Guerrilla Gardening Make Seed Bombs!
Background and Fun Facts
- Seed bombs are made by mixing soil, compost, seeds and water together into balls. They are then thrown or placed in places for them to germinate and grow.
- Seed bombing is an ancient Japanese practice which was made famous by the Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka. He believed that, by throwing the seed bombs around his farm, Mother Nature would decide which seeds were suitable to grow in different areas.
- They can be launched in gardens, window boxes and vegetable patches. Seed bombs can also be used to brighten up alleyways and other unmaintained areas.
- There are now guerrilla gardening groups in countries all over the world, throwing seed bombs into derelict areas to improve them.
- May is a good month to make seed bombs because warm temperatures mean that germination chances are good.
How to Make Seed Bombs With Your Class
- Seed bombs can be messy to make and are best done outside on a bench or table.
- If it’s a senior class divide the class into groups of three or four. Make sure that they roll up their sleeves.
- It works best if the teacher has the ingredients ready in advance and has a parent or member of staff on board to help out.
- Demonstrate how the seed bombs are made and then let the children go at it!
- Place the seed bombs on a tray to keep them safe before planting.
- Place vegetable seed bombs in raised beds and flower bombs at the base of trees or in neglected areas of the school.
- Don’t forget to ask for permission to throw seed bombs on someone else’s property.
Ingredients and Materials (per group)
Soil, water and seeds (wildflower or vegetable seeds such as cut and come lettuce or radish), bowls and jugs.
Method
- Half fill the bowl with soil and sprinkle some seeds into the bowl. Add a half cup of water .
- Mix together to form a paste.
- If the mixture is too dry add more water. If it’s too wet add more soil.
- Knead the mixture and roll into balls.
- Place the rolled balls on a tray.
- Plant out the seed bombs and let nature take its course!
Websites
a short video on how to make seed bombs to order seed bombs
Curricular Links
Science:Strands; Living Things, Materials. Strand Units; Plant life, Materials and Change Geography:Strand; Environmental awareness and careStrand Unit: Caring for the environment
Paul O’Donnell “From Dung to Dinner” SESE Month by Month Inside and Outside the Classroom