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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Foraging.

Seed balls are a technique for planting stuff without planting it.  Just assemble the seeds in a ball of compost and clay and chuck them into places where you want plants to show up.  The compost brings fertility to the process.  The clay holds the ball together and gives the seeds something to germinate in once there is water present.


To complete this BB, the minimum requirements is to make at least 4 lbs (fresh weight) of seed balls/bombs:
      o at least an inch in diameter
      o can either be used immediately or quickly dried for storage (before the seeds germinate)
      o at least six different species in each ball/bomb
          - at least four of the species are perennials
          - possible species:
             o nettle
             o dandelion
             o maple
             o mulberry
             o apricots
             o apples
             o black locust
             o sepp grain
             o daikon radish
             o alfalfa
             o tomato
             o sunflower
             o lupine
             o squash
             o kale
             o turnip
             o cherry

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - A picture of the seeds in your mixing container
 - The balls/bombs being created
 - A picture of the finished balls on a scale showing the weight
 - A listing of the seeds you used
COMMENTS:
 
steward
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Approved submission
Ben Zumeta made a bajillion seed balls in this thread: Seed Balling
Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify Ben completed this BB!

 
pollinator
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I'm assuming that the 4 lbs is the dried weight of the seed balls?
 
Mike Haasl
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I read it as the finished weight (wet/damp).  Drying for storage is an option but that comes after the weighing for the BB.
 
Penny McLoughlin
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Cool.

That will make it easier to achieve.

Off to collect dandelion seeds now.
 
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Hello, I made about six pounds of seed balls and gleefully scattered them along the edge of a forest on an abandoned lot.

Here's screened compost and clay:



Seeds added in.  The seeds I used were acorn squash, sweet snap peas, red beans, tall thistle, gala apple, borage, snapdragons, habanero, and three types of corn.  





I don't have a scale but I do have five lbs of flour and a see-saw.  This readily outweighs the five pound flour bag.

Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
author & steward
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I have been a big fan of Masanobu Fukuoka ever since I read The One-Straw Revolution five years ago. His seed balls always fascinated me, but it wasn't until this BB plus the excellent video that I was motivated to give them a try.

I formulated the seed balls for my goat pasture, so the seed mix contained a variety of grasses, legumes, and forbs: crimson clover, arrowleaf clover, hairy vetch, purple top turnip, annual ryegrass, wheat, oats, winter peas, rape, radish, white clover, perennial rye, timothy, brome, echinacea, chicory, and oregano.

Seed mix for seed balls.

My equal parts of seed, compost, and southern red clay.

Mine are a little large so they are probably more like seed bombs.

Several small batches worked out to the required 4 pounds.

I threw them onto some bare spots in the pasture shortly after making them. Looking forward to seeing what happens!
Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
Posts: 11
Location: Prescott, Az
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Could I use our soil since it is mostly clay?
 
Mike Haasl
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Sounds like if you add compost to your soil, it meets the requirements...
 
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