thun said her results showed that root crops like parsnips and also onions and potatoes which grow in the earth but are not considered true root crops, but these crops perform best when sown watered and hoed with the side aerial moon standing in the earth constellations of bull, virgin, and goat. Berea turns, said that flowers did best with the side aerial moon in the air or light constellations. These are twins, scales, and water man. Leaf crops, like cabbage and lettuce, performed best when the sidereal moon was in front of one of the water constellations, crab, scorpion, and fishes. Finally, fruit crops or seed crops performed best with the sidereal moon in the warmth constellations, which are Ram, lion, and archer. With fruit crops correspondingly, especially to the constellations of ram and archer, and seed crops, such as cereals or sunflowers, corresponding, especially to lion. Turn also found root crops that were sowed and hoed and picked during leaf periods produced plants with big leafy tops, but only small roots. Using Marietun's suggestions, vines, which, of course, relate to the fruit seed or the warmth constellations, should be worked when the sidereal moon stands in front of Ram, Lion, or Archer. So Maria Tund's research was questioned. Maria Tund's annual biodynamic sewing and planting calendar was first published in nineteen sixty three. It's now written by her son Matias. Contemporary Biodynamic winegrow has probably spent more time consulting the Tudent calendar than Steiner's spiritual foundation for the renewal of agriculture or the agriculture course book. However, both the methodology and relevance of the aspect of Thun's work concerning sidereal celestial cycles has been questioned. I'll just add something about the Tun calendar in my own this is my own thought, for some of you, won't agree. On just on a practical level, it's virtually impossible to to work to this particular, calendar irrespective of the fact that Some people say it's unscientific and some people swear by it. It really is, if you got a vineyard bigger than your toenail, you're gonna really struggle to do everything, all the fruity, leafy, rooty bits, when the moon is in the right place. And the weather's good, and your staff are okay, and the tractor hasn't broken. And there's not too much wind, or you put in a desperate appointment at the bank to stay afloat. It's just it's just never gonna happen really as far as I'm concerned. It's one thing being biodynamic. It's one thing being sensible, I think, and If you wanna do it, that's fine. You're not gonna do anybody any harm. Wine growing is hard enough without trying to fit into a a celestial calendar that has not really been scientifically proven. I think is unlikely to be for all sorts of reasons, but good and, but not necessarily good and bad. But, but it's very hard to prove a negative, obviously. Anyway, I digress. Now we're gonna talk about the moon, the moon, a transmitter or a reflector. This is a one hour discussion on the moon transmitting reflecting, and we do hope you're sitting comfortably. The moon, is it a transmitter? Or is it a reflector? Rudolfstein himself was clear about the moon's role. Steiner said, but while we tend to think of the moon as reflecting only sunlight and nothing more, In fact, in his words, along with the moon beams, the entire reflected cosmos comes towards the earth. The moon reflects everything that comes towards it. In a certain sense, the whole starry heavens are reflected by the moon and streamed towards earth, like a very powerful, celestial organizing force that radiates down from the moon into the plants. So we're gonna do this as another let's do another celestial cycle. This cycle is called the ascending and descending moon cycle. The ascending moon and descending moon cycle, is one of the easier lunar cycles to work to. This is because it allows wine growers two periods of almost two weeks each in which to time specific tasks. Just as the sun's position in the sky relative to the equator is never fixed, moving from its highest point in the sky each here at summer solstice to its lowest point at winter solstice. So the height of the moon above the equator also varies. Like the sun and the planets in our solar system, the moon passes in front of the twelve constellations of the zodiac as it travels across the ecliptic. The difference is that whereas for the sun, there is a six month gap between its winter low and summer high points above the horizon. The gap for the moons, quotes, summer high and winter low These points are only twenty seven point three days apart or just thirteen point six days between the start of each ascending or descending moon. During an ascending moon, The Moon's arc passes from archer via goat, water man, fishes, ram, and bull to end up in twins in the northern hemisphere, and from twins to archer in the southern hemisphere. The ascending moon rhythm is said to invoke a spring or summer mood. The earth is said to breathe out, and plant growth is concentrated above the soil as life forces stream upwards from the roots. The upper parts of the plant fill with sap, vitality, and aroma. Assending moon periods are good times to spray horn silica five zero one. To sow cover crop seeds, you get stronger germination. And to harvest flowers for display. They last longer. And finally, even harvesting Christmas trees because the needles take longer to fall if they're cut down during the ascending or spring summer moon. Essending moon periods are the time to pick grapes for longer lived wines. Maria Thun recommended that fruit being picked for storage is best harvested during an ascending moon. Because it will keep longer without spoiling. So this is of a special interest to winemakers of Aracciotto styles tried grape wines in which the grapes are dried after picking for days or even months and must not spoil before they're pressed into wine. Now let's talk about the descending or autumn winter moon. During a descending moon, the moon's arc passes from twins via crab, lion, virgin scales, scorpion, and back to archer in the northern hemisphere, and from archer to twins in the southern hemisphere. When the moon is descending, the earth breathes in, and growth forces are concentrated underground as sap flows downwards into the roots. The descending period is also the best time to plant young vines. And also to undertake pruning because valuable plant sap will now be safely concentrated in the roots. Biodynamic winemakers will also try to take account of the periods of the ascending and descending moon when working in the cellar. For instance, by racking wine