17. April 2013

Seed Balls - Bring Color To Your Hometown!


Spring has finally (I couldn't write the word 'finally' often enough to express how I feel) arrived! At this moment I just enjoy the first bits of green, the first tiny flowers, the birds singing in the backyard, the sun and first of all: the absence of snow.
Now is the perfect time to bring some color to the streets of your hometown, too! The seed balls are small and easy to carry around in your bag. Wherever you see a spot of bare earth that could need some color, drop a few seed balls and let the rain and the sun do the rest. A few weeks later you will find the most beautiful flowers!

Supplies: Potting soil, clay (If you, like me, have difficulties in finding clay: Healing clay works just fine and can be bought here.), water, flower seeds (Please use only seeds of native plants!), a large bowl, a cup, a baking tray.

This project is going to be messy! You will get your hands dirty. You have been warned...

[1] Fill one cup of seeds into the large bowl, add 5 cups of clay and 5 cups of potting soil. If you have less or more than one cup of seeds you can scale it down or up, of course.
[2] Combine thoroughly and add water (slowly!) until the mixture is smooth but not too watery to be formed into balls.
[3] Roll small balls between the palms of your hands. This is the fun part! It's like making cake pops with mud, haha! Place the seed balls on the baking tray and allow them to dry for at least a day (better 2 or 3).
[4] Put the completely dried seed balls into a canvas bag or an egg carton and off you go! Time to make the city more colorful!

I take some seed balls with me everywhere I go and already dropped a few here and there... I'll try to keep an eye on them and report any progress.
And if you happen to live in the countryside with loads of greens and flowers: Seed balls are also great for easy sowing in your own garden.

Happy gardening!

9 COMMENTS

  1. What a marvellous idea! Can't wait to get started on my own seed bombings. Incidentally, does it matter what type of clay you use?

    Lynda

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    1. Hey Lynda, I only tried it with red potter's clay powder and healing clay and it worked very well, but it should work with any type of clay, it only has to be a powder!

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  2. Hi Kathie, I love this project. I am going to do it with a learning circle with 4-6 year olds to celebreate Earth Day. Our project will appear on my blog markersandthread.blogspot.com and I will be sure to link back here! Mother Earth thanks you:)

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    1. That's amazing! I can imagine that this project is great fun for kids, the making and the "gardening" part as well. I can't wait to see some pictures on your blog!

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  3. What a great tutorial, these would be perfect for a fairy party too. I can just see the little ones wanting to take these home and grown their own garden.

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  4. This is awesome! But, I do have one request (as a person with a degree in conservation biology, that spends a lot of time ridding local areas of invasive plants) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure the seeds are of NATIVE plant species!!!

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    1. Thanks, Thalassa! That's an important advice. I did use only native plant seeds, but i'll add it to the instructions so everyone else does, too.

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  5. Great idea - plan to make some to toss into an abandoned lot close by.

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