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{{Lead too short|date=October 2021}}
{{Lead too short|date=October 2021}}
[[File:Seed bomb aka Seed ball (Guerilla gardening).jpg|thumb|A seed ball]]
[[File:Seed bomb aka Seed ball (Guerilla gardening).jpg|thumb|A seed ball]]
[[File:Seedball_sprouted.jpg|thumb|Plants sprouting from seed balls]]
'''Seed balls''', also known as '''earth balls''' or {{nihongo||粘土団子|nendo dango|lead=yes}}, consist of a variety of different [[seed]]s rolled within a ball of [[clay]], preferably [[volcanic]] pyroclastic red clay. Various additives may be included, such as [[humus]] or [[compost]]. These are placed around the seeds, at the center of the ball, to provide [[microbial]] [[inoculant]]s. Cotton-fibres or liquefied paper are sometimes mixed into the clay in order to strengthen it, or liquefied paper mash coated on the outside to further protect the clay ball during sowing by throwing, or in particularly harsh habitats.
'''Seed balls''', also known as '''earth balls''' or {{nihongo||粘土団子|nendo dango|lead=yes}}, consist of [[seed]]s rolled within a ball of [[clay]] and other matter to assist germination. They are then thrown into vacant lots and over fences as a form of [[guerilla gardening]]. Matter such as [[humus]] and [[compost]] are often placed around the seeds to provide [[microbial]] [[inoculant]]s. Cotton-fibres or liquefied paper are sometimes added to further protect the clay ball in particularly harsh habitats. An ancient technique, it was re-discovered by Japanese [[natural farming]] pioneer [[Masanobu Fukuoka]].


==Development of technique==
==Development of technique==
[[File:Masanobu-Fukuoka.jpg|thumb|[[Masanobu Fukuoka]], throwing the first seedball at the workshop at Navdanya, in October 2002]]
[[File:Masanobu-Fukuoka.jpg|thumb|[[Masanobu Fukuoka]], throwing the first seedball at the workshop at Navdanya, in October 2002]]
The technique for creating seed balls was rediscovered by Japanese [[natural farming]] pioneer [[Masanobu Fukuoka]].<ref name="NPR article"/> The technique was also used, for instance, in ancient Egypt to repair farms after the annual spring flooding of the Nile. In modern times, during the period of the Second World War, this Japanese government plant scientist working in a government lab, Fukuoka, who lived on the mountainous island of Shikoku, wanted to find a technique that would increase food production without taking away from the land already allocated for traditional rice production which thrived in the volcanic rich soils of Japan.<ref name="One–Straw Rev 1978"/><ref name="The Natural Way of Farming 1987"/>
The technique for creating seed balls was rediscovered by Japanese [[natural farming]] pioneer [[Masanobu Fukuoka]].<ref name="NPR article"/> The technique was also used, for instance, in ancient Egypt to repair farms after the annual spring flooding of the Nile. Masanobu Fukuoka developed his technique during the period of the Second World War, while working in a Japanese government lab as a plant scientist on the mountainous island of Shikoku. He wanted to find a technique that would increase food production without taking away from the land already allocated for traditional rice production which thrived in the volcanic rich soils of Japan.<ref name="One–Straw Rev 1978"/><ref name="The Natural Way of Farming 1987"/>


==Construction==
==Construction==
[[File:Activities for making Mud Seed ball in Bhopal (9).jpg|thumb|Drying seed balls]]
[[File:Activities for making Mud Seed ball in Bhopal (9).jpg|thumb|Drying seed balls]]
To make a seed ball, generally about five measures of red clay by volume are combined with one measure of seeds. The balls are formed between 10mm and 80mm (about {{Fraction|1|2}}" to 3") in diameter. After the seed balls have been formed, they must dry for 24-48 hours before use.
To make a seed ball, generally about five measures of red clay by volume are combined with one measure of seeds. The balls are formed between 10&nbsp;mm and 80&nbsp;mm (about {{Fraction|1|2}}" to 3") in diameter. After the seed balls have been formed, they must dry for 24–48 hours before use.


