Biodynamic Gardening Calendar App Support Page

• About
• Benefits
• FAQs
  • Technical Issues
  • App background and how it works
• Contact

About

The biodynamic method is used by farmers and gardeners all around the world to improve the quality of their plants. Based on 50+ years of research, it takes into account solar rhythms and the movements of planets, as well as lunar cycles. Now, you too can reap the benefits of the biodynamic method with the help of this app. The Biodynamic Gardening Calendar makes it easy for beginners and experienced biodynamic farmers alike to put this tried and tested method into practice.

View activities on today's date and past dates for free. Want to look ahead? Plan your gardening in advance – by specific activities or Fruit, Root, Flower or Leaf times – only available with the handy annual subscription.

Start the 30-day free trial by clicking on a future date, or going to the Information page (accessed by clicking the 'i' icon at the top-right of the app screen) and tap for more info. Payment will be charged to your device store account at the end of the free trial period. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew by going to your Account Settings after purchase. The price varies with region and currency.

Data for the next year is released (via an app update) every September.

Benefits

Discover what to do and when

• When should you plant strawberries? What is the best time to harvest lettuce? Just click on a date to explore recommended activities for your garden, allotment or farm
• Daily activities are sorted by Time Type (showing you when to work with Fruit, Root, Flower or Leaf plants) and Special Activities (such as pruning and pest control), making it easy to find out what you should do

Personalise to fit you and your interests

• Filter activities by Time Type or Special Activity to show only information about the type of plants you're growing (you can consult the Crop Index to find out which are relevant to you)
• View calendar by week or month
• Automatically adjusts to your time zone and the 12hr/24hr settings on your device

What makes the Biodynamic Gardening Calendar app special?

• It's new and improved, building on the success of the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar app
• It's accurate and reliable – the information is based on biodynamic pioneer Maria Thun's bestselling calendar, which has been published annually for over 50 years and has sold over 100,000 copies in English
• Over the moon! – this app goes above and beyond the standard lunar gardening calendars, based on Maria Thun's unique insights
• Subscribe now to gain access to activities on all available future dates so you can start planning ahead to get the best results in your garden or farm

FAQs

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I have a technical problem or question

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I've subscribed to the app but I can't see future activities. Why is this?

We're sorry you're having a problem with your subscription. Here are a few things to try:

• Check that your subscription is active by navigating to the Information screen (accessed by tapping the 'i' icon at the top right of the main screen). If the option to subscribe is still shown and you are on an Apple device, click 'Restore Purchase' to check your purchase history. If you are on an Android device, your Google Play Store account will be checked automatically.
• Make sure you are using the most recent version of the app. Both the App Store and Google Play Store will show if a new update is available.
• Try deleting the app from your device and reinstalling it. As your subscription is linked to your Apple App or Google Play Store account you should have no problem reinstalling the app.
• Check you are logged in to the same account on your device, and the same App Store or Google Play Store territory (e.g. the UK store, the Dutch store etc.), that you used to make the purchase.

The operating system on my device has recently updated and now the app doesn't work. What do I do?

Our developers work regularly to update the app for new operating systems. First ensure that you are using the most recent version of the app. Both the App Store and Google Play Store will show if a new update is available. If the problem persists, please email our help desk with details of the issue. Please include the following information:

• what device you are using (e.g. iPhone 8, etc.)
• what version of iOS/Android you are using (On iOS you can access this information by going to Settings, then General, then Software Update. On Android you can access this information by going to Settings, then About Phone, then Android Version.)
• what version of the app you are using (Check this on the App Store or Google Play Store, under your 'Purchased' tab)
• a screenshot showing the problem, if possible

Can I share the app with Family Sharing?

No, unfortunately it isn't possible to share a subscription with Family Sharing.

Can I see the data on more than one device?

Yes, if you have subscribed to the app, you can access all available data on any device logged in using the App Store or Google Play account of the original subscription. Simply download and open the app on your new device. If you are an Apple user, go to the Information screen of the app (accessed via the 'i' icon at the top of the main screen) and tap 'Restore Purchase'. If you are an Android user, your Google Play account will check automatically for a previous purchase when the app is opened. Please note that this app is optimised for phones, so can appear differently on other devices, such as tablets.

Do I have to adjust the dates and times in the app for my time zone?

No, the app automatically adjusts to the time zone and time settings (12-hour (am/pm) or 24-hour clock) of your device.

