THG said it would be a good idea to have a seed ball thread, ill make it simple first so everyone can get the idea.
here are a few links to get you up to date on what they are and why.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060413224840/www.seedballs.com/3seedpa.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_ball
and a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptIttqU1H8Y
got to run will try and post more later. feel free to add any info you like about seed balls.
Here's the earliest thread I can find, from Fall 2008: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=53693
There's another, longer one around here, attached to a poll (ha ha weak joke). Gotta go find the url....
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=114616
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "Fukuoka seed balls" yielded 4 results.
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "seed balls" yielded 75 results.
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "seed bombs" yielded 13 results.
I'm at a loss as to why anyone would recommend starting a new one; why not read the previous several dozen and add to them???
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
There's another, longer one around here, attached to a poll (ha ha weak joke). Gotta go find the url....
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=114616
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "Fukuoka seed balls" yielded 4 results.
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "seed balls" yielded 75 results.
A "Search the Forum" for the phrase "seed bombs" yielded 13 results.
I'm at a loss as to why anyone would recommend starting a new one; why not read the previous several dozen and add to them???
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
- brambleoak
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I'm happy to see there's a thread on this ..... I didn't think to search for one, being a newbie and all. Happy to get this info and I'm definitely going to try this method! Thanks for sharing!
soil wrote:THG said it would be a good idea to have a seed ball thread, ill make it simple first so everyone can get the idea.
here are a few links to get you up to date on what they are and why.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060413224840/www.seedballs.com/3seedpa.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_ball
and a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptIttqU1H8Y
got to run will try and post more later. feel free to add any info you like about seed balls.
- brambleoak
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- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:38 pm
- Location: Zone 4 - Wisconsin
- brambleoak
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- Location: Zone 4 - Wisconsin
- rainbowgardener
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Nope not for decoration.... they don't stick around long enough to be very decorative anyway.
Here's from the wiki article that was referenced in the first post:
Seedballs have use in nearly any climate region in which plants can grow, for reseeding ecosystems into areas of man-made-deserts, for avoiding seed eaters, and for protecting seeds until long-duration rains fall to soak the clay ball, stimulating the seeds with the moisture, and washing away some of the clay off the top of the ball. The seeds inside then germinate in the best possible plant establishment conditions available in each climate-region.
So you can throw your seed balls out in fall or early spring, the seeds within are protected and packed in with their own food source. Keeps the seeds from drying out, being eaten, etc.
Also useful for seed bombing... https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21394&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=seed+bombing&start=0
where people throw seed balls onto vacant lots to help green them up...
Here's from the wiki article that was referenced in the first post:
Seedballs have use in nearly any climate region in which plants can grow, for reseeding ecosystems into areas of man-made-deserts, for avoiding seed eaters, and for protecting seeds until long-duration rains fall to soak the clay ball, stimulating the seeds with the moisture, and washing away some of the clay off the top of the ball. The seeds inside then germinate in the best possible plant establishment conditions available in each climate-region.
So you can throw your seed balls out in fall or early spring, the seeds within are protected and packed in with their own food source. Keeps the seeds from drying out, being eaten, etc.
Also useful for seed bombing... https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21394&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=seed+bombing&start=0
where people throw seed balls onto vacant lots to help green them up...
I'm glad someone posted this as well. I know I could have used the "search bar" but I always forget to check into things like this.
Cynthia, it looks like your post demonstrating the needlessness of this thread contributed to making it a necessity .
75 results......what's one more ?
Here's a hi-tech version of the seed ball that's being used for [url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/aerial-reforestation2.htm]aeria reforestation[/url].
Cynthia, it looks like your post demonstrating the needlessness of this thread contributed to making it a necessity .
75 results......what's one more ?
Here's a hi-tech version of the seed ball that's being used for [url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/aerial-reforestation2.htm]aeria reforestation[/url].
Always glad to be of assistance.garden5 wrote:I'm glad someone posted this as well. I know I could have used the "search bar" but I always forget to check into things like this.
Cynthia, it looks like your post demonstrating the needlessness of this thread contributed to making it a necessity .
75 results......what's one more ?
