Seed bombs are small balls of clay powder, soil and seeds. They are used to green and beautify fallow land. After throwing the seed bombs need only a first rain shower and soon the seeds begin to germinate.
2. WHAT IS GUERRILLA GARDENING?
Guerrilla Gardening is a worldwide movement and refers to gardening that is not allowed on public land or on land that does not belong to oneself. The motivations of the active guerrilla gardeners are of different nature. Some people want to make a political protest with their planting actions. Such actions then usually take place in a night and fog action. But there are also people like Richard Reynolds from London, who is very well known in the movement, who started gardening simply for the joy of it. Especially in cities, where most people do not have a garden of their own, guerrilla gardening is a good idea.
3. WHY SHOULD I USE SEED BOMBS INSTEAD OF JUST SCATTERING SEEDS??
Seed bombs host their own small ecosystem. The cover of clay and soil protects the seeds from predators such as z.B. birds and ants and also provides all the nutrients needed to get started. Also, the seed bomb ensures that the seeds are not transported away by water or wind. Another advantage is the simplicity and speed with which you can plant something. It eliminates the hassle of bending down and the need for gardening tools.
4. WHAT ARE SEED BOMBS MADE OF?
Clay powder, soil and seeds. That’s all you need to make a seed bomb. But one should not use just any ingredients. For the sake of the environment one should z.B. Use soil without peat. This at least does not support the over-exploitation of the sensitive moor ecosystem. Especially when it comes to clay, many people wonder where to buy it. In certain regions you don’t even have to buy it. Often there is clay in the immediate vicinity. Especially near bodies of water. You can get clay powder in natural building material stores. Here one is filled also gladly only a few hundred grammes. With the seed it is to be made certain that this is seed-firmly. Many seed bags from the hardware store contain hybrids, which do not propagate themselves.
5. WHO INVENTED SEED BOMBS?
Some sources claim that the ancient Egyptians already used seed bombs. After the annual flooding of the Nile, the now nutrient-rich riparian areas were intensively used by agriculture. Similar techniques have also been used in many parts of Asia. Moreover, it is known that the technique of coating seeds with clay has been practiced in many cultures of Africa.
The Japanese Masanobu Fukuoka is often called the forefather of seed bombs. The balls called "nendo dango" in Japanese were used by Fukuoka to cultivate his land. Overall, Fukuoka referred to his method of farming as "do-nothing farming". Sounds good, or?
The modern form of Guerilla Gardening was coined by a group of people from New York. Liz Christy and some fellow gardeners had had enough of the run-down apartment buildings in their city. Under the name "green guerillas," they started dropping seed bombs over the fences of abandoned properties and planting sunflowers along the green strips.
6. HOW TO MAKE SEED BOMBS?
To make your own seed bombs you need the following three ingredients – clay, soil and seeds. The decisive factor, however, is the mix.
4 parts of soil (Preferably sifted through a 5 mm sieve so it is free of large chunks)
1 part clay powder (From natural building materials stores or if you only want to make a few semen bombs, you can also use healing clay from the drugstore)
A little seed Many seed bomb recipes recommend way too much seed here. Remember that a tiny seed can grow into a vigorous plant. A quantity of 15 to 20 seeds per seed bomb is optimal. If you were to add significantly more seeds, the individual plants would be in competition with the natural resources such as z.B. Stand water. In the end the young seedlings fight each other.
Little water Only as little water as necessary should be used. If the balls are too moist after rolling, they take a long time to dry and may start to germinate. One would like to avoid this as much as possible. It is best to use a water sprayer and gradually add the water.
Instructions
You mix the soil with the clay and then add the seed. Then mix all the ingredients together vigorously. Then slowly add the water in small increments and continue mixing vigorously. The end result should be a tough "dough" like baking bread.
Then roll the seedbombs into small balls with your hands and place in a warm place to dry. But be careful! It should not get too hot either. Some instructions on the Internet even suggest the oven. This should be avoided, because seeds are living beings and from a temperature of 40°C it can be critical for some seeds.
7. HOW TO PLANT SEED BOMBS?
Seed bombs are actually not planted, but thrown. It is best to look for a place where the soil is open. Since the seeds are already covered with soil, the Seedbombs do not need to be dug in. Seedbombs unfortunately do not work miracles either and so the contained seeds also need good conditions to grow. So it can’t hurt to add a little water as well. Overall, "planting" seed bombs is quite simple. In keeping with Masanobu Fukuoka’s motto of "do-nothing agriculture".
8. DO SEED BOMBS NEED TO BE BROKEN OPEN BEFORE PLANTING?
Seed bombs need not and should not be broken up. When dry, they are still rock hard little balls, but as soon as the first rain comes, the balls soften and the seeds have a chance to germinate.
9. WHEN TO PLANT SEEDBOMBS?
The best time of the year to plant the seed bombs is in spring. However, each type of seed has its own peculiarities. At Seedbomb City we have a litter release. During this period, conditions are usually optimal for the seed.
Seeds are remarkable creatures because they know exactly when to start germinating. If the conditions are not optimal, the seeds are in the so-called dormancy. They sleep, so to speak. So it can also happen that the seeds wake up from their sleep only in the next spring.
10. WHERE CAN I FIND A SUITABLE LOCATION?
Once you start guerrilla gardening, you see your surroundings very differently. While walking around the block or on the way to work, you suddenly see the most wonderful spots. Perhaps the in official language so-called roadside greenery or a tree slice, which still looks a bit desolate.
Seed bombs will unfortunately almost never work on a dense lawn. Here the competition from the grasses is simply too great. You should also make sure that the seedbombs get enough sunlight and are protected from "vandalism". A cyclist quickly parks his bike on a tree slice and overlooks the still tender plant.