==Seed bombing==
==Seed bombing==
'''Seed bombing''' is the practice of introducing vegetation to land by throwing or dropping seed balls.
'''Seed bombing''' is the practice of introducing vegetation to land by throwing or dropping seed balls. It is used in modern [[aerial seeding]] as a way to deter seed predation. It has also been popularized by green movements such as guerrilla gardening as a way to introduce new plants to an environment.

Aerial seeding (or aerial reforestation) is the technique of spreading seeds from an aircraft. It can be considered a particular type of [[sowing|direct seeding]]: as such, it introduces seeds directly in the field and it is often not economical due to the issues of [[germination]], [[Pest (organism)|pests]] and seed [[predation]] by rodents or other wild animals. [[Transplanting]] seedlings from a [[plant nursery]] to the field is a more effective sowing technique. Aerial seeding has a low yield and require 25% to 50% more seeds than drilled seeding to achieve the same results.<ref name=UsAgri>{{Citation|url=https://prod.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1167304.pdf|title=Aerial seeding of cover crop | last= U.S. Dept. of Agriculture |accessdate=2019-08-28}}</ref> It is sometimes used as a technique to plant [[cover crop]]s without having to wait for the main crop's off-season.<ref name= UsAgri/>

Seed bombing has been popularized by green movements such as [[guerrilla gardening]] as a way to introduce new plants to an environment.

===History===

The earliest attempts at aerial reforestation date back to the 1930s. In this period, planes were used to distribute seeds over certain inaccessible mountains in [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu]] after [[forest fire]]s.<ref name=howsw>{{cite web | url =http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/aerial-reforestation.htm/printable | title = Could military strategy win the war on global warming? | accessdate = 2012-04-06 | last = Horton | first = Jennifer | publisher = How Stuff Works}}</ref> These experiments were largely unsuccessful, because of poor seed dispersal: seeds failed to obtain enough kinetic energy to enter the soil and as a result were massively predated. This in turn generated an infestation of rodents in Hawaii.<ref name=dartslect>{{Citation| last=Stewart | first=Jack| title= Lecture on Reforestation by Aerial Darts, University of Glasgow 2016 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBslqoJ2gvs |accessdate=2019-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| last=Chimera |first = Charles | title=Could poor seed dispersal contribute to predationby introduced rodents in a Hawaiian dry forest?|url=http://userwww.sfsu.edu/parker/bio840/pdfs/2012StudentPapers/EricaWKatyN/SeedDispHIDryForestRodents.pdf|date=2009-11-18|accessdate=2019-08-28}}</ref>

In 1987, [[Lynn Garrison]] proposed the creation of a [[Haitian Aerial Reforestation Project]] (HARP), by which tons of seed would be scattered from specially modified aircraft. The seeds would be encapsulated in an absorbent material. This coating would contain [[fertilizer]], [[insecticide]]/[[animal repellent]] and, perhaps a few vegetable seeds. [[Haiti]] has a [[bimodal]] [[rainy season]], with precipitation in spring and fall. The seeds could have been moistened a few days before the drop, to start germination. The project never came to fruition.

[[File:Seedball_sprouted.jpg|thumb|left|Plants sprouting from a seedball]]
Seed balls were experimentally used in aerial seeding in Kenya in 2016.<ref>{{Citation|last=Cookswell Jikos|title=Dryland aerial forest restoration using biochar seedballs - Kenya Aug 2106|date=2016-08-07|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xl0Bj1R8Yk|accessdate=2018-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Aerial tree seeding for landscape forest restoration in East Africa|url=http://treeseedlist.blogspot.com/2016/06/aerial-tree-seeding-for-forest.html|accessdate=2019-08-28}}</ref> This was an attempt to improve the yield of standard aerial seeding. The use of seed balls, instead of simple seeds, to perform aerial reforestation in Kenya seems to have produced desirable results.<ref>{{Citation|last=Daily Nation |title=Meet the squad bombing forests to grow more trees|date=2017-12-09|accessdate=2019-08-28|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/Meet-the-squad-bombing-forests-to-grow-more-trees/2301238-4220260-m8hec0/index.html }}</ref> Chardust Ltd, the company involved and distributing seed balls for that project, claims to have sold and distributed over 7 million seedballs, as per August 2019.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.seedballskenya.com/about/4592985893|title=Throw and Grow Seedballs Kenya|last=Kinyanjui|first=Teddy|accessdate=2019-08-28}}</ref> It is likely, though, that the majority of these seed balls are deployed traditionally instead than via aerial seeding and there is no published data to support the benefits of using seed balls via aerial seeding.

