Tonight, January 13, we will enjoy a full moon, after which the moon will start “waning” again, towards the new moon on the 28th. In just one month (plus a day or two), we will start planting the onion crops from seed, that will be transplanted out into the gardens when the soil is warm enough in spring. Why just the onions? Because they are root crops for us humans -we want lots of energy to go into their roots, that feed us and add flavour to our cooking. Root crops are best planted just after the full moon, in what is called the “third quarter” waning moon. As Seed Keeper Rowen White advises: “Plant seeds and tubers that grow underground…this is also an ideal time to transplant to promote healthy root growth.” Onions require a long season, and they are also sensitive to the sun’s effects, because their bulbs enlarge in time for the Summer Solstice, the longest day/shortest night. So they need to be planted from seed well ahead of this event so that they have time to grow their leaves and photosynthesize, gathering sugars and other nutrients to feed that bulb, which in turn, feeds us. Planting intentionally with the moon phases helps us to organize and prioritize in alignment with what the plant wants, so we all get what we need from this growing season, plants and humans alike.