Maramataka Māori

Maramataka Māori for Hōngongoi/July

July 5, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

I hope you are having a special Matariki time (Matariki period is from the 2nd July to the 10th) and got up early at least once to see the stars~ ✨ I made a decision on the rising of Matariki to have a 30 day break/detox from social media. So far (on almost laughable day 4!) it’s been really interesting on what’s going on in my head, and I’m not even that much of a high end user. Quite the trip!

Anyway, we’re really into hōtoke (winter) now hey. That polar blast we had on the 29th June really cemented it for a lot of people, us included, with flurries of snow coming down randomly throughout the day.

Reminded me of when I was 18 and moved to Queenstown from Nelson ~ the first day it snowed I finally realised what the point of winter was; to watch snow gracefully drift down from seemingly nowhere!

So. What is the Maramataka Māori guiding us to do in the māra this month? Thankfully it’s mostly huddling by the fire still!

Kua tino mātao te tangata, me te tahutahu ahi, ka pāinaina.
Man is now extremely cold and so kindles the fire before he basks.

For most of us there’s a lot of relaxing to be doing- hopefully eating well from our winter plots, planting trees and if fruit tree pruning hasn’t been tackled yet this should be done this month. There’s a few other bits and bobs jobs to do though, so let’s look into the second month of the Māori year, Hōngongoi, the first day of which is on the 10th July (Whiro).

11th July, Tirea

The new moon period is a great time for taking it easy but if you’re itching to do something and the weather is nice, weeding is very satisfying during this time.

15th July, Tamatea kai ariki (and my big brothers birthday!)

Start of the first quarter period; you could start tidying up (or building) your covered growing areas- greenhouses, glasshouses, cold frames etc. Check for slug and snail families hiding under rubbish and pots.

How’s your indoor houseplants going? Keep their leaves dusted so they get as much light as they need. Most don’t as much watering during winter, unless of course they’re in a very warm room. It’s totally OK to moddle coddle and give them slightly warmed water instead of straight from the tap cold water!

Winter-less North; you can start prepping early potato beds. Everybody; Are seed potatoes available to buy in your area or online yet? Or, gulp, are they sold out already like Setha Seeds?!

22nd July, Atua

Great time to be thinking about what grew well for you in the past and what was eaten (radishes always grow well and easy, but do you and your whānau actually eat them?) and what you would like to plant this year.

I want you to really think about diversity in your garden – make sure you have plans to plant for our pollinators and our predator insects. Go here for ideas of herbs to grow for bees. Go here for aphid battle plans.

Check out your favourite seed supplier to see if they have what you want. From August/September more of my plants will be coming available. But there’s no planting of anything just yet, dreaming, planning, plotting and scheming…

2nd August, Tangaroa piri a roto

Well now, depending on your climate, what’s happening with the weather and what resources you have (cold frames, glasshouses, heat pads) you may want to start sowing seeds. It’s dicey times this early in August, if you’re a beginner gardener hold fire until next month for greater success. Moon wise it’s a great time to sow seeds but weather wise it may not be so.

Prune your fruit trees from now until the 6th August (Mauri), I wouldn’t want to do it any later. Get your berry sections in order now too if you haven’t already; prune, de-sucker, tie-up, manure…. Who wouldn’t want a bumper crop; do the mahi, get the treats!

6th August, Mauri

Tools down! We’re coming up to the end of the Māori month. Soon (depending on where you live!) all this relaxing and wintering will be all but a dream and you are going to be busy in the garden, making it your favourite place to be~

Hereturikōkā, the third month of the Māori year begins on the 9th August.. til then, stay warm!

Matariki, 2nd July- 10th July 2021. What to do in the garden according to Maramataka Māori, July.

Maramataka Māori for June/Pipiri

June 10, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! Today (10th June 2021) is the start of the first month of the Māori year, the month of Pipiri.

Sweet violet, viola odorata — _{Frosty Sweet Violet}

To be honest, apart from reflecting on the year that’s been and planning on the year to come (gazing at seed catalogues) there is not a lot to do in the māra this month.