Why can't I see information for dates in the future?

You can view daily activities for today and past dates right now for free. To unlock the full power of the app, and to have access to all available future dates, you must subscribe to the app. To subscribe, go to the Information screen of the app (accessed via the 'i' icon at the top of the main screen). Please note that this is a subscription which is managed and charged by Apple through the App Store or by Google through the Google Play store.

I clicked on a date and it was blank. Why?

If the current date and time is Unfavourable, no gardening or farming activities are recommended, so the actions list will be blank. This may happen more often if you have applied a filter(s), as times where your filtered activities aren't recommended will also be blank. You can find activities relevant to your filters by selecting a date with coloured dots underneath it. Please note that if you have not yet subscribed, you won't be able to view future dates.

Why can't I see data for next year yet when my subscription is active?

Subscribers have access to all the available calendar data for the duration of their subscription. The app is updated with data for the next calendar year around September.

How do I cancel my subscription?

If you're on an Apple device, you can cancel your subscription by opening your phone settings, selecting your user name, and then selecting the iTunes and App Store. Then, tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen and then click to View Apple ID. Scroll down and tap 'Subscriptions'. Cancel by selecting the subscription you want to manage and selecting 'cancel'.

If you're on an Android device, you can cancel your subscription by opening the Google Play Store and clicking on the menu icon beside the search bar. Then tap 'Subscriptions' and select the subscription you want to cancel.

If you cancel, your subscription will stop at the end of the current billing cycle. If you click Information in the app you can view when your subscription is due to renew.

If you don't see an option to cancel a particular subscription, then it's already cancelled and won't renew. If you recently cancelled the subscription, you should see the date until which you'll have access to the subscription. Subscriptions auto-renew at the end of the subscription term, unless cancelled at least 24-hours in advance. Per Apple policy, no cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Once purchased, refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term.

How do I apply or remove an activity filter?

To apply a filter, click the funnel icon at the top right-hand of the screen and select the Time Type and/or Special Activities you want to see information about. Click 'Done' to apply. The filter will persist until removed. To remove the filter, return to the filter screen, then click 'Clear'.

I've applied a filter but I'm not getting the results I expected. Why is that?

In the filter, you have the option to select one or more Time Types (Fruit, Root, Flower or Leaf), in addition to one or more Special Activities. The results will show all matches for your selected options (for example, all Fruit times as well as all Transplanting times).

You can also choose to select only a Time Type and no Special Activity, or you can select only a Special Activity but no Time Type. For example, you can choose only Fruit times, or only Transplanting Special Activities.

Your chosen filter will continue when you move around the rest of the app. To remove your filter, go back to the filter screen and select 'Clear' and 'Done'. The filter icon indicates how many filter options you currently have selected, as a helpful reminder.

What is Automatic Jumping?

The Automatic Jumping option can be found on the filter screen (accessed via the filter icon at the top right of the main screen). After you have selected the Time Types and/or Special Activities you want to filter by, scroll down to the bottom of the screen to see the 'Automatic Jumping' toggle. You can turn Automatic Jumping on or off.

If you turn it on, when you apply a filter and then swipe through days you will automatically skip past days which are not relevant to you (those that do not contain information about your selections).

If you turn it off, when you apply a filter and swipe through days you will see every day, whether or not they contain information about your selections.

We recommend that Automatic Jumping is turned on for a better user experience.

I want to be able to add my own notes, and add dates to my personal calendar. How can I do this?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to do these things at the moment, but our development team are working on it for a future update. We're always happy to hear new ideas for future developments – email our customer service desk.

I have another technical problem that isn't answered here. What do I do?

We're sorry you're having a problem with the app. Please make sure you are using the most recent version of the app. Both the App Store and Google Play Store will show if a new update is available. If this doesn't help, please email our help desk with details of the problem. Please include the following information:

• what version of the app you are using (if you're not using the latest version, please download the most up-to-date version from the Apple App or Google Play Store first as this may fix the issue)
• what device you are using (e.g. iPhone 8, etc.)
• what version of iOS or Android you are using
• a screenshot showing the problem, if possible

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I want to know more about the background of the app and how it works

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What information does this app give me?

The core information in the app tells you whether a particular time of the day is a Fruit, Flower, Root, Leaf or Unfavourable time. The Time Type determines which gardening or farming actions should be done then. Broadly, fruit plants should be tended at Fruit times, leafy plants at Leaf times, and so on. Check the Crop Index for a full list of which crops fall under which types.