A project in the late 1990s planned to drop saplings instead of seeds.<ref name=howsw/> Saplings would be encased in sturdy and biodegradable containers which would work as projectiles and pierce the ground at high velocity. This would likely guarantee a better yield when compared to simple aerial seeding or even seed bombing. This project was being developed in 1999 by a company called Aerial Reforestation Inc, in [[Newton, Massachusetts]], based on an original idea by pilot Jack Walters.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/02/paulbrown | title = Aerial bombardment to reforest the earth | accessdate = 2011-06-09 | last = Brown | first = Paul | date = 1999-09-02 | publisher = The Guardian}}</ref> The company was planning to use military transport aircraft C-130, traditionally used to lay out landmines on combat fields.<ref name= howsw/> As per 2019, the company does not seem to be operating anymore.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ups and Downs of Aerial Reforestation |url=http://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/3047/| date=2016-05-19|accessdate= 2019-08-28}}</ref> Other researchers are still investigating the potential of these "aerial sapling darts", by improving their [[aerodynamics]] to achieve better soil penetration and therefore higher reforestation yields.<ref name=dartslect/> More research is needed to assess exactly their performance against other reforestation methods.

The most recent attempt at seed bombing was performed by DroneSeed, a company that opened in 2019. They claim to have devised a proprietary seed bomb that is able to deter animals from eating the seeds and, by using a mix of different seeds in the same bomb, to maximize the yield of the tree planting operations. <ref name=droneseed>{{cite web|title=DroneSeed Official Website |url=https://www.droneseed.com/| date=2019-10-27|accessdate= 2019-10-27}}</ref> Given the focus of this company on disaster relief, they have considered sapling darts not to be an effective solution since "nursery suppliers lack capacity to reforest after sizeable wildfires — especially repeat fires."<ref name=droneseed/>

===Feasibility and weaknesses===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Despite its low yield, interest in aerial seeding has recently grown, while searching for a quick system to obtain reforestation and fight [[global warming]]. The advantage of using an airplane/helicopter is the ability to quickly seed large areas, even remote areas, otherwise impractical to be used in active reforestation.

Aerial seeding is therefore best suited to sites whose remoteness, ruggedness, inaccessibility, or sparse population make seedling planting difficult. It is particularly appropriate for "protection forests" because helicopters or planes can easily spread seed over steep slopes or remote watersheds and isolated dryland areas. It seems also well suited for use in areas where there may be a dearth of skilled laborers, supervisors, and funds for reforestation. It has the potential to help increase production of tree crops for forage, food, and honey as well as wood for fuel, posts, lumber, charcoal and pulp.

Seed balls and aerial reforestation are heavily sensitive to environmental conditions. Seeds deployment may not be practical in some cases because the site may require preparation or the season may be wrong. To germinate successfully, seeds usually must fall directly onto mineral soil rather than onto established vegetation or undecomposed organic matter. Where organic matter has accumulated thickly, the site must normally be burned, furrowed, or disked. The soil disturbance left after logging is often sufficient. Rough terrain is more amenable to broadcast seeding, but yields are typically low even in the best conditions.

On certain sites ground preparation may be necessary. Site preparation and the seeding operation must be well coordinated to meet the biological requirements for prompt seed germination and seeding survival. Dry sites may have to be specially ridged or disked so as to optimize the rainfall that reaches the seed. Excessively wet sites may need to be ridged or drained.

