The Full Moon of April

The Full Moon of April is known as the "Full Pink Moon". This yer it is April 18. The name comes from one of the earliest widespread flowers of Spring, the herb moss pink aka Creeping Phlox as pictured above in my garden, and/or wild ground phlox.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Source: Farmers Almanac. (Last year, the full moon was on April 28.)

Other names for this months’ full moon include the "Full Grass Moon", the "Egg Moon" and among coastal tribes, the "Full Fish Moon", as this was the time the shad swam upstream to spawn. My friends in NJ have been enjoying shad roe this year, so the shad are still aqround!

April's new moon was on the 3rd and the Full Moon is on the 18th.

Moon Folklore

* Rail fences cut during the dry, waning Moon will stay straighter.

* Wooden shingles and shakes will lie flatter if cut during the dark of the Moon.

* Fence posts should be set in the dark of the Moon to resist rotting. Ozark lore says that fence posts should always be set as the tree grew. To set the root end upward makes a short-lived fence.

* Don't begin weaning when the Moon is waning.

* Castrate and dehorn animals when the Moon is waning for less bleeding.

* Slaughter when the Moon is waxing for juicier meat.

* Crabbing, shrimping, and clamming are best when the Moon is full.

* Best days for fishing are between the new and full Moon.

* Dig your horseradish in the full Moon for the best flavor.

* Set eggs to hatch on the Moon's increase, but not if a south wind blows.

Findhorn

I have been musing over many things Paul Hawken said recently in his address to the 2009 graduating class of the University of Portland. If you are not familiar with Mr. Hawken, he was the co-founder of Smith & Hawken garden supply company in the late 1970’s, and he wrote The Magic of Findhorn, which was one of my very first inspirations to garden, although it took years for me to begin.

To merely say Findhorn was my inspiration to garden is not totally accurate. Findhorn opened my eyes to possibilities I didn’t know existed in 1980 when I first read of it. The possibilities became a quest, a spiritual journey, to really “get” that we are all connected… you, me, the plants, trees, soil, microbes, bees, bears, oceans, and creeks… all living beings interconnected to each other, all necessary for each to live, and all Divine.

My journey is not yet finished, and the path has many stumbling blocks. One huge block is the difficulty in believing what others surrounding us say is utter nonsense, or worse: heresy. (They used to hang people for heresy.) Believing and standing up in public for your beliefs is even more difficult.

From early childhood, at least in my generation, we were taught that Authority is all-knowing, totally honest, true, accurate and RIGHT. That Authority is made up of parents, schoolteachers, preachers/priests/rabbis, governors, and Presidents. We are taught that their way (and only their way) is the correct way. Any incursion into those beliefs makes us BAD.

Finally, as the veil is being removed to show the depth of the lies, greed and deceit of so many we assumed as authority, we have a chance yet to become who we really are. We have a chance to tap into that deep innate wisdom within each of us and come together to heal the planet.

Among many other things, Mr. Hawken told the graduates:

"Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, and you are the programmers… YOU ARE BRILLIANT, AND THE EARTH IS HIRING. The earth couldn't afford to send any recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint.

And here's the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done."