You can see which actions are recommended for any given day by selecting that date on the calendar. Please note that you must be a subscriber to view activities on future dates.

What does Unfavourable mean?

Unfavourable indicates times which are not recommended for any gardening or farming activity. These unfavourable times are caused by eclipses, nodal points of the planets, or other aspects with a negative influence. These times have already been taken into account in the daily actions.

Where does the information in the app come from?

The information in this app is based on 60 years of research by biodynamic pioneer Maria Thun (1922 - 2012). She lived in central Germany and for over fifty years produced an annual sowing and planting calendar, the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar, now created by her son Matthias Thun. The information in the calendar is carefully calculated by considering all aspects of lunar cycles and phases, solar cycles, and the movement of the planets. It is used by tens of thousands of people every year, all over the world, to decide when to sow, plant and harvest fruit and seeds (including biodynamic grapes for making wine), vegetables, flowers and crops, as well as by beekeepers and people who make butter and cheese.

For full information on how the power of the cosmos influences agriculture here on earth, please refer to the printed edition of the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar. This book includes lots of information, including annual articles and features, and detailed astronomical information, which aren't included in this app. The Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar also includes a pull-out wallchart and an at-a-glance reference for sheds, greenhouses and barns.

If you'd like to find out more about biodynamics, you will find a range of helpful books, from introductions for complete beginners keen to discover the benefits of biodynamics, to books offering practical advice for experienced farmers looking to prepare and apply biodynamic sprays to boost their crops on our website.

Why is this app much more detailed than other lunar calendars?

Alternative lunar calendars are available freely online, but they usually offer an over-simplistic view of when is good for gardening and farming. The Biodynamic Gardening Calendar app takes into account solar rhythms and the movement of the planets, as well as all lunar cycles. All of these also have a significant influence here on earth, and must be included when calculating the best times to carry out various gardening and agricultural activities. For the best results in your garden or on your farm, accept nothing less!

Everything seems to be based on northern hemisphere seasons. What about actions in the southern hemisphere?

Most of the core information in the app is valid in either hemisphere. If it's a Fruit time in Paris, it's also a Fruit time in Melbourne! But some actions are hemisphere-specific, particularly those involving transplanting. And of course, seasonality affects the specific recommendations given at particular times of year, such as sowing and harvesting.

We want our users in the southern hemisphere (SH) to have quality information that is as good as for those in the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately, we're not currently able to give as much detail for SH as we would like. For now, therefore, we have decided not to include SH-specific information in the app. We're sorry for the inconvenience to our SH users, and we're working to improve this for future years.

How can I see when it is the Northern Transplanting Time, or the Southern Transplanting Time?

Transplanting is included in the list of Special Activities. Apply a filter to show only the Transplanting activity and you will see the purple dates highlighted on the week or month view at the top of the screen to show the Northern Transplanting Time (when the moon is descending in the northern hemisphere).

Please note that the Southern Transplanting Time is not explicitly shown. We are working to include high quality information for our southern hemisphere users, but we're unable to support SH users for now.

I live in a warm (southern) climate in the northern hemisphere. Do the dates and times still work for me?

If you see an action in the app that feels too late in the season for when you would usually do that action (for example, if the app recommends transplanting table potatoes in May, but you would usually do this in April), you should use your knowledge of local conditions and seasons to adapt the dates accordingly. In the potato example, you should look for a Root time during Northern Transplanting Time in the earlier month.

Why does the app recommend that I carry out activities in the middle of the night?

Don't worry, no midnight planting is required! The app works for gardeners and farmers around the world, and one person's midnight is another person's morning or early evening. Just choose the times that work best for you. There are usually plenty of options for tending each type of plant.

Why does the app recommend that I harvest and store leaf plants during a Fruit time?

It may seem counter-intuitive, but it has been shown that Fruit and Flower times are best for harvesting and storing leaf plants such as lettuce, spinach and herbs. If you're using the Filter, remember to select Fruit or Flower times to see when to harvest your leaf plants.

I want to give other feedback or suggestions for future developments of the app. How do I do this?

We appreciate feedback and welcome new ideas for how we can make the app more useful and user-friendly. Please email your thoughts and comments to our customer service desk, thank you.

Contact

If you have any queries about the app, please contact us by email on bdgardencal@florisbooks.co.uk.