Seed bombing is easy: It takes seeds, clay or mud, and a little time. (Becky Hensley)
Got a vacant lot in your neighborhood that’s looking gloomy and unloved? A corner of your yard that needs some color?
Seed bombs are the perfect way to add some life to parts of your world that desperately need it, one of the best garden ideas that’s ever occurred.
Seed bombs are a simple combination of logical ingredients that create lovely little balls of blooming potential.
Originating in Japan, seed bombs let mother nature take the initiative – the rain falls, the seeds within awaken, and soon plants are taking root.
Seed bombs: Start with compost and red clay, and plastic bins for mixing (Becky Hensley)
Guerrilla gardeners in the 70s embraced the technology and “bombed” abandoned lots and wastelands of cities with seed bombs. Soon, lovely flowers and herbs took the place of blight and decay.
A resurgence of seed bombers have found the the fun in rolling dirt around in their hands and making seed bombs again. The recipe is easy – and the results are lovely.
Mix the clay and water in your plastic tub. (Becky Hensley)
Materials & Equipment:
Dry Compost
Red clay
Seeds (try zinnias or cosmos or other easy-germinating flowers).
Water
Plastic bin for mixing
Measuring cups
Recipe
5 parts dry red clay
3 parts dry organic compost
1 part seed
1-2 parts water
Directions
To make a small batch of seed bombs, use a 1/4 cup to measure the ingredients.
You just roll the seed bombs with your hands and set them on a cookie sheet to dry. (Becky Hensley)
Mix all the dry ingredients together including the seeds. Keep in mind that larger seeds make it more difficult to roll uniform seed bombs – pick smaller sized seeds (flowers: cosmos, bachelor buttons, petunias, snapdragons, marigolds) (herbs: dill, chives, lavender, parsley, tarragon, basil) to mix into your dry ingredients.
Add water, but do it conservatively. You want your seed bombs to be moist enough to to roll the mixture into balls, but not so damp that it’s muddy and difficult to form.
Once you find the right consistency, roll small/medium balls like you would for cookies.
Let each seed bomb dry for two days and then store for using later or start “bombing”!
Have you made seed bombs before? What materials did you use? Leave a comment to tell us about your experience with seed bombs!
