#farmers market witch | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thedansemacabres · 3 months

Text

Introduction To Supporting Sustainable Agriculture For Witches and Pagans

[ID: An image of yellow grain stocks, soon to be harvested. The several stocks reach towards a blurred open sky, focusing the camera on he grains themselves. The leaves of the grains are green and the cereals are exposed].

PAGANISM AND WITCHCRAFT ARE MOVEMENTS WITHIN A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CAPITALIST SOCIETY. As the world becomes more aware of the importance of sustainability, so does the duty of humanity to uphold the idea of the steward, stemming from various indigenous worldviews, in the modern era. I make this small introduction as a viticulturist working towards organic and environmentally friendly grape production. I also do work on a food farm, as a second job—a regenerative farm, so I suppose that is my qualifications. Sustainable—or rather regenerative agriculture—grows in recognition. And as paganism and witchcraft continue to blossom, learning and supporting sustainability is naturally a path for us to take. I will say that this is influenced by I living in the USA, however, there are thousands of groups across the world for sustainable agriculture, of which tend to be easy to research.

So let us unite in caring for the world together, and here is an introduction to supporting sustainable/regenerative agriculture.

A QUICK BRIEF ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable agriculture, in truth, is a movement to practise agriculture as it has been done for thousands of years—this time, with more innovation from science and microbiology especially. The legal definition in the USA of sustainable agriculture is:

The term ”sustainable agriculture” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:

A more common man’s definition would be farming in a way that provides society’s food and textile needs without overuse of natural resources, artificial supplements and pest controls, without compromising the future generation’s needs and ability to produce resources. The agriculture industry has one of the largest and most detrimental impacts on the environment, and sustainable agriculture is the alternative movement to it.

Sustainable agriculture also has the perk of being physically better for you—the nutrient quality of crops in the USA has dropped by 47%, and the majority of our food goes to waste. Imagine if it was composted and reused? Or even better—we buy only what we need. We as pagans and witches can help change this.

BUYING ORGANIC (IT REALLY WORKS)

The first step is buying organic. While cliche, it does work: organic operations have certain rules to abide by, which excludes environmentally dangerous chemicals—many of which, such as DDT, which causes ecological genocide and death to people. Organic operations have to use natural ways of fertilising, such as compost, which to many of us—such as myself—revere the cycle of life, rot, and death. Organic standards do vary depending on the country, but the key idea is farming without artificial fertilisers, using organic seeds, supplementing with animal manure, fertility managed through management practices, etc.

However, organic does have its flaws. Certified organic costs many, of which many small farmers cannot afford. The nutrient quality of organic food, while tending to be better, is still poor compared to regeneratively grown crops. Furthermore, the process to become certified organic is often gruelling—you can practise completely organically, but if you are not certified, it is not organic. Which, while a quality control insurance, is both a bonus and a hurdle.

JOINING A CSA

Moving from organic is joining a CSA (“Community supported agriculture”). The USDA defines far better than I could:

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), one type of direct marketing, consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

By purchasing a farm share, you receive food from the farm for the agreed upon production year. I personally enjoy CSAs for the relational aspect—choosing a CSA is about having a relationship, not only with the farmer(s), but also the land you receive food from. I volunteer for my CSA and sometimes I get extra cash from it—partaking in the act of caring for the land. Joining a CSA also means taking your precious capital away from the larger food industry and directly supporting growers—and CSAs typically practise sustainable and/or regenerative agriculture.

CSAs are also found all over the world and many can deliver their products to food deserts and other areas with limited agricultural access. I volunteer from time to time for a food bank that does exactly that with the produce I helped grow on the vegetable farm I work for.

FARM MARKETS AND STALLS

Another way of personally connecting to sustainable agriculture is entering the realm of the farm stall. The farmer’s market is one of my personal favourite experiences—people buzzing about searching for ingredients, smiles as farmers sell crops and products such as honey or baked goods, etc. The personal connection stretches into the earth, and into the past it buries—as I purchase my apples from the stall, I cannot help but see a thousand lives unfold. People have been doing this for thousands of years and here I stand, doing it all over again.