If you’ve ordered fruit trees and they’re coming this month there are certain days that are best for planting them out, I’ll list them out here for you…

Tirea, Haohaoata + Ōuenuku (12, 13 and 14th June)
Rākanui + Rākaumatohi (25 and 26th June- Full Moon period) If you haven’t planted out your garlic or shallots, do so during this period.
From Korekore tūroa – Ōrongonui (1st July- 7th July) This is the best period to do any tree and berry pruning too, Kath Irvine is my go-to for pruning advice.

That’s it folks, enjoy your harvests, congratulate yourself for growing, immerse yourself in seed catalogues, enjoy your family, keep warm and start planning for Matariki. Aroha nui xx

Maramataka Māori for May/Haratua 2021

May 10, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Kua uru ngā kai kai te rua, kua mutu ngā mahi a te tangata.
Crops have now been stored in the store pits. The tasks of man are now finished.

Haratua, the 12th month of the Māori year… Depending on what climate pocket you live in you may still have some planting to do but this month is more about prepping and putting things to bed.

Whiro, 13th May, day after New Moon

He rā kino tēnei mō te ono kai mā tehī ika, hoki. A bad day for fishing or planting, the moon is out of sight.

Tirea, 14th May – Ōkoro, 17th May

Prepare your strawberry beds, your garlic beds and shallot beds. You’re prepping with food for the soil, compost +manure, but you’re also making sure you have superior drainage – this is paramount for these crops. If you’re in a reasonably warm area you can still plant out your compost and/or green manure crops.

Tamatea whakapau, 21st May

Plant out your strawberry runners, remember to keep the crowns clear of any soil or mulch (pine needles makes a great -free- mulch for strawberries).

Rākaunui + Rākaumatohi, 27th + 28th May

Get your garlic in, tree onions, shallots and potatos onions too if you have them (Setha Seeds is a good source of these).
Mulch, mulch, mulch!
This is the time that I start doing my hardwood cuttings. I have an article here on propagating plants by this method.
If you have a tree that you’ve decided would be better in a different place and it’s a fairly decent sized tree, wrench one side now. The art of wrenching is cutting the roots in stages, well before you actually move the tree. It will shock the poor thing but not as shocking if you lifted the whole thing in one fell swoop. It will though encourage it to form fresh new roots. I have a 3-4 year old apple tree that I’ll be wrenching at this time and then moving in 2-4 weeks…weather dependant.
Mulch, mulch, mulch!
Make compost for Spring.

Korekore tūroa, 2nd June – Ōrongonui, 7th June

The last quarter period is hands down my favourite time of the moon calendar. It’s such a productive time, but at this time of year, not a lot of that productivity will be used in the garden. Of course, weed + mulch what is left to be done – if you have cloches’ or cold frames’ (and live in a warm-ish area) you could sow the last of your salad greens. Plant out the last of your seedlings. Move trees if need be.

Think about how else you can use this productive energy; is there something you can do together with your whānau or your community (stack firewood?) Do things that need to be done.

BTW, 2nd June is when Matariki will be setting, the stars will rise again in a months time. Ōrongonui (7th June) is a good day for business.

Mauri, 8th June

The world is moving into darkness as we get closer to the New Moon. Take a load off, keep warm, have you ordered or looked into what fruit trees you would like to plant this winter? New Moon is the 10th June.

Maramataka Māori for April 2021

April 10, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

I’m a little late this month sorry, Martinborough Fair snuck up on me as has the New Moon which is tomorrrow (12th April). Thank goodness it’s a day of rest and there’s naught to do in the māra (garden)..

So, what can we do for the rest of the moon calendar for this glorious Autumnal month; Paengawhāwhā, the 11th month of the Māori year..

Haohaoata, 14th April

A very good day for planting out any seedlings you have on hand. Have you got your garlic beds ready? Compost and/or manure them now (until first quarter) so they’ll be ready for your cloves next month’s full moon. Or maybe you’re going to plant them early to try to beat rust? What’s the plan? (I have an article here about fungal diseases, mainly powdery mildew but there’s links to rust and garlic possible solutions..)

