Since Maryam asked so nicely, I thought I’d explain a bit more about seed balls (also known as “seed bombs,” among a multitude of other names).
Seed balls, simply put, are a method for distributing seeds by encasing them in a mixture of clay and compost. This protects the seeds by preventing them from drying out in the sun, getting eaten by birds, or from blowing away.
Seed balls are scattered directly on the ground, not planted. Self-sufficiency and sustainability website Path To Freedom says seed balls are useful for seeding dry, thin and compacted soils and for reclaiming derelict ground (which is why they are often used in guerilla gardening). Seed balls are particularly useful in dry and arid areas where rainfall is highly unpredictable. I like ‘em because they’re easy to chuck over fences into empty lots.
You can “sow” your seed balls on a sunny day – and just leave them. When sufficient rain has permeated the clay, the seeds inside sprout and are aided by the nutrients and beneficial soil microbes surrounding them. I put one (shown above) in my garden so I can track its progress and show my readers that – yes! – seed balls do actually work.
In fact, the seed ball method has been working for centuries. I’ve read that some North American First Nations’ tribes used seed balls. More recently natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka has experimented with them. And in New York City, seed bombs were used in 1973′s revitalization of the Bowery neighbourhood and the development of the city’s first community garden.
So there you have it. The Heavy Petal version of seed ball history. Now go play outside!
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this. Honestly, I just had no idea – silly me!
But these actually sound brilliant. I want to make my own with the children and I think I just may!!!
You’re welcome, Maryam! I think kids would love making these. It’s mud-pie making with a floral outcome!
These look great! Are the seeds mixed randomly throughout the clay, or do you try to embed them in the center of each ball?
Hi Growsome! All the dry ingredients are pre-mixed – including the seeds. So, yep, they’re pretty random. :)
Andrea,
I had such a great time yesterday. Thanks for coming over and thanks for sharing your seed bombs with me. We need to do it again.
have a good day,
robin
This is a great idea. Fantastic. I love it. It also solves some problems of mine… and you know I’m thinking of some plot spots that need a little naturalization.
I have sooooo just produced hundreds of these with elementary children for the second time…child “labor” was so much fun for them! We will freely distribute baggies w/ info to everyone for Earth Day celebrations here in the Bay Area, California. You rock (and roll) for posting such great info about it. Wildflower bombz……with clay and compost from their own school.
hi! do you have any updates on your seed bombs? i would love to see the progress. thanks!
How do I get the recipe for the seed bombs?
How do I get the recipe for the seed bombs?
Will this method work for re-seeding a lawn with bare spots in the turf? I have a hard time keeping the birds from eating the seeds that I spread. Also, what type of clay do you use? any particular thickness?
Hi Heather,
I bet it would. You must use the dry red clay that potters use. Here’s the recipe:
http://www.heavypetal.ca/archives/2007/03/how_to_make_seedballs.html
Can you please tell me where to find instruction on how to build a seed ball making machine like the one I’ve seen on you tube. It can produce up to 40000 a day! I want one!
What soil prep is required – sow on exposed soil? tilled? weeded? just drop into the mowed grass and go? I want to plant a field tree line. Thanks for any help.
Tammy – I find it is best to disturb the soil a little bit, especially if it is compacted. Just scratch the earth with a stick a bit. But often I am throwing them over fences into empty gas station lots, etc., so I don’t have this opportunity. They still do well – the soil is “built in”.
Theoretically, if the seeds used are suited to the locale, they will thrive regardless. Check out this video on YouTube where seedballs are dropped on barren, rocky dessert – amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWyduWsoy8o
had an idea the other day – put a sunflower seed in between two tea bags and tie them together with twine. sunflower seed bomb! (not everyone can get clay very easily . keep on chucking!
I tried last year and it did’nt work very well.May be because I had too big seed like althea rosa or not native varieties.I took red clay from potters and shrimp compost.
I experiment in different area: my lawm, my garden, field full of herbs. I sow them in june and july. I didn’t have of lot of success.
Any suggestions, I live in Montreal, Quebec .
Is it better to sow them in fall or in spring?
Yes, I’d love to find this out too–when is the ideal time to toss them. I live in NY and am thinking about doing this as a classroom activity for a bunch 2-4th graders. Would love to do it in the fall, but only if there are seeds that make sense for that time of the year.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Fanfan and KarBeth – Hmm. It depends on the type of seed you’re using, but I think it’d generally be best to sow in spring. Most seeds would naturally germinate then, put the rain would be pretty consistent (at least it is here in Vancouver!) and the summer sun would help the seeds germinate. The best time, specifically, would be around your area’s frost free date. I’m guessing in Montreal that’s early May and New York would be mid-April?
