Seed Bombs
BROOKLYN BLOOMS SEED BOMB WORKSHOP
What: Seedbombs, or seedballs are a mixture of clay, compost and seeds that are designed to improve ecology in blighted often hard to reach areas. The components are simply mixed together into balls that can easily be dropped or thrown in an appropriate place.
How: The clay prevents the compost and seeds from being washed away in rain and keeps them damp. The seeds will sprout plants that need the compost for nutrients required for successful early growth. Giving the seeds this starter package helps root them and protects them from birds and rodents who eat as much as 80% of broadcast seed. They also give you a way to get them where you want them.
History: Animals have been delivering seedbombs in the form of their scat for eons. Bird and mammal droppings continue a main package and source of seed spread, but not in Brooklyn. There is some dispute about when people started making seedbombs, some attribute them to native Americans they have also been documented in ancient Japan where they are still called Tsuchi Dango (Earth Dumpling). In 1938 Masanobu Fukuoka became the modern father of seedbombs using them in large scale agriculture and evangelizing their wonder. From the 1970’s NYC’s own Green Guerrillas have gained positive recognition for using seedbombs to start gardens in disused lots and wastelands.
Why: Seedbombs replicate a natural process that’s impossible in the urban environment, plants help prevent runoff, take up carbon dioxide, hold down dust, create oxygen and cleaner air. Greening adds value and beauty to a neighborhood; a lot full of flowers is better than a lot full of garbage. They also help promote biodiversity, for example flowers provide food for pollinators. Also, It’s fun!
Where: Ideally you want a location that has some soil or grow medium already present, will get rain water and sunlight- quality isn’t a hangup. (seedbombs have succeeded on abandoned parking lots, but can
What: Seedbombs, or seedballs are a mixture of clay, compost and seeds that are designed to improve ecology in blighted often hard to reach areas. The components are simply mixed together into balls that can easily be dropped or thrown in an appropriate place.
How: The clay prevents the compost and seeds from being washed away in rain and keeps them damp. The seeds will sprout plants that need the compost for nutrients required for successful early growth. Giving the seeds this starter package helps root them and protects them from birds and rodents who eat as much as 80% of broadcast seed. They also give you a way to get them where you want them.
History: Animals have been delivering seedbombs in the form of their scat for eons. Bird and mammal droppings continue a main package and source of seed spread, but not in Brooklyn. There is some dispute about when people started making seedbombs, some attribute them to native Americans they have also been documented in ancient Japan where they are still called Tsuchi Dango (Earth Dumpling). In 1938 Masanobu Fukuoka became the modern father of seedbombs using them in large scale agriculture and evangelizing their wonder. From the 1970’s NYC’s own Green Guerrillas have gained positive recognition for using seedbombs to start gardens in disused lots and wastelands.
Why: Seedbombs replicate a natural process that’s impossible in the urban environment, plants help prevent runoff, take up carbon dioxide, hold down dust, create oxygen and cleaner air. Greening adds value and beauty to a neighborhood; a lot full of flowers is better than a lot full of garbage. They also help promote biodiversity, for example flowers provide food for pollinators. Also, It’s fun!
Where: Ideally you want a location that has some soil or grow medium already present, will get rain water and sunlight- quality isn’t a hangup. (seedbombs have succeeded on abandoned parking lots, but can