Farmers’ markets are dependent on your local area, yet in most you can still develop personal community connections. Paganism often stresses community as an ideal and a state of life. And witchcraft often stresses a connection to the soil. What better place, then, is purchasing the products from the locals who commune with the land?

VOLUNTEERING

If you are able to, I absolutely recommend volunteering. I have worked with aquaponic systems, food banks, farms, cider-making companies, soil conservation groups, etc. There is so much opportunity—and perhaps employment—in these fields. The knowledge I have gained has been wonderful. As one example, I learned that fertilisers reduce carbon sequestration as plants absorb carbon to help with nutrient intake. If they have all their nutrients ready, they do not need to work to obtain carbon to help absorb it. This does not even get into the symbiotic relationship fungi have with roots, or the world of hyphae. Volunteering provides community and connection. Actions and words change the world, and the world grows ever better with help—including how much or how little you may provide. It also makes a wonderful devotional activity.

RESOURCING FOOD AND COOKING

Buying from farmers is not always easy, however. Produce often has to be processed, requiring labour and work with some crops such as carrots. Other times, it is a hard effort to cook and many of us—such as myself—often have very limited energy. There are solutions to this, thankfully:

Many farmers can and will process foods. Some even do canning, which can be good to stock up on food and lessen the energy inputs.

Value-added products: farms also try to avoid waste, and these products often become dried snacks if fruit, frozen, etc.

Asking farmers if they would be open to accommodating this. Chances are, they would! The farmer I purchase my CSA share from certainly does.

Going to farmers markets instead of buying a CSA, aligning with your energy levels.

And if any of your purchased goods are going unused, you can always freeze them.

DEMETER, CERES, VEIA, ETC: THE FORGOTTEN AGRICULTURE GODS

Agricultural gods are often neglected. Even gods presiding over agriculture often do not have those aspects venerated—Dionysos is a god of viticulture and Apollon a god of cattle. While I myself love Dionysos as a party and wine god, the core of him remains firmly in the vineyards and fields, branching into the expanses of the wild. I find him far more in the curling vines as I prune them than in the simple delights of the wine I ferment. Even more obscure gods, such as Veia, the Etruscan goddess of agriculture, are seldom known.

Persephone receives the worst of this: I enjoy her too as a dread queen, and people do acknowledge her as Kore, but she is far more popular as the queen of the underworld instead of the dear daughter of Demeter. I do understand this, though—I did not feel the might of Demeter and Persephone until I began to move soil with my own hands. A complete difference to the ancient world, where the Eleusinian mysteries appealed to thousands. Times change, and while some things should be left to the past, our link to these gods have been severed. After all, how many of us reading know where our food comes from? I did not until I began to purchase from the land I grew to know personally. The grocery store has become a land of tearing us from the land, instead of the food hub it should be.

Yet, while paganism forgets agriculture gods, they have not forgotten us. The new world of farming is more conductive and welcoming than ever. I find that while older, bigoted people exist, the majority of new farmers tend to be LGBT+. My own boss is trans and aro, and I myself am transgender and gay. The other young farmers I know are some flavour of LGBT+, or mixed/poc. There’s a growing movement for Black farmers, elaborated in a lovely text called We Are Each Other’s Harvest.

Indigenous farming is also growing and I absolutely recommend buying from indigenous farmers. At this point, I consider Demeter to be a patron of LGBT+ people in this regard—she gives an escape to farmers such as myself. Bigotry is far from my mind under her tender care, as divine Helios shines above and Okeanos’ daughters bring fresh water to the crops. Paganism is also more commonly accepted—I find that farmers find out that I am pagan and tell me to do rituals for their crops instead of reacting poorly. Or they’re pagan themselves; a farmer I know turned out to be Wiccan and uses the wheel of the year to keep track of production.

Incorporating these divinities—or concepts surrounding them—into our crafts and altars is the spiritual step towards better agriculture. Holy Demeter continues to guide me, even before I knew it.

WANT CHANGE? DO IT YOURSELF!

