What are seed bombs and how can I make them?
In short a seed bomb is a ball of compost, humus and seeds of different plants. It is mixed with clay, moistened with some water and then formed into balls. Then let it dry for two more days and the seed bomb brand is done in-house. Mostly, these then contain seeds of native plants such as corn flowers, sun hat and marigold. Today they are mainly used in guerrilla gardening
The finished seed bombs are then placed on a selected surface with soil or thrown. If you have found a surface, but it only has sparse soil, you can help with some potting soil. The ball from the clay-earth mixture protects the seeds. So neither mice, rats or birds can eat the seeds. Also, the ball soaks up with water and stores this also thanks to the sound. This gives the seeds perfect germination conditions and your plants will soon germinate.
Seed bomb recipe and instructions
- Collect some compost and potting soil. It is best to put on 100% organic humus, or to set up your own compost pile with a short hand.
- Find some red clay or clay.
- Choose seeds of plants you like and find beautiful. Of course, it is important that you choose native species and not cultivated ornamental and alien species.
- Now mix five parts of clay with three parts of compost/soil and a partial seed.
- Now add a part of water and knead the whole thing through
- Shape golf ball to tennis ball big ball. You can still be very affectionate, it is your baby!
- Let everything dry for two days or dry at very low temperature in the oven (not too hot that will damage your seeds!)
The history of the seed bomb
The then seed ball was invented by a Japanese farmer. He wanted to develop an alternative sowing method for rice etc. on Ungeplügten fields. It was a form of so-called direct sowing. In 1970, the knowledge was then borne by the inhabitants of his farm. But the Native Americans have also grown and cultivated plants with this technique. The Japanese farmer was called M. Fukuoka and spread his knowledge in the permaculture scene of the late 1970s. One big and I find absolutely justified criticism are the commercially displaced seed bombs. These include whether seeds of bred plants, such as unrelated ornamental flowers with no added value for nature. So please always make sure that your seed balls always contain seeds of native plants and flowers! (Source: Https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samenbombe)