Raising with the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening and Living by the Signs of the Moon [Paperback]

Jack Pyle (Author), Taylor Reese (Author), Dot Jackson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

Planting "by the signs" is an ancient tradition carried on by millions of people. This book explains the logic of gardening by the signs of the moon and shows how it works, giving clear and complete instructions for calculating the moon's effect on every aspect of gardening -- preparing the soil, cultivating, planting, fertilizing, transplanting, pruning, grafting, controlling weeds and pests, harversting. It also explains how the moon affects many other areas of life and how the moon signs can be employed for best results in these matters. No almanac user should be without this comprehensive one-source reference.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Pyle and Taylor Reese grew up in families where almanacs were used as guides for living. They spent years compiling the information in this book. Avid homesteaders, they live near Spruce Pine in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Down Home Press (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878086189
• ISBN-13: 978-1878086181
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,193,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient tradition explained & made practical & believable, July 5, 1999

By 

Stephanie Hysmith (Shade, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising with the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening and Living by the Signs of the Moon (Paperback)

Have you ever picked up a Farmer's Almanac and wondered how in the world it's used, much less understood? Now armed with Pyle and Reese's clear, concise and rational explanations of the effects of the moon's signs, you can till, weed, plant, water, even mow the lawn and get your hair cut under the most favorable conditions. Their Planting Guide gives what phase of the moon is best to plant different vegetables and flowers and which moon signs are most suitable. It is easy to follow and the theory explained simply and convincingly. Other charts include Good Companions and Bad Companions which help one lay out a garden plan which will make everyone happy. For example, I put in bush beans around my strawberries. The beans provide nitrogen for the berries. Another chart gives natural repellents to pests, such as radishes to repel cucumber beetles. However, all this is just an added benefit of the book. The real heart is the moon sign explanations and how to apply the phases of the moon and the zodiac signs to successful gardening. Part of the authors' impetus to write the book was a quote from Dr. Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize Winner (Physics, 1923):"I do know that if man if not affected in some way by the planets, sun and moon, he is the only thing on earth that is not." Here's a free tip. If you want to slow the growth of your lawn, mow in the waning moon (after the full one) in Leo, Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius, Sagittarius or Aries (in declining order of effectiveness). Happy gardening with the moon.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gardening by the signs of the moon, February 26, 2006

By 

Chrissy K. McVay "Writer" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Raising with the Moon -- The Complete Guide to Gardening and Living by the Signs of the Moon (Paperback)

As a child growing up in a farming community, I always heard things like; never geld a horse during a full moon, etc. What I'd thought were old wive's tales are finally explained in this delightful book! Besides giving insight to what we often heard in the farmer's almanacs, this book breaks it down into easy to read explanations. There is also a planting guide, a chapter on soil preparation, and plenty of details as to why these rules make perfect sense. Finally, everything I'd heard as a child about these ancient planting traditions has been explained. Maybe now I can actually grow that garden I've dreamed of?

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Pyle & Taylor Reese Have Done It Again!, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Raising with the Moon: The Complete Guide to Gardening and Living by the Signs of the Moon (Paperback)

For those of us are into using moon signs and the Farmer's Almanac, this book is a real treasure. It is a compilation of bits and pieces about gardening and a great deal more. It is interesting to read and easy to use. Raising With the Moon is a must for your gardening library.