When we think of aromatic plants from the south of France, we imagine fields in bloom, sunshine, and scents in the air. However, the life of our plants is not limited to blooming ! At the Mas, we support them all year round: soil preparation, planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, and distillation. Each season is important.
Fine lavender, lavandin, immortelle, or verbena… Each plant has its own rhythm. Their blooms follow one another, and the harvests are organized according to their maturity and the weather.
What happens in our fields from January to December? When do our plants bloom and when do they go into the still?
Follow Gaël and Sara for a year in tune with the aromatic plants of the Mas!
Here at the Mas, Gaël and Sara tend to the fields. From planting to product creation, the two partners work to ensure a bountiful harvest and, consequently, the production of high-quality essential oil. The weather, temperatures, rainfall, the nature of our soil, and the condition of the plants are the main challenges and key factors they focus on. Gaël likes to mention another major factor: the moon. That’s right! The lunar calendar plays a major role in our daily lives and helps Gaël determine the best times to plant, estimate when plants will bloom, or decide the best time to prune the shrubs. Ready for a crash course?
The moon has a well-established influence on liquids, particularly the tides. This is also true for plant sap! The lunar calendar identifies different phases known as fire days (or fruit days), earth days (or root days), air days (or flower days), and finally water days (or leaf days). Following these phases in lunar agriculture helps support the plant’s natural cycle.
The lunar calendar distinguishes between two things: the phases of the moon (whether it is waxing or waning) and the moon’s position (and this is where it gets complicated—we refer to the ascending and descending moon). These are two very distinct phenomena, which I’ll explain below.
The Phases
of the Moon
Waxing / Waning Moon
The position
of the moon
Ascending / Descending Moon
The moon and its different phases
This phenomenon reflects the illuminated portion of the Moon that we see from Earth. The Moon reflects the Sun’s light, and depending on the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, its visible portion appears to grow or shrink. How does this work in practice? During the waxing phase, plants’ vitality increases, which helps them resist diseases and pests. During the waning phase, vitality decreases in favor of the plants’ specific energy: their colors, scents, and flavors are then intensified tenfold.
A lunar revolution takes about 29 days and 12 hours—
this is called a lunar cycle!
The Moon and Its Waxing and Waning Phases
The ascending and descending phases are illustrated by the moon’s position relative to the full moon: is it near or far? During the ascending phase, liquids rise: the above-ground parts of the plant grow faster because the sap is concentrated higher up. During the descending phase, the sap is closer to the ground: this favors root growth.
These 2 phenomena are quite distinct: you can thus have a moon in a waning phase (for example, a third of a moon) and an ascending position and vice versa.
The moon, therefore, provides us with valuable insights into the life cycles of plants in the fields. Thanks to it, we can optimize the planting, harvesting, and pruning of our plants. The lunar calendar is thus one of the many traditional guidelines used to align with the rhythm of crops.
But in the field, another calendar takes precedence each year: that of the plants themselves. Temperatures, rains, and weather conditions gradually determine the resumption of vegetation, flowering, and then the time of harvest.
At Mas, we also follow what the plant shows us. Here, month by month, is the calendar of flowering and growth of our aromatic plants.
That means we can look forward to some great harvests! Gaël practices organic farming, just like his local partners, who grow plants in areas better suited to them. Sara, our herbalist, observes the plants to determine their balsamic period.
The balsamic period refers to the time of year when an aromatic
or medicinal plant has an optimal concentration of sought-after compounds,
such as essential oils.
It corresponds to a privileged period for harvesting, in order to make the most of its aromatic qualities and constituents. This stage varies according to the species, the part harvested (flowers, leaves, or roots) and the growing conditions. It does not systematically coincide with flowering.
When our plants have reached maturity for essential oil production, Gaël and Sara harvest and then distill them. Here are the different periods of plant distillation. The attached calendar may change or evolve according to the daily uncertainties and the weather.
You will have understood: at Mas, the adventure begins well before flowering and continues after the harvests! Throughout the year, Gaël and Sara observe, cultivate, and support each plant until the moment of distillation. The calendars provide guidelines, but in the fields, one must also know how to adapt : a delayed rain, an early spring… and the program changes!
Behind every bottle of essential oil, there is a plant, a season, and months of work and attention. It is this story that we love to share with you at a MAS in PROVENCE, from the plant to the scent.
And you, which plant would you like to discover in our fields or see pass through our still? Let us know in the comments!
Sara & Marion - a MAS in PROVENCE