Tamatea kai ariki, 18th April

According to the maramataka that I follow (Ātiawa version) Tamatea kai ariki can be a bit changeable weather wise. If it’s been raining and it’s not now- go and compost + mulch all your fruit trees today. If it’s actually raining now- then when it’s stopped go and do the same!

Māwharu, 23rd April

Plant out your compost crops, lupins, broadbeans etc. If you’re in a warm enough area, last chance saloon to sow your cornsalad and rocket (cornsalad is a fantastic green to have on hand for winter salads and rocket of course to give it a kick) silverbeet, rainbow chard, brassicas inc. kale, peas, miners lettuce, celery, parsley and coriander. For us in the colder parts of NZ, you can still plant out seedlings.

Atua, 24th April

It’s not a good day for planting but it’s a great day to foliar feed your garden.

Turu, 25th April

From midday you can get back into your planting and make use of the long weekend. A lot of winter vegies like your brassicas and celery are heavy feeders so give your beds lots of goodness before planting them in- manure, compost, lime if you have it- and mulch, mulch, mulch.

Rākanui (day after Full Moon), 28th April

The next two days are the best for your root vegetables – if you’re in a warm-ish area this is your last chance to sow carrots + beetroot. the Full Moon period is the best time to plant garlic, you can do so this month or wait til next month.

Takirua māheahea, 30th April – Tangaroa piri a mua, 4th May

Take it easy!

Tangaroa piri a roto, 5th May

For the next four days finish off your winter beds, whether it’s manuring/composting them, planting cover crops or compost crops, double digging if you’re into that, putting out the last of your seedlings and mulching, mulching, mulching. Prep your strawberry beds too.

Perfect time to harvest your keepers – potatoes, pumpkins, kumara, dried beans, apples and pears.

If you have herbs that are grown for their roots you can start bringing them up now. Yellow dock, Comfrey, Echinacea, Chicory, Valerian, Elecampane, Horseradish, Marshmallow. Or you can wait ’til next last quarter.

Mauri, 10th May

Kua oti! Smashed it! Well done, take a load off as we’re coming up to the New Moon (Whiro) period.

And hey, if you’ve got some time, feel free to give me some feedback, it sometimes feels like I’m talking to an empty room on this blog! x

Maramataka Māori for March 2021

March 10, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

So how did things go for you in the garden last month? Take notes (if you don’t already) on what seems to have worked for you and what didn’t really fly, it’s the best way to know your garden better, all our gardens are different!

You can feel Autumn in the air now hey, especially in the mornings… For March or Poutūterangi, the tenth month of the Māori year; Kua hauhake te kai, the crops are now taken up.

Poutūterangi, the tenth month of the Māori year, begins on the night of the New Moon (Whiro), this year that is the 13th March. I follow the Ātiawa version of Maramataka.

Please take mind that these are not hard and fast rules by any means, take into consideration your climate and what the weather is doing. You know your garden best and this ain’t gospel! If you have not read anything of mine regarding Maramataka I recommend you read this article here.

Whiro, 13th March

On the first day of the New Moon it’s a time to just admire your garden (which is probably looking a little scraggly by now!) rather than do any work on it.

But from the next day (Tirea) til the First Quarter (Tamatea whakapau, 22 March), mulch, prepare, compost and manure your garden beds for winter planting.

Seeds to sow are the same as last month, winter veg such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, onions (warm areas), silverbeet and chard. Celery, miners lettuce (if it hasn’t self sown) corn salad and peas. Not just edible peas but flowering sweet peas too. Other flowers to sow are calendula, heartease (violas), chamomile, hollyhocks, sweet william, forget-me-nots, columbine + verbascum.

An interlude…

The way our moon shows itself is slightly different each month, sometimes first quarter can come 6 days after the New Moon, often 7 (average is actually 7.4 days), sometimes 9 days, as is the case with this month (a clear explanation of the lunar phases can be found here on Wikipedia). Which makes it quite hard to be really specific about what night is called what and have it line up with what the Moon is doing. So I’m being a little generalistic this month. Back in the days of old when this happened some nights were omitted, Huna (the 11th night) being the first to go. To read more about how bloody confusing it can be and the different variations depending on what iwi was making the calls, have a go at reading this article here courtesy of Victoria University.

