Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
Grey and sad vacant lots, deserted and rocky highway shoulders, little corners of land with absolutely nothing in them—it’s unspeakably sad. The best trick to fix these 50 shades of grey? We call them "seed bombs"!
The floral revolution
Yes, we can indeed give nature a helping hand in the process of seed dispersal with the help of beautiful little bombs made of clay, compost or soil, and seeds for flowers and plants—very few ingredients that nonetheless result in small, then large, floral revolutions. We leave them in areas that could benefit from human intervention because, for one reason or another, natural processes are having a hard time taking place there…
Hmm, and for what reason, again, do natural processes have a hard time taking their course in certain environments? Ah yes, that's right, because of human intervention!
Throwing seed bombs in carefully chosen places can therefore help reverse this cycle by nourishing the soil and animals, and by contributing to the ecological restoration of an environment where biodiversity can establish itself and grow once again, and all this in a very short time!
Where does this sensational idea come from?
Seed bombs come from an ancient Japanese custom called Tsuchi Dango ("earth dumpling"). In 1938, a microbiologist, farmer, and philosopher named Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008) brought them back into popular culture. How about that!
This guy really had some interesting ideas. Author of the book The One-Straw Revolution, he cultivated a philosophy that consists of surrendering to nature and its laws. In this book, he therefore opposes the industrial exploitation of the land and advocates for wild farming (that is to say, the practice of agriculture in a "disorganized" way and in wild environments), which, while requiring less work, aims to preserve the health of the soil and, he claimed, would guarantee yields similar to or higher than those of industrial agriculture. Isn't that an approach based on humility from which we should all draw inspiration?
Plants to prioritize
Are you the type to get confused when it comes to untangling the different types of plants and flowers? Don't worry, you're not alone! Perennials, annuals, biennials, self-seeding annuals... We’ll demystify that for you, quick as a flash!
Note that all the flowers and plants we are talking about here will be reborn on their own year after year. That is somewhat the key to this whole story: a mixture of perennial or annual and/or self-seeding biennial flowers represents a judicious choice that will ensure the genuine colonization of the soil, and this, in the long term. Nature will take care of the rest!
Important
We suggest that you favor seeds from wild plants (native and naturalized). That means they are either native to here or from elsewhere, but have been part of our ecosystem for a long time. Why? To respect biodiversity and contribute to it without disrupting the local balance.
Annuals and biennials
These are plants whose life cycle lasts only one year (annuals) or 2 years (biennials). You must therefore select species that reseed themselves, quite simply! Those that do not reseed or do so very little should be reserved for landscaping that requires our care, year after year. You can therefore opt for:
- field pansy
- sunflower
- dandelion (want some rebellion?)
- borage
- white sweet clover
- jewelweed
- great mullein
- Canada fleabane
- wild tobacco
- shepherd's purse
Perennials
Perennials are plants that grow back every spring. Their longevity varies from 2 to 8 years. When we think perennials, we think:
- yarrow
- milkweed
- pearly everlasting
- anise hyssop
- aster (large-leaved, New England)
- burdock
- chicory
- comfrey
- echinacea
- orange hawkweed
- blue flag iris
- St. John's wort
- musk mallow
- daisy
- wild bergamot
- black-eyed Susan
- tansy
- red clover
- goldenrod
- plantain
Many of these varieties even bloom all summer long!
Note that some of these flowers and plants require cold treatment (this is what is called "cold stratification" or "vernalization"). We therefore normally sow them in the fall! You can thus make yourself seed bombs specifically for the fall. If you sow them in the spring, these seeds will simply go dormant and germinate the following spring! Did we tell you that nature is well-designed? Milkweed, echinacea, and St. John's wort are among the little wonders that love the cold!
Making your own seed bombs
So, if you too are in the mood to bring joy to pollinators and an entire ecosystem, make some seed bombs and toss them onto the ground in vacant lots, on the side of the road, or in little urban corners lacking color.
Yield: about 30 cherry-sized bombs
INGREDIENTS
- 3 tbsp. of wild flower seeds of your choice (see our suggestions above)
- 6 tbsp. of substrate (soil or compost)
- 9 tbsp. of clay (grey, white or green) or clay soil if you have it available
- 1 to 3 tbsp. of water
DIRECTIONS
Pour the seeds, substrate, and clay into a bowl and mix everything together.
Slowly add just enough water to form a paste with the consistency of cookie dough. The amount of water needed varies depending on the type of clay used and the consistency of the soil or compost added to the mixture. So, make sure to add it slowly and check the consistency of the mixture frequently.
Form cherry-sized balls by rolling a small amount of the mixture between your hands.
Let dry for 24 to 48 hours.
Sow the seed bombs in sunny areas and preferably before a rain.
Pro tip
"Flour" your hands with a little soil or compost before rolling your bombs. It will stick less and you won't waste any of the mixture or seeds!
How does it work? By the grace of God?
Now, you’re thinking: "Come on, why not just chuck seeds to the wind? Is it really necessary to make these bombs?" We don't recommend throwing seeds willy-nilly onto vacant lots since the weather conditions at the time might not suit their needs and they would have no protection while waiting for those ideal conditions. Some are also very light and would blow away without being able to penetrate the soil and germinate. In short, they would be left at the mercy of the elements and might ultimately not be able to populate the chosen plot.
The principle of the seed bomb is quite simple: the compost or soil provides the mixture with the nutrients necessary for seed germination, while the clay binds everything together and ensures the material integrity of the bomb during its journey. The seeds germinate inside the bomb, which itself begins to disintegrate, and they slowly take root in the underlying soil. Those that do not yet benefit from the ideal conditions to germinate in the open air simply go dormant and wait for their turn. Isn't life well-designed? All this can take weeks, or even months: everything in its own time. Nature knows much better than we do what it needs.
Opinions differ as to how to dispose of these bombs: some believe that the clay they are made of is enough to ensure they are solid enough to withstand a steep fall to the ground, while others believe that this is not the case and that it is better to place them on the ground. We will therefore let you evaluate the best option based on the type of terrain where you are leaving them, the temperature, and their cruising speed in flight (understand: your throwing strength!). Compromise: toss them, but gently, haha!
Tossing your bombs conscientiously
Regreening and reflowering vacant lots and roadsides comes with certain responsibilities. Indeed, it will be necessary to determine if the chosen environment is sunny and favorable to the growth of your seeds, and to avoid sowing seeds of exotic and invasive plants that could prove to be very bad news for the biodiversity of the environments where they are sown. Double your caution and take a vigilant and informed look at your selection.
Also look for places where the soil is conducive to germination: places with bare soil and sparse vegetation. A wasteland with dense vegetation on the ground is not a good idea because there won't be enough light for germination and the competition between plants will be too strong.
You must also be aware of the concept of private property. You cannot gleefully go onto just any vacant lot to sow plants. Do a few quick checks before throwing your bombs to ensure you aren't doing anything illegal.
Conclusion
You might not realize it, but your small gesture could very well embody the genesis of green fields and roadsides that will become new living environments for local fauna and flora or will directly contribute to the restoration of ecosystems in poor health. It's a matter of giving nature a few years to reclaim its rights, all in beauty and gentleness. And at the origin of it all will be your little bomb. Oh, how beautiful, life is beautiful!
References
https://seeds.ca/d/?t=2e72457200002881
https://theecologist.org/2011/may/04/what-seedbomb
https://espacepourlavie.ca/attirer-les-pollinisateurs-au-potager
https://www.ecoumene.com/cycle-de-vie/annuelle-qui-se-resseme/
https://jardinierparesseux.com/tag/fines-herbes-qui-se-ressement/
