It’s spring, so I’m celebrating by making seed bombs. A fun DIY activity for the whole family, creating seed bombs allows us to beautify our surroundings while giving back to the earth.
Much loved by guerrilla gardeners, seed bombs are balls of compost and humus impregnated with plant seeds – such as those of wildflowers – mixed with clay and moistened with water. They’re rolled into balls and left to dry for a couple of days.
Easy to make, they’re fun to lob into derelict areas in and around the city. How about lobbing one or two into an elderly neighbour’s side or back garden (do get permission first). Perhaps your own garden has a bare patch that needs beautification.
It doesn’t matter where you throw them, sowing wildflowers contributes to the environment by providing food to birds and bees, both of which are in desperate need of assistance right now.
The best flowers for sunny areas are:
- Poppies,
- Cornflowers
- Marigolds
- Cosmos
- Hollyhocks
- Wildflower mixes
You will need:
- Flower seeds
- Peat-free compost
- Water
- Powdered clay (found in craft shops)
- A mixing bowl
- A tray or cookie sheet
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of seeds with 5 cups of compost and 2-3 cups of clay powder (you could use clay soil instead if you have it).
- Slowly mix in water with your hands until everything sticks together.
- Roll the mixture into firm truffle-sized balls and place on a baking sheet or tray.
- Place the balls in a sunny spot such as a window sill to dry (at least 3-5 hours depending on where you live).
- Once they’re dried, you can plant your seed bombs by throwing them into the bare parts of your garden or into derelict lots.
If you don’t want to make your own seed bombs but would still like to spread some beauty, Botanical Paperworks sells them in packs of 25, available in both wildflower and herb varieties. •