If you want change in the world, you have to act. And if you wish for better agriculture, there is always the chance to do it yourself. Sustainable agriculture is often far more accessible than people think: like witchcraft and divination, it is a practice. Homesteading is often appealing to many of us, including myself, and there are plenty of resources to begin. There are even grants to help one improve their home to be more sustainable, i.e. solar panels. Gardening is another, smaller option. Many of us find that plants we grow and nourish are far more potentant in craft, and more receptive to magical workings.

Caring for plants is fundamental to our natures and there are a thousand ways to delve into it. I personally have joined conservation groups, my local soil conservation group, work with the NRCs in the USA, and more. The path to fully reconnecting to nature and agriculture is personal—united in a common cause to fight for this beautiful world. To immerse yourself in sustainable agriculture, I honestly recommend researching and finding your own path. Mine lies in soil and rot, grapevines and fruit trees. Others do vegetables and cereal grains, or perhaps join unions and legislators. Everyone has a share in the beauty of life, our lives stemming from the land’s gentle sprouts.

Questions and or help may be given through my ask box on tumblr—if there is a way I can help, let me know. My knowledge is invaluable I believe, as I continue to learn and grow in the grey-clothed arms of Demeter, Dionysos, and Kore.

FURTHER READING:

Baszile, N. (2021). We are each other’s harvest. HarperCollins.

Hatley, J. (2016). Robin Wall Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Environmental Philosophy, 13(1), 143–145. https://doi.org/10.5840/envirophil201613137

Regenerative Agriculture 101. (2021, November 29). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101#what-is

And in truth, far more than I could count.

References

Community Supported Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/community-supported-agriculture

Navazio, J. (2012). The Organic seed Grower: A Farmer’s Guide to Vegetable Seed Production. Chelsea Green Publishing.

Plaster, E. (2008). Soil Science and Management. Cengage Learning.

Sheaffer, C. C., & Moncada, K. M. (2012). Introduction to agronomy: food, crops, and environment. Cengage Learning.

Sheldrake, M. (2020). Entangled life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Random House.

Sustainable Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/sustainable-agriculture

243 notes · View notes

ghost-1-y · 7 months

Text

Aphrodisiac

Witch!Shinobu x AFAB!Reader

Content Warnings: MDNI, sexual content, unprotected sex, mistress/slut dynamic, dom!Shinobu, sub!reader, cunnilingus (Shinobu receiving), scissoring, squirting, cum-eating(?), spanking as punishment, aphrodisiac, thigh riding, hair pulling, degradation (reader-receiving), lighthearted Sanemi slander, lmk if I missed anything!!

Summary: Your girlfriend usually spends all day cooped up in your shared cabin brewing potions and studying spells, and, of course, placing the occasional hex on someone she doesn’t particularly like. One day, when you return to your home deep in the woods, you find that she has come up with a rather…interesting potion recipe, and wishes for both of you to try it out together.

Word Count: ~2.6k

Divider Credit: @/benkeibear

The woven basket you carried was slowly getting heavier as you trudged along the hidden trail that led you deeper into the woods, the soft crunch of the leaves a delightful sound which rang again and again with each step you took. Above, there was the loud staccato of a woodpecker looking for its next meal, and ravens soared overhead as they returned to their nest before sundown.

The red and orange foliage was mesmerizing, something you always looked forward to in the autumnal months of the year. It also signaled the beginnings of cooler weather, after the dreadful heat that summer brought upon the land. You hummed to yourself, singing melodic tunes that you’d heard since you were young – lullabies which would silence the cries of any newborn child.

As you continued your way into the forest, you stopped to collect herbs and vegetation you found on the trail – finding mushrooms and gourds growing wild near trees, as well as the occasional set of animal bones left behind by some predator. It may have weighed down your basket even more, but the look on your girlfriend’s face would be worth it after a day away from the cabin you two lived in together.

Your eyes eventually caught a plume of smoke rising above the trees, as a small oak wood cabin appeared within the forest, surrounded by shrubs and flowers. You walked up the mossy stone pathway that led to the entrance, the door opening for you without having to knock, sensing your familiar energy as you walked closer.

The soft crackling of the fireplace was soothing as you walked inside and placed your basket on the wooden table – organizing the items you’d picked up both from the forest floor as well as the farmer’s market in the nearby village – where you’d purchased foods for the upcoming week. You brought the foodstuffs into your shared kitchen, putting them away into their proper places before gathering the remaining items and carrying them upstairs, the soft creak of each step you took giving away the age in which the cabin was built.

