Environmental Activists Plant Seed Balls in Abandoned Lots
by Jennifer Lance in Garden and Yard Care, Gardening
I’ve long been fascinated by guerilla gardening, in which gardeners illegally under the cover of night cultivate plants in public spaces. Now, activists have a new tool for cultivating abandoned spaces: seed balls! Developed by Japanese Masanobu Fukuoka, a pioneer in “natural farming”, seed balls are made out of mulch and seeds mixed together. The seeds and mulch are kneaded into a red terra cotta clay.
Recently, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG), formerly Neighbors Against Garbage, in Brooklyn, NY are tossing seed balls into abandoned lots. From building a town hall to fighting for tenant rights, NAG is not just about planting random seeds around Brooklyn, but seed balling has gotten national attention. Michael Freedman-Schnapp, one of the co-chairs of NAG, explains why the guerrilla gardening movement is a reaction to city abandonment:
We are at the end of a development boom, and it is clear that the city’s resources are going to be constrained. They are not going to be able to take care of everywhere in the city. And so the city is going to have to rely on citizens stepping up and taking care of their own surroundings.
Becky Striepe of EcoLocalizer explains how to make a seed ball:
- Combine 2 parts mixed seeds (Maybe ones from a local solstice seed swap?) with 3 parts compost. (I bet that organic potting soil would work, as well.)
- Stir in 5 parts powdered red or brown clay.
- Moisten with water until mixture is damp enough to mold into balls.
- Pinch off a penny-sized piece of the clay mixture and roll it between the palms of your hands until it forms a tight ball (1 inch in diameter).
- Set the balls on newspaper and allow to dry for 24 – 48 hours. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to sow.
The clay helps protect the seeds from birds, and the small ball shape makes seed balls easy to toss throw chain linked fencing surrounding abandoned lots. After several rain storms, the seed balls break down and start to germinate. Of course, it is best to use native species for seed balls; who can resist a wildflower show in abandoned lot?
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Posted on May 18, 2009
Brooklyn, Gardening, guerilla gardening, NY, seed balls, urban renewal
About the Author
Jennifer Lance
Jennifer lives on 160 acres off-the-grid in a home built with her own two hands (and several more skilled pairs of hands) from forest fire salvaged timber. Her home is powered by a micro-hydro turbine, and she has been a vegetarian for 21 years. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in art education and has been teaching art to children for over 16 years. Jennifer is the founder and editor of Eco Child's Play.4 Responses to “Environmental Activists Plant Seed Balls in Abandoned Lots”
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John Pelley
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May 18, 2009
Great idea. Keep up the good work. Hope the practice continues on and flourishes.
Uncle B
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Oct 16, 2009
Please put some edibles, perennial edibles if possible in your seed bombs! The next downturn in our cyclic capitalistic economy will bring with it the greater depression, and as the Cheap oil era closes, corn will get harder to grow, and factory farms will bankrupt, bringing hunger and food shortages to a nation accustom to times of plenty. Any effort, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. Counties may even plant road medians to edibles to stave off anarchy. Barley, oats and the like will sustain a soul, as will potatoes, even wild and small! Some cabbages are edible and ornamental, and tomatoes can vine along the ground too! Speak to veggie gasrdeners in your area, find out what seeds itself down naturally in your seasons, and bomb these food crops everywhere! God Speed!