Thanks very much for this. I also looked at Wikipedia, and it had a section that said compost/fertilizer isn’t needed (because “seeds contain everything they need to gernminate”). In fact, it said compost/fertilizer could even be detrimental because “microbes that decompose organic matter are different from microbes that colonize roots to feed the plant.” However there was no citation. What do you think of this?
Michael – interesting! That wikipedia entry has changed (less info now) since I last looked at it.
I would agree that no fertilizer needs to be added. And I agree that, in general, seeds contain everything they need to germinate (except water and sun, of course). But they do need something to grow in. And often, at least in guerrilla gardening, seedballs are used in situations where the native soil is quite lacking (old industrial sites, empty lots, etc.). So the compost would provide a bit of soil for the seeds to root in.
As for the microbe question, sure, compost is full of decomposers. But not to the exclusion of other microbes. And I know it doesn’t prevent seeds from sprouting – I’ve seen the results! Also, how would a seed germinate in a native setting otherwise? That’s my thinking, anyway. I always seed in compost because I don’t see the point of buying potting soil.
That said, you want to use “finished” compost – stuff that is no longer heating up and decomposing. I suppose you could use sterile seed starting mix too; the point of the compost is to provide a rich growing medium.
Great post! I made a fun video about seedbombing in my Chicago neighborhood: http://getfreshcut.com/2008/05/18/seed-bombing/
It’s such a great way to seed hard-to-reach urban lots!
I’m totally planning on doing these with my kindergarteners in the fall! I love the idea! -e
I’m involved with guerrilla gardeners in Los Angeles. They’ve tried seed bombs following your instructions above, but haven’t had much success (exceptin home gardens with constant maintainance. Could anybody give us some advice on making it work better in an arid climate with erratic rain? BTW, they used native wild flower seeds in the balls.
Hi quiet earth,
Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure whether you mean that you weren’t successful actually making the balls, or that the seeds didn’t come up. If the latter, I’ve got a couple of tips:
- plan “deployment” in early spring, during a long rainy period, so that when the seeds come up there will be regular water until they get established. Don’t know if that’s an option in LA – we have lots of rain here :) Seedlings will die without water. So if it’s not raining regularly and you really want the seedlings to live, someone’s going to have to get out there with a watering can.
- Look at what thrives and spreads naturally around you, and use seeds from those plants. Sometimes native plants might be suited to your region or state, but not necessarily an urban landscape. For example, lots of commonly-sold BC native plants grow in our woodlands but they’re not exactly adapted to the dry, open city.
Hope this helps. Keep me posted on your progress.
for the recent origins of and how to make ‘seed bombs’,
do a ‘youtube’ search for ‘seed balls’ and /or ‘masanobu fukuoka’
“the ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops,but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”
rather than throwing seed ‘bombs’
one can toss seed ‘balls’ or scatter healing seed ‘balms’.
I would like to know if vegetable seeds can be part of the seed balls. I work at a community college in California and we plan to make seed balls as part of our Earth Day celebration and want to give some to a community garden. Do you think it is best to stick with herbs and native wild flowers or can veggies work, too? Thanks for your answer.
Mary Jo
To quote a Masanobu Fukuoka saying “do plants grow?”
In other words yes veggies can work well, but not in all situations
Hi there, I would like to seed bomb outside my work. I work in an advertising agency in London and feel this would be the prefect antidote to all the corporate surroundings. Problem is, there is no green space.
See Link:
Will they still work in the cracks, any other ideas? Thanks x
These are great! I’m going to make them as end-of-the year gifts for my students, with seeds they can plant in June that will bloom in late summer or early fall. Thanks!
I wonder: what would happen if i use wet clay? Everywhere they say it must be dry clay, but no-one specifies WHY? Any idea? I got a lot of clay sort of “left over” and i thought i give it a try… only the mixing is much harder… So please, if you have any experience with it – HELP!
Hi Sri Maha Kushi – The reason most recipes call for dry clay is because it’s easier to combine with the (dry) seeds and soil. If it’s pre-mixed (wet) clay, it’s harder to combine, but is still possible. I’ve used wet clay to make “pockets” to hold the seeds and soil… kind of like making a stuffed pasta! Roll a small amount of the clay flat, then put a pince of seeds and soil on top. Fold the clay over the seeds and shape into a ball. Hope this helps…
Thank you so much for planting such fantastic ideas.Brilliant.
Once I’ve managed to get off this fab site, I’m gonna start experimenting.
I make these out of 100% recycled paper, it is a lot less messy, and you can add color to them. they are great for parties and baby shower gifts.