Harvest Moon? Hunter's Moon?

   Harvest Moon refers to the full moon phase during the month of October.  (That would be tonight!)  Some folks call it the Hunter's Moon and then there are a dozen or more regional names that can be found to go along with this month's full moon.  Mom always called it the Harvest Moon but Pop did occasionally mention the Hunter's Moon.  Both are correct as are the many others.  

  Harvest Moon was so named as October has been traditionally the month that crops were harvested and laid in store for the coming winter.  This dates back to when freezers and refrigerators were still unknown.  "Winter" crops were harvested and put in cellars or "banks" which were outdoor storage spots.  The cellar method was simple...harvest the crop, let dry, place in baskets and haul down into the "root cellar".  As for banking?  That was used mainly for potatoes (sweet potatoes).  This involved a bit more work as an elevated plot of ground had to be leveled and a bed of straw layered on top.  Next, sweet potatoes were mounded on top of the straw and left to dry during the day.  This was to "cure" them or remove most of the moisture that could cause rot.  (The potatoes were covered at night to prevent condensation from building up.)  After a few days, more straw (or hay) was placed on top of the sweet potatoes and then covered with a thick layer of dirt with only a "vent" left open.  To prevent rain from penetrating the soil and rotting the potatoes,  a "roof" was made from overlapping boards or even a thick layer of thatch.  We did this each October back on the old farm place where I grew up.  Mostly, I gathered potatoes as they were dug and then raked huge mounds of pine straw to be used in the bank.  Pop and the "boys" (my brothers) did the heavy work.  Very rarely did we lose any sweet potatoes when using this method.  Pop often tried to bank in other winter crops  but seemed to have the best luck with sweet potatoes.  

  The Hunter's Moon came from...you guessed it...hunting as a means of survival.  Animals have a great instinct to "fatten up" before the harsh winter months which also made it the perfect time for people to "stock up" on meat.  This was back in the day before many hunting laws and it was an ok thing to hunt at night.  The full moon made it easy to see unsuspecting deer, rabbits and hogs (etc).  Once the animal was butchered, the meat from was usually smoked or home-canned as preservation methods.  Almost every home had a smokehouse for smoking meat and fish.  This was all about feeding the family!  So..it is easy to see how this moon phase got its many names.  Most are all somehow related to storing up food for the winter months that were just around the corner!  

  Now...I have to be honest here.  This photograph is definitely NOT of the Harvest or Hunter's Moon.  In fact, it is NOT even a photograph of the moon, at all!  The picture was taken during midday while I was playing with the camera and the zoom lens.  The sky was an eerie orange from smoke (fire was north of us) and that gave a slightly odd appearance.  I sat in the bright light and focused on the distant shore of the Bayou with that long lens in place.  I did not even attempt to zoom in...just let it be.  The result?  This weird...almost moon-like...photograph.  I liked it so thought I would share.

Full Moon, Blue Moon, Blood Moon, Super Moon, Harvest Moon, Lunar Eclipse...My Goodness!

  Here lately, it seems that everyone is talking about the moon.  Those so inclined have been spouting things about the "End of Time".  Those who believe in superstitions think the Blood Moon is when we will all perish.  To others, the Blue Moon changes colors.  I even heard one person exclaim that the Super Moon was going to crash into the Earth....Hmmmm?  Well, my take?  Whatever.

  I was a bit interested in the eclipse but Mother Nature did not cooperate with my plans.  She provided a thick layer of clouds to completely shroud the moon.  As far as I could see...there was no moon.  No visible moon meant no visible eclipse....so I went to bed. This morning, however, there was a gorgeous moon beaming through the west window.  At 4:30 this morning, I was up and ready for coffee. As I wobbled my way through the dining room to the kitchen, I noticed that it sure was bright.  Knowing that the sun would not be up for a couple of hours and this light was coming from the west, I peered out the window.  Yep, the moonlight was finally able to burst through the clouds and come spilling through the windows.  It was gorgeous!  

  My sighting of the evasive moon lasted just about ten minutes. Clouds soon blocked it totally and left the hillside in total darkness once again. I may have missed the eclipse but I had a lovely time visiting with Mr. Moon!  A cup of coffee, a bowl of oatmeal and the moonbeams filling the dining room with soft light is a great way to start a morning.

Harvest Moon

A few nights ago, the moon was full and bright...for a few moments.  Then, the clouds covered over most of the area and our moon went unnoticed for a good bit of the night.  It peeked out occasionally but never could project its full glory.  This was the Harvest Moon!  That name that so many folks apply to any moon that happens to occur during late summer or fall.  Harvest Moon! Yep, even the name sounds like something that should happen just about Halloween. But..the Harvest Moon is not just any full moon that happens during the fall!  Not many folks know that this term is applied to the full moon that fall closest to the Autumnal Equinox.  This past week saw that full moon and being as the Autumnal Equinox falls on September 22, the moon was the all wonderful "Harvest Moon"!

Now..a tidbit of needless but interesting information!  The name "Harvest Moon" was given to this moon by the farmers back in the day simply because it let them harvest their crops for a few extra hours on that night. The moon was bright enough that they could see to pick vegetables.  I suppose this might be true for something like pumpkins but I cannot imagine anyone out digging peanuts!  Even if that moon was bright, I wouldn't want to be "grubbling" around in the dirt.  The only experiences I ever had harvesting peanuts saw me covered with ant bites as it was..can you imagine if I did it at night?  At least back when I was a kid, ants loved the peanut rows and pulling up those plants to get the little legumes agitated the critters.  My hands and arms were always covered with welts and itched like crazy!  Then, again, I could possibly imagine harvesting any crops that were easier to see..pumpkins or corn for example.

No, I did not rush out to harvest any crops during the Harvest Moon this past week but I did sneak out to take a few pictures!  I am glad I did since the clouds have covered the sky pretty much since that night.  That moon just never had a chance.  And, besides, my garden has seen better days (and nights) and had nothing to offer in the way of crops to pick.