Growing plants from seed is not always an easy task. It requires a careful planning and proper follow through to germinate and survive long enough to send their nascent roots down into the soil. Though seeds are amazing structures designed to provide everything for a plant to start growing, most of them still needs a bit of help to keep them secure from their surroundings.

Seed balls, also referred to as seed bombs by guerilla gardening, is a marble sized ball made of clay, earth, and seeds. This was unearth by guerilla gardeners in an attempt to increase urban green space for recreation or replant areas where the natural flora has been destroyed. Some says that seed balls originated in Japan while others states that it is Greece yet the discovery of the seed ball is still a bit of anonymous.

Hiding the seeds in balls of absorbent material like a blend of clay and compost or soil that dries into a hard coating makes them ready when the planting arrives. The hard coating protects the seed inside from hungry birds and animals. Without the hard coating, the seeds are sometimes sown on top of the soil where it may be baked dry by the sun, blown by the wind, or washed away by heavy rains. Thus, resulting to small volume of seeds that are left to germinate and grow.

Seed balls works because it soaks up the moisture from rain and dew, holding it near the seeds so they can germinate and grow into seedlings. As the seedlings grow, the coating slowly breaks down and the roots can reach down into the soil, rooting firmly in the earth where they have a good chance of continuing to grow. It gives nature an extra essentials to make things right.

Further, teaching our kids on how to make seed balls is a great learning for them since they can easily adapt in the needs of the environment. This is not only a good movement to spread the information on seed balls but an approach in preserving nature for the future generations to come.

The seed ball recipe

– 2 parts potting soil
– 5 parts pottery clay mix from your local art store
– 1-2 parts water
– 1-2 parts seeds of your choice
– Large tub to mix ingredients
– Large box to dry and store seed balls

How to make a seed ball

Making seed balls is just easy to make. But using richer soil gives the seed a head start and reduces chemical fertilizers. Though there are some complex methods in making seed balls, the basic one is still the best.

We may think that these methods can be just a minor one or sometimes think this as unimportant still it is a way to help the environment. Why not contemplate that if each and every one will do these little and minor ones will result to greater things and help restore the magnificence of Mother Nature. What a great comeback isn’t?