The degree of field slope is not critical as long as seeds find a receptive seedbed. Steep watersheds, eroding mountain slopes, bare hillsides, and spoil-banks where vegetation is sparse are often suitable for aerial seeding (however, on some steep slopes with smooth, bare soil, rain may wash the seeds away too easily for successful seeding).

Arid and savanna lands (for example, those where annual rainfall is under 800&nbsp;mm) are most in need of reforestation. These are regions where aerial seeding in principle has exceptional potential. They include vast tracts of unused or poorly used land that has sparse tree cover and that is not confined to private land holdings, so it is generally accessible to aircraft. The native trees (such as species of Acacia, and other genera) in these areas are generally well adapted for survival under difficult field conditions. These are not species for timber as much as for firewood, forage, fruit, gum, erosion control, and other such uses.

As a prerequisite to any method of reforestation, the species selected must be adapted to the temperature, length of growing season, rainfall, humidity, photoperiod, and other environmental features of the area. Ideally, before aerial seeding takes place trial plots should be established to test those species most likely to germinate and grow successfully on the chosen sites. Even when one species has the right characteristics, it may be prudent to test seed of different provenances to find those best suited to the site.

Characteristics that make a particular species more or less appropriate for aerial seeding include:
* seed size
* seed availability
* ability of the seed to germinate on the soil surface
* germination and seedling growth speeds
* ability to withstand temperature extremes and prolonged dry periods ([[orthodox seed]])
* ability to tolerate soil conditions
* light tolerance
* seed stability when stored in large quantities
* suitability of seed for handling with mechanical seeding devices,
* development speed of a deep taproot by seedlings to enable them to withstand adverse climatic conditions in the period following germination.

Species with highly palatable seeds have little prospect of success because wildlife eat the seed before it has a chance to germinate unless it is pelletized. Also, small seeds and lightweight, chaffy seeds are more likely to drift in the wind, so they are harder to target during the drop. Small seeds, however, fall into crevices and are then more likely to get covered with soil, thereby enhancing their chances of survival. Aerial seeding may prove to work best with "pioneer" species, which germinate rapidly on open sites, are adapted for growth on bare or disturbed areas, and grow well in direct sunlight.

===Aerial seeding deployment methods===
Dropping seed balls from [[crop spraying aircraft]] is the most common method and the one practiced by Farmland Aviation, Kenya, one of the few companies active in this field. They claim to be able to spread up to six tons of tree seeds per hour over tens of thousands of acres.

Until 2017, [[drone (aircraft)|drone]]s were not used in aerial seeding. Low-cost UAVs lacked payload capacity and range limits them for most aerial seeding applications. A drone developed by [[Parrot SA]] and [[BioCarbon Engineering]] however has solved this issue. It is capable of dropping 100 000 pods a day.<ref>[https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/11/drones-plant-trees-deforestation-environment/Drones Spray Tree Seeds From the Sky to Fight Deforestation]</ref><ref>[https://futurism.com/new-drone-plans-on-ambitious-mission-to-plant-100000-trees-a-day New Drone Plans an Ambitious Mission to Plant 100,000 Trees a Day]</ref>

Deployment [[paraglider]] method is being tested in Kenya{{when?|date=April 2021}} and holds promises of great reforestation rates because of low cost, low speed and altitudes, even if seed spraying rate is likely to be much slower than deployment by aircraft.