Lesson over, carrying on!

Tamatea angaanga, 19th March

If it’s a dry day, today is a good day to harvest your culinary herbs to dry for winter flavour – and any other produce you want to keep. Main crop potatoes, drying beans, pumpkins (but only if the pumpkin stem is browning). Dry herbs in a dark warm place, hot water cupboards are perfect for small quantities.

Māwharu, 24th March

Good day for planting out your annuals, anything that you’re not growing to be able to store at a later date.. Most winter crops are for eating in the here and now so you’re good to go.

Three days before the Full Moon (the 27th) is a great time to foliar and root feed any plants that are established and have more growth to do.

Rākanui + Rākaumatohi, 30th (day after Full Moon) + 31st March

Full Moon energy a go-go! A good day to plant plants out ~ especially root veges like carrot, beetroot, parsnips, turnips and swedes. Get those spring bulbs in.

Tangaroa piri a mua, 4th April (start of the Last Quarter period)

Another nine day period between Last Quarter and New Moon, but we stop work in the māra (garden) on the 9th April (Mauri) three days before the New Moon.

Last chance saloon for a lot of us (especially in colder areas) to do seed sowing for the winter/spring garden.
Transplant and weed
Harvest! Harvest! Harvest! Exciting times, yes, we grow our gardens to to pick and eat straight away but the real beauty is when you’re able to harvest and then store or or process our produce to eat during the scarce winter months and the ironically even scarcer spring time months. Nicola Galloway has some beautiful preserving recipes if you need any inspiration.
Remember to save seed from your best growers, here’s how to save tomato seed.
If it’s been dry check your young fruit trees and shallow rooted trees like citrus and feijoa, any subtropicals (lucky people!), water, mulch again if necessary.
Clean up your gooseberries, currants + raspberries and finish off the pruning of your stone fruit.

Mauri, 9th April

The Moon is retreating, sit back and look at your work, take note of any lessons you’ve learnt. Those of us in cold climates, hate to say it, but look at getting your frost cloths etc sorted (if it’s not too late 🤞).

Maramataka Māori for February 2021

February 8, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Maramataka Māori, gardening by the moon NZ

Haere mai! Welcome to my first “what you ought to do in your garden according to Maramataka Maōri for this month” guide. I will eventually think of a more nifty title!

Now, when I say February, I actually mean Huitanguru, the ninth month of the Māori year, which begins on the night of the New Moon (Whiro), this year that is the 12th February. I follow the Ātiawa version of Maramataka.

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

Whiro, 12th February

This is a time to plan; think about where you’re going to put all the seeds you sowed during last quarter or what you will sow for your autumn and winter crops. Generally though, whilst the moon is hidden, duck down yourself, put your feet up and relax.

Haohaoata, 14th February

If you weren’t able to get seeds sown during last quarter (did coincide with kids going back to school after all – or in our case, Unschoolers Camp in Foxton) today is the day to do it. Think not just about what you want to grow to eat but also cover crops/green manure crops like mustard (especially where solancae/nightshade family were growing) buckwheat and phacelia. It seems early but flowers and herbs for Autumn and Spring need to be sown now too – think hollyhock, calendula, chamomile and sweet pea. Coriander and dill.

Tamatea angaanga, 18th February

If the weather is playing nice (it can be unpredictable at this moon phase) it’s a good day for harvesting crops/seeds etc that require drying and storing (read, herbs, beans, corn, garlic/onion, potatoes).

Huna, 22 February

If you want to go woo woo – this is a beautiful night to give your appreciation to the ocean and the god of the sea, atua Tangaroa.

Māwharu, 23 February

The best day (very early morning or early evening) for foliar feeding your plants.

Rākaunui + Rākaumatohi, 27th (day after full moon) + 28th February

Full moon energy a go-go! A good day to plant plants out ~ especially root veges like carrot, beetroot, parsnips, turnips and swedes. Have you got any spring bulbs yet? Plant them during these two days.

Oike, 1st March

A give back moon, give your love (aroha) and appreciation to Papatūānuku and all that she gives you ~ what can you give back apart from caring for your patch of earth?

