Do you have a particular music album that you listen to to get you motivated? I have several, today’s choice is Keep on Pushing (2001) by The Black Seeds… Feel free to dance dance the night away as tonight is Whiro, New Moon (in Scorpio) while I keep on pushing writing our Maramataka guide for Whiringa-ā-rangi, the sixth month of the Māori year. (Good lord I hope there’s some old Black Seeds fans out there that get my drift here! 😂)
Reminder; I follow the Ātiawa version of te Maramataka Māori, other iwi will have differences in names of nights and/or their order.
OK, let’s get our hands in the dirt and forget about the outside world for a while eh…
Tirea + Haohaoata + Ōuenuku, 6,7,8th November
Plant comfrey root cuttings now if you haven’t already. Some people bemoan comfreys spreading habit, but it’s a wonderful plant as a living mulch under your fruit trees. Leaves can be used as a (stinky!) compost tea or laid in trenches before you plant your potatoes.
If shield bugs are an issue, plant mustard or cleome as catch crops (meaning, with fingers crossed, the shield bugs will go for these plants and not your prized tomatoes!)
Get mulches sorted if you’re in an area prone to dry summers. Mulch is just so important in this climatic day and age.
Keep on planting out your seedlings if weather is nice (it’s gone bloody cold here). And keep sowing crops for all summer eatting; corn, beans, cucumbers, late tomatoes etc.
Tamatea angaanga, 11th Nov
A good day for cropping/harvesting. Harvest herbs to dry; make sure it is a fine day and the foliage is dry before harvesting. Dry in a warm dark space like a hot water cupboard – don’t dry in the sun if you can help it. If you’re harvesting lemon balm to dry be real careful you don’t bruise the leaves.
Māwharu, 16th Nov
Foliar spray the māra with your organic spray of choice. Plant/sow green beans and any other crop that is not intended for long term storage.
Rākaunui (Full Moon) + Rākaumatohi, 19, 20th Nov
Plant your root crops
Tanagaroa piri a mua, 27 Nov
Keep on doing what you’re doing; planting, sowing, checking for insects (got enough good ones?), diseases (mildew is becoming more common plus other fungal issues, if this is the case at your place check out this article here), weeding. Hopefully not putting out too many fires! (That’s a nod to you Ginny! 😜)
Mauri, 1st December
Tools down, take it easy, relax, rest. Coming up to the New Moon.
But if the world is all getting a bit too much, get back out there! Avoid social media if it’s making you angry, they want you angry, stay true to who are and what you believe in, hold the earth close, the best self care you can practise is caring for the planet, caring for Papatūānuku and caring for those you love. Keep it simple xx
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