Personally I feel one of the greatest joys in life, is being able to enjoy the refreshing sight and soul regenerating experience of a beautiful well tendered garden. It just one of those few experiences that words can simple do no justice describing- something you just have to feel for yourself in order to truly appreciate the magic about it.
Now I can’t say that I have the best/most effective green thumb but I can get the plants to grow/live and flowers to blossom. And I’ll admit that I am a bit biased (alright fine, very biased), because I tend to favour flowering plants over plain green shrubs but I appreciate how a good mix of kinds is what brings a beautiful garden to life.
I’m not afraid of putting my knees to the ground and getting my hands dirty in soil, but sometimes tendering for a garden (especially one that is landscaped to look as though they grew wildly beautiful on their own) is no easy feat. Everything I learned about gardening I graciously picked up from my dear mother but I’m not sure she ever taught me about seed balls.
So what are seed balls?
Well the name pretty much explains itself – it’s a ball made out of clay, compost, and seeds; a simple yet ingenious little ‘green bomb’ that’s self-sufficient to grow beautiful plants/flowers.
How do they work?
The fun part of the seed ball is how you don’t plant it. You merely toss/roll it onto the ground and let nature take its course- Coming in contact with rain, the clay will wash away, leaving the seeds to sprout, with the support of compost as fertilizer.
What can they do?
They can help you reclaim derelict land or those tough to reach spots which are boarded up abandoned lots or simply blocked-off riverfront areas. Just toss a few green bombs in there and you’ve done your part.
Are they safe?
Yes, these are the safest bombs known to mankind. In fact they are downright safe and legal to use.
Where do I get them?
Well you can buy them, but alternatively why not just make them. Making seed balls is a simple yet enjoyable task that you and your kids can enjoy. I mean essentially these are just seeds mixed with equal proportions of dried compost and clay, then rolled into small balls, and dried for later sowing/bombing.
Can I just roll just about every kind of seed into the ball?
Well not exactly because some seeds do require more help to break out of dormancy (like those with thicker skin, or those with the need for heat or cold to help them break out).
What’s the seed ball formula?
- Mix one part seeds with one part dry compost and one part dry clay.
- After that it’s simply a matter of adding some water, little at a time (spraying it works best) and then mixing it together until you have just the right consistency to hold everything together without crumbling.
- Roll the mixture into small balls* and leave to dry.
*Ideal seed balls should be formed into a size of 2~3 cm in diameter.
So go ahead, get your kids involved in the green fight today and have them toss a few green bombs to help save the Earth.