You knocked on the door that led to your girlfriend’s bedroom, hearing a soft “come in” before entering. She was, as usual, at her desk – looking through what seemed to be a spell book with unbroken focus.

Her room was enchanting, her shelves lined with books about herbology and magick, as well as jars filled with various ingredients that she’d use for potion making. Her black cat was sitting on the comforter of her bed, eyes watching you as you walked over to her desk.

“I’m back, ‘Nobu,” you gave her a quick kiss on her cheek before placing your basket on her desk, “I brought you some ingredients, I hope they’ll be of some use to you!”

She turned to you, a faint smile on her lips as she peered through what the basket contained, taking out various herbs and anything else you gathered for her on your walk home.

“Thank you, love, I appreciate this,” she spoke softly, “I’m sure I’ll find good use for them.”

You grinned and sat down on her bed, her cat walking over to you before sitting in your lap, allowing you to pet it. A comfortable silence ensued, you watching her study whatever spell she was working on, with nothing but the faint sounds of the fireplace from the living room and the soft purrs from the cat in your lap filling the air.

“I saw Sanemi flirting with your sister the other day,” you mused, watching the way her shoulders tensed, “he was so awkward with the whole thing, it was hilarious to watch honestly.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to hex him so he won’t be able to shit for the next week,” she responded, and you giggled. Shinobu was always protective of her older sister, which you admired, but you found it slightly amusing what lengths she’d sometimes go to display such protection.

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate you for that, ‘Nobu,” you smiled, and she continued her reading.

“I wanted to ask you about something, love,” she paused, “unrelated to Shinazugawa’s poor flirting skills.”

You laughed, “I’m listening.”

“However, I’d like for you to tell me if you trust me first,” she said.

You looked at her, briefly stopping the soft pets you were giving her cat, “of course I trust you, Shinobu,” you said seriously, “you’ve never given me a reason not to. I trust you fully.”

You could see some of the tension melt from her shoulders, relief seemingly filling her veins as she turned to you, her violet eyes searching yours.

“I’ve come up with a new potion,” she started.

“Really? What properties does it have?” you asked, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I incorporated ingredients that are initially used for love potions, such as rosewater, rose petals, and cinnamon, however, I got curious and added some other ingredients to it as well.”

“Like what?” you asked curiously.

“Shatavari, maca root – both of which I ground into a powder, as well as damiana…which, if you’ve listened to my ramblings or have gone through my herbology books, you’d know that these are–”

“Aphrodisiacs,” you finished for her, your interest peaked, “and you created a potion out of these ingredients?”

“Yes,” Shinobu answered, “from what I could tell given the results of it, it’s a very potent lust potion, and I was wondering–”

“Do you want to drink it together?” you blurted out, slightly flushed from both the idea as well as the obvious eagerness in your tone.

She hesitated, “only if you’re completely fine with it, I know this is something new for both of us, so I just wanted to make sure–”

“Yes, when can we start?”

A slight smirk appeared on her face, before getting up from her desk and walking towards one of her shelves and pulling out two jars with a pink-tinted liquid inside them. She handed one of them to you, and turned her back for just a second to sit down on her bed.

“Honestly, one sip should be enough to cause the desired effects, so just–” she paused, eyes widening and mouth agape as she realized you’d already downed half of the entire jar.

You looked at her, fear in your eyes, “um…it’s not gonna kill me, right?”

She shook her head, “no, but…oh fuck it,” she exclaimed, before downing nearly half of it herself.

An awkward silence ensued, both of you waiting for the other to start exhibiting symptoms.

“Uh…’Nobu, I love you, but…are you sure this is gonna work?” you asked, and she rolled her eyes.

“Yes, I’m certain it should work. I highly doubt that any of the ingredients would cancel each other out.”

“Okay, well…I hope I didn’t just drink that gross liquid for nothin—oh fuck–!” you jolted, careening over as you went to hug yourself, a searing hot sensation bubbled deep within your gut. Startled by your sudden movement, Shinobu’s cat crawled out of your grasp and left the room. You looked over at Shinobu with widened eyes, nervous considering how strong the reaction was, and she looked slightly concerned before going into a fetal-like position herself, seemingly dealing with a similar situation as you were.

