.Have you come across the term lunar wood or moon-phased wood and been wondering about what it is? If so, you’re just like us! Fortunately, some Green Pearls® partners were able to help us out and reveal what lunar wood is about, and most importantly, what it has to do with sustainability.

What is moon wood?

The forest calendar considers the phases of the moon when harvesting moon wood. Wood harvested in this way is said to be particularly strong, longer lasting, harder, more resistant to cracking, and also fire and pest resistant. History of this wood goes back to the Celts. In Japan, you can find probably the oldest structure made of moon wood, which has defied the signs of time for 1600 years. 

A lunar year has 12 or 13 so-called sidereal months, i.e., 354 or 355 days. Thus, the lunar year is 11 or 12 days shorter than the solar year

Regional differences exist on the best time to cut a tree. In Austria, for example, trees are cut in winter when the moon wanes, just before the new

Facts check

Moon wood is costly and until now, there are different opinions about its quality. 

For example, the Department of Forestry Scientists at the Technical University of Dresden concluded that the phases of the moon have no influence on the quality of the wood. On the other hand, Professor Ernst Zürcher of the ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Forestry) certainly sees a connection between the characteristics of the wood and the felling time. We recommend this article if you would like to read more. 

The selection of correctly grown trees and harvesting at the right time, as well as the proper storage, drying and processing of the wood, contribute to a good quality. It has also been scientifically proven that wood harvested during certain lunar phases has a better protection against fungus, is less affected by insect infestation and is less combustible. Therefore, it is possible to do without glue and chemicals that are harmful to health.

That’s why you can find moon wood at the Green Pearls partners.

What Sigis Sauhaufen has in common with moon wood 

The family-owned Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld/Tyrol relied on the advantages of moon wood for the construction of their vegetarian farm in accordance with their philosophy THINK.YOUNIQUE®. Most of the building was constructed from moon-cut wood from the hotel’s own forest.

Incidentally, have you just paused and wondered what vegetarian farming is? It is the life dream of Alois Seyrling and a reminiscence of the last Seyrling farmer. It took 7 years to plan and build. The result is a petting zoo, a bee house, vegetable, and fruit cultivation and many animals—all under one roof in “Sigi’s pigsty”, as the Seyrlings humorously named their vegetarian farm remembering the last Seyrling farmer. 

Moon wood in the middle of Erlangen

You will find the Creativhotel Luise in the heart of Erlangen. Carbon-neutral since 2010 and now climate positive, it’s one of the pioneers of the sustainable hotel industry in Germany. And this was already the case when the hotel was founded by Klaus Förtsch in the 1990s. Ben Förtsch took over the hotel at the change of generations in 2014. Since then, he has been consistently developing it in line with the family’s sustainable philosophy ever since.

Klaus Förtsch always wanted to use moon wood, but was unable to due to a lack of space. This was found when Ben decided to renovate the hotel. In honor and memory of his father, the facade was clad with three trunks of moon wood. The three trunks symbolize the three generations of the Förtsch family. By the way, not only the moon wood is an eye-catcher, but also the large tree on the roof terrace with a view over Erlangen.

Vegan with Moon wood  

Vegan is a culinary philosophy for you? Far from it! Vegan is a lifestyle that is more than plant-based nutrition, and applies to all areas of life. If you want to have a positive impact on the welfare of animals, you look to avoid using animal products in other areas of your life as well. At the holistic vegan La Vimea in South Tyrol, everything is vegan and sustainable, all products from the kitchen, the architecture, the furniture and the entire lifestyle. The furniture is handmade from local larch trees cut according to the lunar calendar.

The hotel’s philosophy is to act as resourcefully as possible and agreeing nature. 

What do you think about moon wood, is it something for you or not? We greatly appreciate your suggestions.

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