Korekore, 3rd March – 5th March

Take it easy my friends because we’re coming up to last quarter and if you want to be well set up for Autumn, Winter and Spring…Last quarter is going to be well busy!

Tangaroa piri a mua (Last Quarter), 6th March

Hold onto your hats people, we have five days of productive activity before we get near the next New Moon…

If you’ve got it in you, this is what you need to be doing for this months last quarter;

Sow seeds, think of your greens; spinach, chard, miners lettuce, corn salad.
Prick out seedlings, transplant and weed.
Harvest, dry and store seeds, including your beans.
Should have all your onion, garlic and shallots out and storing well. Check they’re all in a dry place and not going soft in any places.
Spray roses with seaweed, make sure the roots are well moist and give ’em a liquid feed.
Sow anemones and ranuculi for winter flowering.
Finish planting all your spring bulbs (esp if in cool climate NZ)
Water and feed your dahlias
Take geranium cuttings
If you haven’t already; prune apricots, peaches and plums, best to do this after your trees have fruited and before the cold sets in, to avoid silver leaf.

Get this all done by Thursday the 11th March you’ll be away laughing and relaxing for the New Moon period.

Hope you have found this useful! xx

If you follow Maramataka Māori….

August 17, 2019 By SandRa Timmins 1 Comment

Me te rangi i whānau ai a Horu

A whakataukī (proverbial expression) for an unpleasant day

For that is what it is today here, which is a shame. For one; I’m sick of the rain and I’m ready for summer now. For two; Today is Rākanui, the day after full moon and according to Maramataka Māori (Māori moon calendar) “He rā tino pai mō te ono kai….” a very good day for planting and general gardening.

If it wasn’t ~~pissing~~ heaving down with rain.

I had grand intentions on doing my spring divisions today, basil mint, soapwort, mint, peppermint, some more bergamot and St John’s wort.

Fortunately, the weather is set to get better by Monday, Takirau māheahea, I have a window from dawn to midday where it is OK to do planting (Rākaumatohi, which is tomorrow is a very good day for planting and fishing – but I don’t think our weather will be complying by then).

I like to do my rooted divisions after the full moon, the plants still have energy in their leaves but that energy is moving down to the roots as the moon starts losing its brightness (waning). Perfect timing for the new plants to settle their roots into their new home and for the mother plant to recover its losses.

Come Tangaroa piri a roto (moon in its last quarter, 24th August) it will be all on for seed sowing. Being in a cool climate zone I’ve learnt that there’s not a lot of point in going crazy with seeds in August, unless they’re destined for the glasshouse or under cover. But Go! temperate NZ, Go!

As an aside, did you know that September is Mahuru Māori? It’s a nationwide challenge to kōrero te reo Māori (for whatever space of time that suits you) to normailise te reo in everyday life. If you get in quick to register you may be eligible to receive resources to help you as well as there being lots of online resources available. My friend did it last year and to promote te reo Māori and her business Dye Happy (beautiful hand dyed yarn) she posted on facebook Māori words for her craft, like “knitting” “yarn” etc, it was really cool. I’m not on facebook anymore, but I think I’ll do the same on here, (but you know, more plant based!) for me and for you~

Kei a koe mō te kawe i te mānuka? (Are you up for the challenge?) Go here for more information and to register for Mahuru Māori.

Maramataka Māori, Gardening by the Moon Aotearoa Styles

August 4, 2018 By SandRa Timmins 4 Comments

This year I’m planting according to the moon, not just any moon, but our moon, marama.

Haha! Don’t worry, I’m still on the same planet as you – (most of the time) and I’m well aware there is only one moon for us earthlings.

I’m following Maramataka Māori, the Maori lunar calendar for fishing and horticulture. Maramataka means literally, turning of the moon.

(Artwork by Wiremu Barriball of Revolution Aotearoa)

When Europeans arrived in Aotearoa (the ones that knew these sort of things) they were well impressed with Māori horticultural practices; neat, weed-free and obviously productive. Of course Māori weren’t vegetarian and they lived in a mixed economy of gardening, gathering and fishing.

