Shine on, Harvest Moon!

I've been thinking about the fall, and the harvest, and suddenly wondered about the origin of the Harvest Moon, the full moon of September in the Northern Hemisphere. I looked it up online and found this cool explanation on wisegeek.com:

"A Harvest Moon, also known as a Singing Moon or an Elk Call Moon, is the name given to the full moon right before the autumn equinox, around 22-23 September in the Northern Hemisphere, and around 21 March in the Southern Hemisphere. The first full moon right after the autumn equinox is known as a Hunter's Moon. In fact, all full moons have names. For example, the full moon in May is known as a Hare Moon, and the full moon in November is a Snow Moon.

The Harvest Moon is so named because, traditionally, it helped farmers work on their crops at night. Its spatial location in relation to the earth means the moon rises 50 minutes later each evening, except around the time of the Harvest Moon, when the moon rises only 30 minutes later. This means that moonlight shines on for longer, thus helping farmers who are still working on their crops after sundown. Other cultures considered the Harvest Moon as the last full moon before autumn started, and so it became the time mark for when all crops had to be picked up.

While the Harvest Moon seems larger than other moons, this is only because the Harvest Moon is lower in the sky, which gives the viewer the impression that it is bigger. This has originated a series of myths and traditions. In Wales, for example, people climb to the top of the Snowden mountain range to wait for the rising of the Harvest Moon. The climb is done at night, guided only by the light of the moon. Celebrations and candle festivals are carried on at the top."

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, look for the Harvest Moon this year (weather permitting) on September 23, 2010 (check out this UK middle school's great Moon page. )

For me, Harvest Moon may as well mean FOOD Moon! When I think of fall in New England, I automatically think of apples and pumpkins, and pulling in the last bounty from gardens. I think apple pie and cider donuts and mashed potatoes and beef stew and deep-dish chicken pot pie and vegetable soup and... Well, you get my drift. Fall is about FOOD. It's about the final harvest from field and farm to fill our tables and our cupboards for the long winter ahead. The summer heat is behind us now, and we can't wait to spark up the stove and start baking until our houses explode with sweet aromas.

Around here, farmer's markets are offering the widest array of locally-grown produce right about now, until roughly the end of October. I urge everyone to take advantage of these last 6 or so weeks to get out and support your local farmers and take home this fresh local bounty while you still can.


Here are some helpful websites to help you connect with your locally-grown markets:

Massachusetts Federation of Farmers' Markets

Local Harvest

Farm Fresh (Rhode Island)

And don't forget to check this out:

Boston Local Food Festival


Enjoy the bounty!

Margie