==Guerrilla gardening==
==Guerrilla gardening==
The term "seed green-aide" was first used by [[Liz Christy Garden|Liz Christy]] in 1973 when she started the [[Green Guerillas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenguerillas.org/history|title=Our History {{!}} Green Guerillas|website=www.greenguerillas.org|access-date=2017-12-31}}</ref> The first [[seed]] green-aides were made from condoms filled with tomato seeds, and fertilizer.<ref name=howsw2>{{cite web | url =http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-guerrilla-gardening-works-transcript.htm | title = How Guerrilla Gardening Works | accessdate = 2017-09-12 | publisher = How Stuff Works}}</ref> They were tossed over fences onto empty [[Land lot|lot]]s in New York City in order to make the neighborhoods look better. It was the start of the guerrilla gardening movement.<ref name="LA Times Pancake Poop">{{cite web | url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-hm-guerrilla29-2008may29-story.html#page=1 | title=Guerrilla gardener movement takes root in L.A. area | publisher=[[L.A. Times]] | date=29 May 2008 | accessdate=12 June 2014 | author=Robinson, Joe}}</ref>
The term "seed green-aide" was first used by [[Liz Christy Garden|Liz Christy]] in 1973 when she started the [[Green Guerillas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenguerillas.org/history|title=Our History {{!}} Green Guerillas|website=www.greenguerillas.org|access-date=2017-12-31}}</ref> The first [[seed]] green-aides were made from condoms filled with tomato seeds, and fertilizer.<ref name=howsw2>{{cite web | url =http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-guerrilla-gardening-works-transcript.htm | title = How Guerrilla Gardening Works | accessdate = 2017-09-12 | publisher = How Stuff Works}}</ref> They were tossed over fences onto empty [[Land lot|lot]]s in New York City in order to make the neighborhoods look better. It was the start of the [[guerrilla gardening]] movement.<ref name="LA Times Pancake Poop">{{cite web | url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-hm-guerrilla29-2008may29-story.html#page=1 | title=Guerrilla gardener movement takes root in L.A. area | publisher=[[L.A. Times]] | date=29 May 2008 | accessdate=12 June 2014 | author=Robinson, Joe}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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</ref>
</ref>
}}
}}
{{refbegin}}
* [http://www.yokohama-artproject.com/rmp/english/about/claymethod.html "What's a clay ball?" and "Clay Ball Method" advice derived directly from Fukuoka Masanobu by The RainMaker Project, a major project in Africa by Yokohama Art Project, Japanese NGO.]
* [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0885554.pdf Masanobu Fukuoka's patent for advanced seedballs, titled "Paper/seed-unified planting seed unit and preparation process thereof"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060411200531/www.seedballs.com/3seedpa.html Making Seed Balls, by Jim Bones, he learned personally from Fukuoka Masanobu and from his books.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWyduWsoy8o The Seed Ball Story, a video by Jim Bones about desert habitat restoration using seed balls in Big Bend National Park, Texas.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060107163237/http://www.seedballs.com/tblcon.html The entire "Lost Seed Ball Pages" by Jim Bones, An early overview of seed ball production and uses, including instructions for making a von Bachmayr Rotary Drum.]
* [http://www.seedballs.us "Seed Balls R Us" A crossroads website dedicated to sharing seed ball information links and videos.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-bwW8PWI0 "Seed Balls by Masanobu Fukuoka 1997" YouTube 18:43 long video, caption: "Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan."]
* [http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1401&lang=English Making Hay with Clay - Greece]
* [http://www.seedball.com How to make seedballs]
* [http://seed-balls.com/how-to/details/how-to-choose-your-seed-balls A discussion of the pros and cons of different seed ball recipes]
* [http://sites.google.com/site/onseedballs/ 'On Seedballs', a website dedicated to seedballs]
* [http://guerrillagardening.org/community/index.php?board=293.0 Seed Bomb R&D forum come read and discuss about seed balls.]
*[http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-guerrilla-gardening-works/ Stuffyoushouldknow.com]
*[http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Seed-Bomb Wikihow.com]
*[http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-hm.0529.seedbomb-pg,0,4073581.photogallery#axzz2im1rw4UK Latimes.com]
*[http://www.gardenista.com/posts/diy-wildflower-seed-bombs Gardenista.com]
*[https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-14/lifestyle/35454538_1_guerrilla-gardeners-garden-store-social-justice Articles.washingtonpost.com]
*[http://www.permanentculturenow.com/guerrilla-gardening/ Permanentculturenow.com]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8548005.stm News.bbc.co.uk]
*[https://www.npr.org/2006/05/29/5435131/tending-defiant-gardens-during-wartime Npr.org]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/720544.stm News.bbc.co.uk]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2011/apr/11/seed-bombs-derelict-land-flowers Theguardian.com]
*[http://www.seedfreedom.net/ UK Seed Bomb Supplier, Seed Freedom]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2008/apr/25/seedbombing The guerrilla gardener's seedbomb recipe]
*[http://seed-balls.com/planning-a-seed-bomb-strike Planning an Effective Seed Bomb Strike]
{{refend}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2022}}
{{commons category|Seed balls}}
{{commons category|Seed balls}}
{{refbegin}}