The feeling of heat in the lower part of your abdomen began to radiate, spreading to other parts of your body. You shuddered, starting to become irritated by the clothes you were wearing – your skin just felt so sensitive. Without hesitating, you removed your outer layers, leaving you in nothing but a bra and panties. Shinobu eyed you hungrily from her position on the bed, seemingly liking the idea of removing her own clothes as well – taking off the butterfly-patterned cardigan that was a gift from her sister, as well as the rest of her outfit. A blush spread across her cheeks, panting from her increased heart rate as well as the heat that seemed to fill each and every crevice of the room.

“Well, I knew the effects would be strong, but–” Shinobu gasped, “this is more than what I originally anticipated.”

“Kiss me, ‘Nobu, please.”

She didn’t waste any time, her hand going behind your neck and pulling you into her, kissing you fervently. She forced her tongue into your mouth, causing you to moan as she used it to massage and caress your tongue. She brought her hands to your breasts, roughly tweaking at your nipples and pinching them, the pain mixing with the pleasure and sensitivity of each touch she gave you.

Your moans were wanton as she fondled your breasts, grinding against her thigh as your panties grew wetter – barely even able to taste the friction due to how slick it was between your thighs. She slapped one of your tits, before taking her bra off and pulling you down by your hair so you could suck on hers while she continued to grope your own. You took one of her tits in your mouth, moaning at how soft and supple her skin was before sucking at it, earning a moan from her as she grabbed a fistful of your hair.

“Such a good slut for your mistress, aren’t you?” she cooed, and you whined around her nipple, licking and softly biting at it just as she liked. Her head tilted back, as she took her free hand and placed it between her legs, rubbing at her own clit to get herself off as you moved to her other breast, lavishing it with the same attention that you gave the first before reaching up to kiss her once more.

Your hips continued to grind down on Shinobu’s thigh, your movements getting faster as you listened to her moans. Suddenly, without warning, you were cumming – nearly choking on your own saliva from how unexpected it was. You got lost in your own pleasure, fucking yourself on her smooth skin, moaning deeply into Shinobu’s mouth. Once you came down from your high, you noticed that Shinobu was eerily quiet. You opened your eyes, swallowing thickly at the disapproving look she gave you.

“Did I give you permission to cum, slut?” she asked, demanding that you answer.

“No–” you breathed shakily, “no, mistress.”

If Shinobu was feeling the same effects of the potion as you were, she was damn good at hiding it, because she readjusted her position and patted her lap, beckoning you to crawl over it.

“Do you know what happens to sluts who don’t obey?” she asked, her voice sickeningly sweet given the foul words that were coming out of her mouth.

“They– they get punished,” you stuttered, and she nodded.

“That’s right, bad sluts get punished. I want you on all fours and crawled over my lap, do you understand?”

You nodded meekly and obeyed her command, arching your back as she traced her hand down your body, eventually reaching the fullness of your ass. She grabbed a handful of your flesh before pulling her hand back and landing a slap on your ass, earning a small yelp from you. The smacks continued, as she alternated between your ass cheeks with each slap, both proudly displaying a blooming redness as she punished you.

“Ah– ‘Nobu please…’t hurts,” you whined, despite obviously arching your back even more so she could continue.

“Oh, I know, baby, but you have to understand that good sluts are ones who don’t cum without permission. Does your dumb little brain know that yet? Or are you just a mindless cum whore who needs to be fucked?”

“Mmmh— need you, ‘Nobu.”

Shinobu sighed, “obviously you’re too fucked out to comprehend anything I’m saying. But, you’re lucky, ‘cause I– I need to cum just as much as you do,” she started to pant, the effects of the potion slowly addling her brain as well. “Get off my lap, I’m gonna fuck you now ‘mkay?”

You crawled off of her and laid on your back, legs spread as she moved herself between them, holding one of your legs as her pussy pressed against yours – both of you gasping at the feeling of copious amounts of slick leaking out of each of your cunts. Shinobu started to grind down onto you, gasping and moaning with each brush her clit made against your pussy. You whined, starting to buck your own hips to increase the friction she was creating.

