The technique for creating seed balls was developed by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka. Seed balls or seed bombs are very easy to make. The secret ingredient is clay which holds the seeds and fertilizer together this makes it difficult for birds to eat the seeds before they get a chance to get growing.
It is best to make seed balls in spring or fall as the weather will still be cool as they are drying and you will have time to get the balls distributed while there is plenty of rain.
With seed bombs you can make a beautiful variety of gardens! When you know the type of soil you are planting on etc you can adjust your seed mix accordingly. I have tested out several mixtures of seeds, the one that worked the best on hard, depleted, stony and packed urban soils, was a mixture of crimson clover with diakon and wildflowers. Any kind of clover is great for nourishing the soil. Diakon radish is added because it is such a powerful plant, I have seen images of a huge diakon growing out of asphalt in Japan -- diakon are great at helping to break up earth that is packed and rocky so that roots can grow deeper. Wildflowers add some diversity and I usually like to put in a couple sunflowers.
Whenever I make and/or distribute these seed balls I send thanks to Masanobu Fukuoka for developing this method and think of the words of Masanobu Fukuoka:
Whenever I am out watering my garden I look at the large intersection and gas stations that are all around it and just imagine a day when the whole area is covered in wildflowers and trees. Sometimes it is hard to do. Every day there is new trash to pull out of my garden (I know it looks like I am just cultivating weeds, but I love those kind of plants.) Sometimes my flowers get stolen :( Sometimes they get mowed down, and that is when I cry the hardest.
This little garden is going to take over this whole intersection someday. In the meantime the bees just love it.
It is best to make seed balls in spring or fall as the weather will still be cool as they are drying and you will have time to get the balls distributed while there is plenty of rain.
With seed bombs you can make a beautiful variety of gardens! When you know the type of soil you are planting on etc you can adjust your seed mix accordingly. I have tested out several mixtures of seeds, the one that worked the best on hard, depleted, stony and packed urban soils, was a mixture of crimson clover with diakon and wildflowers. Any kind of clover is great for nourishing the soil. Diakon radish is added because it is such a powerful plant, I have seen images of a huge diakon growing out of asphalt in Japan -- diakon are great at helping to break up earth that is packed and rocky so that roots can grow deeper. Wildflowers add some diversity and I usually like to put in a couple sunflowers.
Whenever I make and/or distribute these seed balls I send thanks to Masanobu Fukuoka for developing this method and think of the words of Masanobu Fukuoka:
Masanobu Fukuoka was my inspiration for getting into guerrilla gardening. His book The One Straw Revolution describes such a beautiful way of life. Check out this video to see Masanobu Fukuoka demonstrating how to make seed balls.Right Food.
Right Action.
Right Awareness.
Whenever I am out watering my garden I look at the large intersection and gas stations that are all around it and just imagine a day when the whole area is covered in wildflowers and trees. Sometimes it is hard to do. Every day there is new trash to pull out of my garden (I know it looks like I am just cultivating weeds, but I love those kind of plants.) Sometimes my flowers get stolen :( Sometimes they get mowed down, and that is when I cry the hardest.
This little garden is going to take over this whole intersection someday. In the meantime the bees just love it.
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Basic Seed Ball Recipe
- 5 parts clay
- 3 parts compost
- 1 part seeds
- 1 - 2 parts water
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I'll definitely try to get this ball rolling (haha get it?), but living in a small (super clean) apartment with no source of soil around and a tiny balcony to grow my herbs on makes it pretty difficult to try something so revolutionary.
@jessyratfink - the Bay Area should be good to grow things. it's actually got a lot more moisture in the air due to it being so close to the ocean, and it rains a lot more/actually has different seasons. good luck!
Yeah LA is a bit more difficult. It would be good to find seeds that are drought resistant or native to the area. Quite a different situation than the Bay area.