Do you hate those blank vacant lots on the side of road and city streets? Have you wanted to put a flower garden in one of those lots but have been afraid of being arrested? Do you not have the money to buy all those flower transplants? Is the lot just to hard to get into?
And think of how many times you have seen a bare plot with nothing in it or a neglected flower bed that you just wished you could plant on?
Well the seed bomb is just right for you. The seed bomb is cheap compared to buying transplants, is natural and organic, easy to make, pocket sized, and you can easily cover a large area with seed bombs in a very short time.
The seed bomb is also a great weapon in the guerrilla gardeners arsenal when the guerrilla gardener needs to quickly get the job done. Here’s how to make them…
Step 1: Materials…
All materials are cheap or free, easy to find, and are natural and organic.
- Clay from your area if available or if clay unavailable in your area you can use crayola air dry clay and is found in walmart for about $5.00 (used to protect the seeds from insects, birds, etc. that might eat them)
- Water (For forming clay, do not water seed bomb when finished)
- Seeds native to your area (Check with your local Nature Conservancy or your state’s department of natural resources for which seeds/plants are native to your area)( buy seed mixtures of native flowers and plants. Not only will they grow well, they will not crowd out other plants, disrupt bird and insect populations, or do other environmental damage)
- Compost or worm castings
- Yogurt container top or any large flat surface
For the dried red clay mix 5 parts clay with 1 part compost and 1 part flower seeds, put some careful drops of water into the mixture(make sure not to make it into a goopy sloppy mess!), Knead with hands into a ball, flatten it out and cut to desired size. Now just make into a small ball and let it dry in the sun. Now you have a red clay seed bomb.
Step 2: Cutting…
Cut a very thin piece of the clay.
Tip: (The thinner you make it the easier you can press it down and shape it into a ball).
Step 3: Cutting (Continued)…
Press down on a large flat surface (making it not paper thin but not as thick as a book).
Cut to about 2 and a half inches wide and 2 inches high.
Step 4: Adding the compost…
Sprinkle the finest compost onto the clay and the more compost you put on the better the chance the seeds will germinate).
Step 5: Adding Seeds…
Add about 2 seeds to the mixture (depending on the quality you think the seeds are).
Step 6: Adding the Water…
Be careful on how much water you add. Add just a few drops or it will become a sloppy mess that’s almost impossible to take off ! The water will also help the compost stay inside the seed bomb.
Step 7: Making Into a Seed Bomb…
This is going to be dirty. Scrape off with your fingers the clay and roll into a ball and make sure you don’t let the seeds go out of the seed bomb!
Step 8: Adding More Compost…
To have a better chance of your plant in your seed bomb of growing put your seed bomb into a pot of compost and rub the compost in and take it out and rub it in again. You can keep repeating this process till about the 5th rubbing then you have most likely covered the seed bomb with the compost.
Step 9: Your Finished…
Now just let your seed bomb air dry and your finished. You can fit about 9 seed bombs or more in one pocket (estimated from size 12 boys blue jeans) and if you multiply that by how many pockets you have in your pants, jacket, and even hat plus the number of people you bring with you then you have a lot of area you can cover with your seed bombs!
Now throw your seed bombs of change into any vacant lot, neglected flower bed, or bare lot and don’t forget to water your new brand new guerrilla garden! (Via Instructables)
If you like this idea, be sure to share it with your friends and inspire someone you know. Anything becomes possible with just a little inspiration…