during the descending phase, when sediment will be at its most compact, and wine aromas are less likely to dissipate. Being attentive to the ascending and descending moon cycles can help when grafting vine science onto rootstocks ready for the planting of new vineyards. The cutting for the vine scion will be taken during the moon's ascending phase so that the sap or the sap force is concentrated in the upper part of the vine, meaning it shoots. So there is abundant sap in the scion for it to graft more strongly. Ideally, the union of the vine scion and root stop should also coincide with the moon's ascending phase so that sap from the rootstock rises up into the vine sign to reinforce the graft union. The newly grafted rootstock or vine will be planted out in spring during a descending moon when the sap is concentrated in the root zone, and earth forces are strongest in the earth. Moon Saturn opposition. This is probably when I'm consulting to people This is the one I always like to talk about in the Moon Saturn opposition. You'll find out why in a sec, but it's just easy to work to. And for me, it's one of these, the Maria two and sort of fruit day things. I'm not that sold on, as you've probably guessed. But Moon Saturn opposition, I think, makes absolute sense. And hopefully, after I read this little bit to you, you're gonna agree. And if you don't agree, it's absolutely fine. You just have a Monte listener opposition. Moon Saturn opposition. Opposition occur when celestial bodies stand opposite each other in the sky at a hundred and eighty degrees. The most obvious opposition occurring between the sun and moon every twenty nine point five days is called Full Moon. Rudolphsteiner outlined in his nineteen twenty four agriculture course, how plant growth was strongest when the two opposite forces were force poles of lime calcium on the one hand, and silica on the other were in balance. And this is the case when the moon is in opposition to Saturn. Steiner said that the moon and the inner planets, which are mercury and Venus, supported or enhanced the calcium or growth processes, which build and regenerate the physical organism. So that's stuff, you know, like leaves and shoots and stuff for, for vines. They influence fertility. Reproduction, propagation, germination, and substance, or matter. In contrast, the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars supported the silica processes. These influence plant form and shape and structure and sensory capacity. So when the moon and saturn stand on opposite sides of the earth, this occurs every twenty seven point five days, by the way. The forces they respectively exert, pray into the earth from each direction, and a synergy occurs. Working with plants in the day or two days leading up to a moon set in opposition produces stronger and more resistant growth. That's the calcium bit. And quality or taste. That's the silica bit. Horn manure five hundred sprayed at this time, provokes strong soil activity and plant routing. Horn silica sprayed at this time, augments, plant resistance, and crop quality. Common horsetail five zero eight sprayed at Moon saturn opposition shows improved effectiveness at balancing soil plant relationships. If I could pack only one celestial cycle into my desert island suitcase, the moon, saturn opposition cycle would be the one. Although the planets orbit the sun in approximately the same plane as the ecliptic, the moon's orbit is tilted at an angle of five degrees. Sometimes being above it, and at other times below it. The two points where the moon crosses the ecliptic are called nodes. Nodes are notable for being the only points where eclipses can occur. An eclipse occurs only if the moon is in line with the sun and the earth at the time of the conjunction. New moon or opposition, full moon. Maria Thun maintained that nodal periods or nodes, and by implication, eclipses are unfavorable moments for agricultural work. This is because they affect plant growth and inhibit germination of seeds sown during or close to the node. Whether agricultural work should be stopped, just an hour or two either side of a node or an actual eclipse, which ton recommends or for longer perhaps for the whole day appears unknown. And you can see there's some sort of logic, I think, with this with the eclipse because they're sort of, I mean, they're predictable events as for us as humans because we, you know, we got telescopes and stuff. But they're not necessarily predictable events for plants. I mean, plants can sense the rain, they can sense the sun, the heat is gradually warming up and all the rest of it. Soil gradually drying out so they can kinda get used to it. But if they're used to light, and bam, there comes an eclipse. So then that is you can see that would actually be a stressful thing for them. So knowing about nodes is definitely worth it, especially if you're a plant, but unfortunately, they can't read books or even listen to podcasts, so they're a little bit stuffed. Other periods avoided by some biodynamic growers include occultations. These occur when sun or moon pass in front of and thus, a cult, meaning hide, a planet. Another one is transits when the interior planets such as mercury and Venus pass directly in front of the sun. This is something that the other planets can't do because of where they're positioned. Celestial calendars. The earliest celestial calendars, which appear to show the twenty nine day cyanotic, which is the full moon to new moon cycle. Form part of the famous cave paintings found at Lascaux in Western France. They date from the upper paleolithic, which is around about fifteen thousand years ago. The most famous and widely used biodynamically oriented celestial calendar in the modern area is Maria Tun's annual Alsertaga, which first appeared in nineteen sixty three and is published annually in her native Germany. Her son Matias, collaborated with his mother on this calendar until her death, aged eighty nine in two thousand and twelve, It's now published under Matias's name in English as the biodynamic sewing and planting calendar. As always, thank you for listening to the Italian wine podcast with me, Monty Walden. Please join us next for a primer on certification certifications. Listen to the Italian wine podcast wherever you get your casts. We're on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, HimalIFM, and more. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show. If you enjoy listening, please consider donating through Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps cover equipment, production, and publication costs. Until next time.