* {{Cite web|url=http://www.yokohama-artproject.com/rmp/english/about/claymethod.html|title = 横浜アートプロジェクト}} "What's a clay ball?" and "Clay Ball Method" advice derived directly from Fukuoka Masanobu by The RainMaker Project, a major project in Africa by Yokohama Art Project, Japanese NGO.
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0885554.pdf|title = Paper/Seed-unified planting seed unit and preparation process thereof}} Masanobu Fukuoka's patent for advanced seedballs
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.seedballs.com/3seedpa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411200531/http://www.seedballs.com/3seedpa.html |archive-date=2006-04-11 |title = X1seed~1}} Making Seed Balls, by Jim Bones, he learned personally from Fukuoka Masanobu and from his books.
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWyduWsoy8o|title = Seed Ball Story|website = [[YouTube]]| date=4 January 2008 }} The Seed Ball Story, a video by Jim Bones about desert habitat restoration using seed balls in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.seedballs.com/tblcon.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060107163237/http://www.seedballs.com/tblcon.html|archive-date = 2006-01-07|title = 6seedpa}} The entire "Lost Seed Ball Pages" by Jim Bones, An early overview of seed ball production and uses, including instructions for making a von Bachmayr Rotary Drum.
* [http://www.seedballs.us "Seed Balls R Us" A crossroads website dedicated to sharing seed ball information links and videos.]
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-bwW8PWI0|title = Masanobu Fukuoka Makes Seed Balls|website = [[YouTube]]| date=15 January 2008 }} "Seed Balls by Masanobu Fukuoka 1997" YouTube 18:43 long video, caption: "Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan."
* [http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1401&lang=English Making Hay with Clay - Greece]
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.seedball.com/|title=How To Make A Seedball|website=www.seedball.com}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://seed-balls.com/how-to/details/how-to-choose-your-seed-balls|title=Which Type of Seed Ball?|date=9 November 2013 }} A discussion of the pros and cons of different seed ball recipes
* {{Cite web|url=http://sites.google.com/site/onseedballs/|title = On Seedballs}} a website dedicated to seedballs
* {{Cite web|url=http://guerrillagardening.org/community/index.php?board=293.0|title = Seed Bomb R&D}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-guerrilla-gardening-works/|title = Stuff You Should Know}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Seed-Bomb|title=How to Make a Seed Bomb}} Wikihow.com
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-hm.0529.seedbomb-pg,0,4073581.photogallery#axzz2im1rw4UK|title=How to make seed bombs|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=16 September 2014 }}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.gardenista.com/posts/diy-wildflower-seed-bombs|title=DIY: Make Your Own Wildflower Seed Bombs|date=16 May 2019}} Gardenista.com
* [https://archive.today/20131025222837/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-14/lifestyle/35454538_1_guerrilla-gardeners-garden-store-social-justice Articles.washingtonpost.com]
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.permanentculturenow.com/guerrilla-gardening/|title = Guerrilla gardening &#124; Permanent Culture Now}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8548005.stm|title = How guerrilla gardening took root|date = 15 March 2010}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2006/05/29/5435131/tending-defiant-gardens-during-wartime|title = Tending 'Defiant Gardens' During Wartime|website = NPR.org}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/720544.stm|title = BBC News &#124; E-CYCLOPEDIA &#124; Guerrilla gardening: Resistance is fertile}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2011/apr/11/seed-bombs-derelict-land-flowers|title = Seedbombs are weapon of choice in war against wastelands &#124; Leo Hickman|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 11 April 2011}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2008/apr/25/seedbombing|title=Video: The guerrilla gardener's seedbomb recipe|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 April 2008|last1=Domokos|first1=John}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://seed-balls.com/planning-a-seed-bomb-strike|title = Planning a Seed Bomb Strike| date=15 June 2014 }}
{{refend}}