Long long before “gardening by the moon” became hip and before even your grandparents or great-grandparents talked about planting with the moon (lucky you). Māori were walking the talk with Maramataka. In fact the moon and the cosmos were reference point and guide in all aspects of pre-european Māori life. Matariki didn’t start happening in the 1990’s.

So. In my admittedly complete amateur understanding of Maramataka – like most cultures, time was cut up by the cycles of the sun and the moon. (Month = moon. My bet is women cottoned onto the rhythm of the moon before men!). But instead of breaking the month up into weeks then days, Māori had a different name for every single night (which also typically marks a day) in a lunar month.

The lunar month starts with Whiro. Ko te rā i muri iho ō tā tō Pākehā new moon (the day after the new moon on the calendar) and ends with Mutuwhenua… E hara i te rā pō pai tēnei kua hinapouri te ao e ai ki ngā kōrero ō neke rā. It is not a good day at all: The world is in darkness!

It takes a bit of working out if you haven’t been brought up knowing Maramataka and I’m going with the very basics. I imagine that, especially back in the day, it would have slight variances between iwi’s depending on the Tohunga’s readings of the Matariki stars at the start of the year and a lot of other nuances non-related to fishing and horticulture. (Please, if you know more, enlighten me and others in the comments section below!)

My journey has just begun, literally, two days ago. when I bought my seed potato and thought I better start planning when I’m going to start everything.

Last year I noticed I had pretty rubbish outcomes with seed I sowed during the new moon but had much better luck during the last quarter. I’ve acknowledged moon calenders and they’ve been pretty useful for reminding and planning of things to do in the garden. Koangas Garden Guide (by Kay Baxter) has been my guide, but not my ruler!

Then I read a book earlier this year called Moon Gardening by John Harris, head gardener of Tresillian Estate in the UK. He explained really simply, the moons effect on the water table. (Rises as the moon is coming up to full – waxing, whilst the water table drops when the moon is waning and at its lowest during new moon).

I recommend this book if you can get your hands on it. In it, the author mentions how a television crew came from New Zealand to interview him about moon gardening and he over-heard a crew member murmuring to a mate “Why’d we have to come 18,000 km’s to hear about something the Māori have been doing for hundreds of years?” Fair bloody call. White validation?

Anyway, the good man devoted a whole chapter to Maramataka Māori.

I also have a booklet called NGĀ PŌREAREA ME NGĀ MATEMATE O NGĀ MĀRA TAEWA, Pests and Diseases of Taewa (Māori potato) Crops. You can get this through Tāhuri Whenua the National Māori Growers Collective. This, amongst other good things to know has the Maramataka Maori (Te Āti Awa version) in it. And it is from here that I’m getting my info from.

I’m not going to go over the whole Maramataka here but you can join me on my journey…

Right now (the 4th August 2018) it is Tangaroa piri a mua – the 23rd day after the new moon. He rā pai tēnei ki te ono kai, ki ngā mahi hī ika koura. A very god day for planting, fishing, crayfish and eels, especially from noon until sunset.

According to Maramataka Māori it’s a pretty good day for planting (and fishing) from midday til sunset three nights before last quarter, called Korekore tūroa (which was the 2nd August). and we’re all good for sowing and planting and fishing until Mauri (a couple of night before new moon), the 9th August, E hara i te rā pai tēnei he oro mauri te kai ka omo. Not a very good day for planting or fishing. fish, eels and crayfish are very elusive.

I have sown white sage, licorice, thyme, motherwort, common sage and spillanthes so far (with use of a heat-pad). With dill, parsley, chervil, shiso, savory, tulsi and catnip to go. It’s a bit early for some but I always like to push the boundaries! (My early potatoes will go in next month).

Another book I highly recommend if you’re into this sort of thing is A Tohunga’s Natural World, plants, gardening and food. by Paul Moon. Gardening from a Tuhoe Tohunga’s perspective.

I’ll be updating on here on how I go and what I’ll be doing next according to the Maramataka. Have you done this/do this? Please comment below on how it works for you~ ngā mihi!

2021 Update; I am now doing monthly guides on what to do according to Maramataka Māori, they will be published as blog posts but can also be found under the heading “Maramataka Māori” in my menu.

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