Making Seed "Bombs"

Seed bombs have become a popular way of beautifying or making productive neglected areas of land.   Basically, a ball is created out of some type of medium into which seeds (hopefully native ones, get ones that adapt to all kinds of habitats) get pressed.  They then need to dry.  After they are dry, simply toss them into an area where they will be able to grow.  Refrain from tossing your seeds where someone will just cut them down or spray them. 

You will need: seeds (more below), compost or seed starting soil or coco-fiber, and homemade glue or red clay.  Recipe for home made glue here: http://sustainableecho.com/homemade-natural-glue/

Our description will simply use Coco-fiber and homemade glue.  The idea is just to be able to transport the seeds and give them a little cover while they get started as young plants.  Idea for glue came from here: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Seed-Bomb

Compost is not really necessary because a) you won’t be able to use enough to really make a difference in the soil b.) seedlings get their nutrition for the first week or so from their cotyledon leaves c) by the time they have put down their true leaves, their roots are pretty deep down into the soil.  The compost just won’t be enough to make a difference for your seedlings. 

Please use only seeds of native plants that will not only give us pretty flowers, but more importantly, feed butterflies and moths (only a few species of moths are really troublesome) their caterpillars, offer nectar and pollen to pollinators, give birds seeds, and perhaps support amphibians depending on where you live.  Also, some native seeds may not sprout till the next spring because they will need winter conditions to break their dormancy. Use those in the fall, and for the spring, use native seeds that will sprout immediately.  Alternatively, if you have used artificial cold moist stratification for those that need winter conditions, you could use those seeds in seed bombs in the spring.   

Directions:

1.Use 2 parts coco-fiber to 1 part glue. Have your coco-fiber pre-soaked if it came in a compressed block.  Make sure coco-fiber (or your chosen medium) is slightly damp, but not too wet.  You should not be able to squeeze any water out of it. 

2.Put your glue in, and mix until the mix begins to aggregate.

3.Form balls and make a depression and insert a pinch of seeds inside.  Form ball and set on a surface (paper lined or egg carton) to dry a little. 

4.When they are dry and stay formed (probably the next day), take them and toss them.  With the next rain, the ball will break down, and the seeds will begin their new lives. The moisture in the seed bomb will begin the germination process so don’t dry it completely.  

Have fun spreading  beauty and life! Feel free to ask us what are the best seeds to use.  Keep in touch with us on Facebook, and we will be at Green Community Connection's One Earth Film Festival this weekend, so come ask about the best native plants.  We will be giving away some seeds, first come, first served.