It wasn’t enough.

Shinobu’s movements quickened, wanting, needing more – more friction, more pleasure, more you.

Her head fell back, her gasps and moans dripping from her mouth as her grinding became second nature, unable to stop or slow down even if she wanted to. The mattress creaked with each thrust, knocking the headboard against the wall with each buck of her hips against your sweet cunt.

Your legs were shaking, one of them only being held up due to Shinobu’s grip on it – an attempt at stabilizing herself. Each brush of her cunt against your clit caused fresh tears to fall down your cheeks, your mouth permanently agape and emitting the smallest moans as you lost control over your voice.

Eventually, Shinobu wasn’t able to hold herself up anymore, collapsing on top of you as she ground into your pussy, seeking your lips with hers as wanton moans escaped both of your lips.

“Fu– Fuck, baby I– shit,” she moaned, kissing you sloppily, the warmth in her gut unrelenting as she fucked you.

You whined in response, babbling being the most you could do from how drunk you were from her pussy. Your abdomen tensed, feeling the familiar buildup inside of your stomach.

“Nngh– ‘Nobu, I– I’m gonna–!” you whined.

Her breath was hot against your ear as she panted. “Cum for me, slut.”

It was too much – by the time she brushed up against your clit once more, you felt a sudden rush of fluid gushing out of your cunt, causing a spike of pleasure unparalleled to anything you’ve felt before. You let out a high pitched whine as it sprayed all over Shinobu’s pussy, gasping for air as it messily dripped down both of your thighs.

“Oh my– you’re such a filthy slut aren’t you?” she smirked, and you flushed red with embarrassment, “come clean up your mess, pet– I won’t let you go until you do.”

Whimpering, you crawled out from under her and placed your head in between her thighs, sloppily licking up the mess you made on her pussy, swallowing everything you lapped up. Her soft moans encouraged you, moving up to suck on her clit before licking your tongue in circles around it. Her legs trembled on either side of you as you greedily swallowed all of the juices that leaked out of her, inserting two fingers inside of her cunt just to collect more of her sweetness on your tongue. You felt her tense above you, and a moan escaped her throat as she gushed all over your mouth, soft whines filling the air as you lapped up all that she gave you.

“Such a good slut f’ me…” she breathed, and you smiled as you licked the last of her up, earning a few more whines from the overstimulation you were causing her. You kissed her thigh before resting your head on her stomach, her fingers slowly brushing through your hair as she laid back on her bed, a sense of calmness filling the room as the burning effects of the potion slowly wore off.

“Mmh…love you ‘Nobu,” you mumbled, eyes closing due to how fatigued you were. She sighed, her own exhaustion becoming apparent as you relaxed against her.

“Love you more, my dear, always will,” she said softly, eyes slowly drifting shut as you both peacefully fell asleep in each others’ embrace.

Taglist: @k-a-t-h-r-i-n-a, @wow-im-gay, @peanutpunchy, @love-me-satoru, @crazycatlddy, @dinosaur-crime-scene, @thisbicc, @gojoscumslut, @everyonesfinaldestination, @leehoonii-i, @kyojurismo, @briefrebelfanalmond, @izuoyarmin, @ahashiraswife, @d1gitalbathh @homo-homini-lupus-est-1701 (if your name is crossed out, it means tumblr didn't allow me to tag you - apologies for the inconvenience)

358 notes · View notes

appalachiaisforlovers · 2 years

Text

Cucumbers 🥒

I have to separate these asap. I had them in a starter still and as you can see they are huge. So I figured together in a hang basket for a few days to a week was better than nothing.

I don’t have any green space at my apartment so I’ll be doing them all in hanging baskets!

#brookiisface #things i grew #grow your food #spring cottage #cottagecore #cottagecore aesthetic #cottage garden #farmers market #farmcore #grandmacore #nature core #nature #plants #green witch #green house

3 notes · View notes

breelandwalker · 8 months

Text

Harvest Moon - September 28, 2023

The summer heat might be hanging on, but it's time to get excited for autumn shenanigans all the same. Grab your canning supplies and your favorite cider mug - it's time for the Harvest Moon!

Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. It does not matter whether the moon occurs before or after the equinox or in which month it falls. In some years, this means the Harvest Moon may occur in October, in which cause the September moon might go by the name of Corn Moon or Rice Moon, depending on where you are.

In 2023, the Harvest Moon falls once more in the month of September. The same will happen in 2024, when the Harvest Moon will also be a supermoon! However, in 2025, the September moon will come early in the month, making it a Corn Moon. The Harvest Moon that year will be in early October.

The September moon is particularly beloved by farmers in the Northern Hemisphere, as it rises earlier and shines brighter than other full moons due to the relative angle of the Earth in relation to the moon during the equinox, which is helpful for lighting up the tail end of those long work days. In addition, the Harvest Moon may also appear full for multiple nights, providing additional illumination for labor or evening strolls. As such, while the peak of the Harvest Moon will occur in the wee hours of September 29th, it will appear to be full on both the 28th and 29th.

Other North American Indigenous names for the September moon include a number of variations of the aforementioned Corn Moon (used by numerous nations), such as Corn Maker Moon (Abenaki), Corn Harvest Moon (Dakota), and Corn Is Harvested Moon (Zuni). Other names refer to seasonal changes or animal behavior, such as Autumn Moon (Cree), Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe), Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe), and Rutting Moon (Cree). Some European and modern pagan names for the September moon include Barley Moon (Old English), Singing Moon (Celtic), and Fruit Moon (general).

It's also worth noting that our Jewish friends and neighbors will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah this month, so remember to share your apples and honey and wish them Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year)!

What Does It Mean For Witches?

As autumn begins, we continue to reap what we've sown over the course of the year. It's a time to pause and reflect on what we've accomplished, let go of any unnecessary burdens we're still carrying, and focus on taking care of hearth and home for the cold months ahead. Now is a good time to do one last clutter purge or finish those repairs you've been putting off all summer!

Change is in the air as well, and transformations begun earlier in the year will burst into vibrant life. Just as the flowers bloom in spring, the leaves turn in the fall, and those of us who come alive in the autumn will start to fell that zing coming back.

Community also comes back into focus during harvest time, both because of the sharing of resources and the accompanying start of the school year. Take a moment to reinforce positive and supportive connections with friends and neighbors, or reach out to your local or online circle to strengthen existing bonds.

This a time of great abundance, so if you've been meaning to draw any kind of increase into your life, take steps to do so now. Harness that Harvest Moon energy to help carry you through the lean times in comfort and plenty.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

This is the time for feasting, bonfires, and outdoor gatherings. September and October will give us a few more warm weeks before the weather turns cold and rainy, so make the most of it! Have a potluck supper with a menu made of everyone's favorite seasonal recipes. Visit a local farmer's market and bring home that fresh seasonal produce. Thank the earth for the bounty it provides and renew your promise to be a good steward of the land where you live.

Technically, this is the second "harvest" moon of the year, since the harvest of most seasonal crops began back in August with wheat and corn and late summer fruits. The harvest of corn and grain continues into September and is joined by additional late-season fruits and vegetables, the most iconic of which is the annual apple crop.

Apple-picking is easily my favorite autumn activity and it's fantastic way to get outdoors, get some fresh air, and come home with tasty produce for uses both mundane and magical. From cider to applesauce to pies, apples are delightfully versatile. They also feature in a number of folk traditions and party games which double as divination rituals.

Continue your preparations for winter by canning or preserving fresh foods, hanging harvested herbs and flowers to dry, or refreshing your stocks of moon water and magical oils. Make your own magical brews using a stock pot as a cauldron and soups, stews, punch, cider, and mulled wine as your potions. Kitchen witches, your time is NOW!

Wear the colors of the season boldly and revel in all the gifts you've received and joys you've experienced so far this year. If you've been particularly blessed, pay it forward to share the bounty with others. Reflect on everything you've accomplished, celebrate your progress, and maybe set one or two small goals for the end of the year.

And since the decorations are already appearing in stores, start stocking up for Halloween!

Happy Harvest Moon, witches! 😊🍎