Now that the weather has finally decided to warm up a bit, you might want to get your children to partake in a little bit of Seed Bombing.
Seed Bombing originally started out as a way of bringing a bit of 'nature' and 'colour' to disused and derelict pieces of land in towns and cities, but now you can buy ready made seed bombs to scatter in your own garden or outdoor area.
But, why buy when you can make your own? (I was ably assisted by my youngest son, Geordie and my niece, Mabel).
The concept of a Seed Bomb is a ball of seeds wrapped in compost and red clay. The clay gradually disintegrates when it is left to the elements and the compost helps the seeds to germinate. Many of them also contain chilli powder to deter animals from eating them.
The first time I tried to make a seed bomb, I couldn't find red clay powder so I decided to use the 'school clay' that comes in those big grey blocks. This really didn't work very well as it would take you about 3 days to work the seeds into the clay! I also decided that children and chilli powder probably wasn't a good idea so left out that ingredient!
That is when I struck on the idea of using a dough recipe.
For a batch of bombs I mix up: 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of compost, 2 packets of wild flour seeds and a cup of water. If it is too 'wet' I add more flour, if it too dry, then more water. You want to get the consistency of a good batch of playdough.
If I really want the children to work the dough for a bit of fine motor development then I add the seeds once the dough has been mixed. If not then you could add the seeds with the flour and compost. (Always check your seeds just in case the flowers they produce could be poisonous)!
Once you have got a good consistency, turn your dough out onto a floured surface.
Pull of small pieces of the dough and roll into balls. If your dough is still a bit sticky towards the middle then roll it in the extra flour you have put onto your surface.
Once you have rolled all of your dough into Seed Bombs then leave them to dry out , this usually takes a couple of days.
Once they are dry you can then scatter, throw or catapult them into your outdoor space.
As we were doing these ones in the ABC back garden, my boys of course chose catapult. There wasn't one to hand so they made their own from a stick and an elastic band – good work!
Now we will just wait for the flowers to grow!
Happy 'bombing'!
Alistair
6 Comments on “Seed Bombing!”
When used for permaculture this is great, but what about a caveat where you advise viewers that it’s ILLEGAL to dump seed bombs on private property. Dumping is a TRESPASS. Here’s what’s going on in my part of the upper middle class world: whenever a neighbor has a problem with another neighbor he or she bombards their neighbor’s house with seed bombs. Seed bombs not only ruin landscapes that cost thousands of dollars to plant but they also invite rodents. That’s correct–rats, white footed mice, brown mice, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, many birds and their predators are attracted to seed balls/bombs. The rodents chew up expensive roots on bushes, trees and herbaceous plants as they desperately try to eat all the seeds and moss. Rodent’s poop also attracts their predators, and those predators tear up the garden looking for rodents. Seed bombing private property other than yours can cause the destruction of property and it is illegally dumping. Dumping is against the law and you can get a fine, arrested or sued for such acts. As for children, anyone teaching them to throw seed balls on private property other than their own, is encouraging bullying and unlawful behavior, and therefore corrupting minors.
Think this would go down a treat in our outdoor areas and liven up National School Grounds Week which is happening next week. Have you had success with the flowers growing or are you still waiting to see ?
Jenny
fantastic idea! I’m going to try seed bombing at the school gardening club!!Thank you!
Hi Gill – It is worth checking the back of the packet as some seeds need to germinate on a window sill before they are planted out. I usually go for ‘wild flower’ type packs. I even managed to find a packet of seeds that were specifically for ‘difficult’ areas. Whatever you fancy really!
Alistair
This sounds like fun!
Any particular seeds that work best?
Wow, I can’t wait to scour the seed cupboards to do this with my own children never mind playgroup. Even my 15 year old likes the idea. Always so inspiring.