[[Category:Horticultural techniques]]
[[Category:Horticultural techniques]]
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[[Category:Seeds]]
[[Category:Seeds]]
[[Category:Reforestation]]
[[Category:Reforestation]]
[[Category:Guerrilla gardening]]

Latest revision as of 03:16, 1 November 2024

A seed ball
Plants sprouting from seed balls

Seed balls, also known as earth balls or nendo dango (Japanese: 粘土団子), consist of seeds rolled within a ball of clay and other matter to assist germination. They are then thrown into vacant lots and over fences as a form of guerilla gardening. Matter such as humus and compost are often placed around the seeds to provide microbial inoculants. Cotton-fibres or liquefied paper are sometimes added to further protect the clay ball in particularly harsh habitats. An ancient technique, it was re-discovered by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka.

Development of technique

[edit]
Masanobu Fukuoka, throwing the first seedball at the workshop at Navdanya, in October 2002

The technique for creating seed balls was rediscovered by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka.[1] The technique was also used, for instance, in ancient Egypt to repair farms after the annual spring flooding of the Nile. Masanobu Fukuoka developed his technique during the period of the Second World War, while working in a Japanese government lab as a plant scientist on the mountainous island of Shikoku. He wanted to find a technique that would increase food production without taking away from the land already allocated for traditional rice production which thrived in the volcanic rich soils of Japan.[2][3]

Construction

[edit]
Drying seed balls

To make a seed ball, generally about five measures of red clay by volume are combined with one measure of seeds. The balls are formed between 10 mm and 80 mm (about 1⁄2" to 3") in diameter. After the seed balls have been formed, they must dry for 24–48 hours before use.

Seed bombing

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Seed bombing is the practice of introducing vegetation to land by throwing or dropping seed balls. It is used in modern aerial seeding as a way to deter seed predation. It has also been popularized by green movements such as guerrilla gardening as a way to introduce new plants to an environment.

Guerrilla gardening

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The term "seed green-aide" was first used by Liz Christy in 1973 when she started the Green Guerillas.[4] The first seed green-aides were made from condoms filled with tomato seeds, and fertilizer.[5] They were tossed over fences onto empty lots in New York City in order to make the neighborhoods look better. It was the start of the guerrilla gardening movement.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Adler, Margot (April 15, 2009). "Environmentalists Adopt New Weapon: Seed Balls". NPR. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  2. ^ Fukuoka (福岡), Masanobu (正信) (May 1978) [1st publ. in Japanese September 1975], Larry Korn (ed.), The One-Straw Revolution An Introduction to Natural Farming, translated by Chris Pearce; Tsune Kurosawa; Larry Korn, Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, ISBN 0878572201
  3. ^ Fukuoka (福岡), Masanobu (正信) (December 1987) [1st publ. in Japanese December 1975], The Natural Way of Farming The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy, translated by Frederic P Metreaud (rev. ed.), Tokyo: Japan Publications, ISBN 978-0-87040-613-3
  4. ^ "Our History | Green Guerillas". www.greenguerillas.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  5. ^ "How Guerrilla Gardening Works". How Stuff Works. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  6. ^ Robinson, Joe (29 May 2008). "Guerrilla gardener movement takes root in L.A. area". L.A. Times. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

Further reading

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  • Smith, K. (2007). The guerilla art kit. Princeton Architectural Press.
  • Huxta, B. (2009). Garden-variety graffiti. Organic gardening, 2009.
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