Lunar tics

Science update. From the Times Online I learn Prince Charles is experimenting with planting crops according to the phases of the Moon and astrological signs:

He has adopted some of the principles of biodynamics, a form of farming in which livestock are treated with homeopathic remedies rather than antibiotics, and astronomical calendars and signs of the zodiac play a role in determining when to sow and harvest crops.

Wow, that makes sense! Biodynamic.org states that biodynamic agriculture “is founded on a holistic and spiritual understanding of nature and the human being”. Holistic and spiritual.

And get a load of this:

Under the Steiner system each crop type is linked to one of the four traditional elements: earth, water, wind and fire. Root crops such as carrots are seen as earth plants while fruits such as apples are linked with fire. Leaf crops, including lettuce, are associated with water.

Each crop type must then be planted on a day when the moon is in a sign of the zodiac associated with that element. Fruit, for example, might be planted when the moon is associated with Leo, a fire sign.

Now I suppose it could be possible that the phase of the Moon might influence crop growth. I’m skeptical, but it wouldn’t be totally ridiculous. I would, of course, need some evidence that it does actually make a measurable difference in the way claimed. However, planting crops when the Moon is in the zodiac sign associated with the crop’s traditional “element”? This really seems doubtful, although they do claim to have some studies to back it up. Perhaps someone with a better knowledge of statistics that I have could give an opinion. Although as the subject is farming perhaps it’s unsurprising that I can smell…

Funny thing, Skeptico was recently offered a bottle of biodynamics wine at a San Francisco restaurant. This was the first time I had heard of anything like this, although I turned it down as the waiter was unable to offer any explanation except that it was something to do with planting vines according to the phase of the Moon, and that the bottle was more expensive than the other stuff. (She had no idea if it would taste better.) I guess some people must go for this (especially in San Francisco): remember the Penn & Teller Bullshit program on fancy bottled waters? (They were all filled from the same garden hose!) Perhaps I have found the real reason for promoting this method – they can charge more! Hey, perhaps Prince Charles is smarter than he looks. (Don’t – it’s too easy.)

Anyway the biodynamics system was apparently developed by Rudolf Steiner – whose knowledge of biology was hampered by, among other things, a lack of belief in evolution. Still, perhaps the scientific benefits will soon be proven. After all, with Brian on the job now, we’ll soon be assured of hard science to back up this revolutionary farming method. I wonder which he will demonstrate first: proof homeopathic antibiotics work, or that traditional element sign astrology does? Watch this space.

Comments

[Rimantas]

The funny thing is -- that wine _will_ taste better for those who believe it should.
And they _will_ pay more fot this.
We tell the stories to ourselves and we pay for what we feel, not what we really get.

(Inspired by Seth Godin, of course)

[outeast]

Rudolf Steiner was, of course, a bit of a nut.

I know whereof I speak: I went to a Steiner school, and while many things about the Steiner education seem to have done me good rather than harm I was certainly exposed to a lot of daft nonsense.

I'll never forgive the system for its near-total deemphasis on maths and science, though, which has left me intellectually crippled despite a reasonably high basic level of intelligence.

[latibulum]

The precession of the equinoxes, means that the sun is no longer in the constellation the astrologers assign to the modern dates, hence if even if the effect of the stars, were real, this would be ineffective.

[Raj]

Quote: "Skeptico was recently offered a bottle of biodynamics wine at a San Francisco restaurant. This was the first time I had heard of anything like this, although I turned it down as the waiter was unable to offer any explanation except that it was something to do with planting vines according to the phase of the Moon..."
" I turned it down as the waiter was unable to offer any explanation except that it was something to do with planting vines according to the phase of the Moon"... (She had no idea if it would taste better.) End Quote (portions snipped).

Comment: So we should conclude that you had a bad waiter/waitress? Perhaps not, It was
Cow manure fermented in a cow horn, which is then buried and over-winters in the soil. :-) Hmmm, a Viking brew. Wouldn't go back to that waiter!

Biodynamics is in effect a supercharged system of organic farming. (from, http://www.wineanorak.com/biodynamic2.htm )
Basically, wine without chemical fertilizers or perticides.

[Raj]

Afterthought
Re: Biodynamic wine
Too bad, I would have genuinely enjoyed your blog about "The Last Supper".

[Skeptico]

Raj:

Re: Biodynamics is in effect a supercharged system of organic farming. (from, http://www.wineanorak.com/biodynamic2.htm )
Basically, wine without chemical fertilizers or perticides.

That would be organic, it is true. What Charles is proposing is more than that, as I described in the post.

[HCN]

Actually growing grapes without pesticides or chemical fertilizers is very easy.

First off... It would be silly to think planting a grape vine would be the same as planting an annual crop. So the phases of the moon bit is silly. If you plant an entire grape (roots and grafted stock together) as a new vine do not expect to get any grapes for about two to four years. This will be the first year I will get a substantial number of grapes from my Einset vine which was planted three years ago. My Heavenly Blue vine is just starting to reach towards the trellis, it is two years old.

My Interlaken and Glenora vines produce lots of good eating and turning into raisin grapes. I never spray, ferilize nor water them (though the Interlaken seem to have a fungus on them, some newer leaves have bumps).

More often when a vineyard decides to change the type of grape in a particular field they "re-graft". This means they take the fruit producing part off of the root-stick and graft on a different type of grape variety. (note: all wine grapes are grafted on certain disease resistent root-stocks, http://www.american.edu/TED/vinewine.htm ... or just look up "Phylloxera").

Also, I remember a couple of decades of go my mother (who is big on the Zodiac) giving me a bad time because I told I planted my vegies on a certain day. She told me it was a bad day according to her Zodiac gardening guide. Well since the only time I garden was on the weekend (gee, full-time jobs seem to take up a bit of time, don't they) I was not going to take off time to plant because it was dictated by a horoscope!

Anyway it sound's like Skeptico's waiter was just told to use a cool sounding buzz word to push a certain brand... because the restaurant's buyer was dazzled by the winery's salesman.

Time for me to pour myself another glass of 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon from the American Pacific Northwest. Yum!

[HCN]

Ooops... that bottle was empty. Hubby opened up a 2002 California Cab. Still very tasty.

(now I need chocolate to go with it)