Cynthia
- rainbowgardener
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woo hoo gave it a run yesterday and make about 5000 seedballs in 20 minutes. mostly winter wheat, but also kale, broccoli, arugula, bok choy, lettuce, snow peas, and a few other greens.
its so much easier than shaping each one by hand, ill never do that junk again.
ill have to make a drawing of the machine and post it. or get a friend to take a pic on his camera or phone.
its so much easier than shaping each one by hand, ill never do that junk again.
ill have to make a drawing of the machine and post it. or get a friend to take a pic on his camera or phone.
-
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bleh too lazy to do that. ill just explain it.
materials
a wood base( I used scrap plywood )
a back stop ( I used a 2x4 scrap)
a 5 gallon bucket
youll need some of these wheels ( https://product-image.tradeindia.com/00143615/b/0/Trolley-Wheels.jpg) or anything you can make do the same job.
something to make a crank ( I used scrap pvc pieces )
start with the base, it needs to be a little bigger than the bucket when on its side. from there you need to mount the wheels so each one is leaning outwards. this will keep the bucket from moving all over the place sideways. space them far enough to where the bucket sits on the wheels and spins freely when turned. the front ones should catch on the lip of the bucket, now you need a back to stop the bucket from sliding forwards and backwards, this also holds the crank in place. drill a hole in the center of the bottom of the bucket. set the bucket on the wheels, there should be a lip near the top of the bucket that should catch on the front wheels. from there space the backing 1/2-3/4 inch behind where the bucket sets. drill a hole where the hole in the bucket meets the backing. from there the crank needs to be hooked on good in the hole on the bucket, it needs to go out from the back of the bucket, through the backing hole and out an extra inch, down a few inches and then back out.
from there it is pretty much done.
to use lift the front lip up some so the seeds stay in rather than roll out.
its best to do batches of seeds. like all small seeds, all medium, all big. and then mix them for broadcasting.
to make seedballs
-add seeds and spray until moist with a spray bottle
-add dry powdered compost/clay mix enough to dry them out and coat once
-repeat with the spray and then followed by more clay/compost mix until desired seed coating thickness is achieved.
set to dry and broadcast as needed.
for those who only need the basics and want to make their own.
-bucket spins sideways on wheels
-crank spins bucket
materials
a wood base( I used scrap plywood )
a back stop ( I used a 2x4 scrap)
a 5 gallon bucket
youll need some of these wheels ( https://product-image.tradeindia.com/00143615/b/0/Trolley-Wheels.jpg) or anything you can make do the same job.
something to make a crank ( I used scrap pvc pieces )
start with the base, it needs to be a little bigger than the bucket when on its side. from there you need to mount the wheels so each one is leaning outwards. this will keep the bucket from moving all over the place sideways. space them far enough to where the bucket sits on the wheels and spins freely when turned. the front ones should catch on the lip of the bucket, now you need a back to stop the bucket from sliding forwards and backwards, this also holds the crank in place. drill a hole in the center of the bottom of the bucket. set the bucket on the wheels, there should be a lip near the top of the bucket that should catch on the front wheels. from there space the backing 1/2-3/4 inch behind where the bucket sets. drill a hole where the hole in the bucket meets the backing. from there the crank needs to be hooked on good in the hole on the bucket, it needs to go out from the back of the bucket, through the backing hole and out an extra inch, down a few inches and then back out.
from there it is pretty much done.
to use lift the front lip up some so the seeds stay in rather than roll out.
its best to do batches of seeds. like all small seeds, all medium, all big. and then mix them for broadcasting.
to make seedballs
-add seeds and spray until moist with a spray bottle
-add dry powdered compost/clay mix enough to dry them out and coat once
-repeat with the spray and then followed by more clay/compost mix until desired seed coating thickness is achieved.
set to dry and broadcast as needed.
for those who only need the basics and want to make their own.
-bucket spins sideways on wheels
-crank spins bucket
-
- Super Green Thumb
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Sheesh!
I would use a pipe floor flange to connect the crank to bucket.
https://www.fdsons.com/black-iron-fittings-black-floor-flange-c-22_204_206_2558.html
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20DDF%20-%20Helpful%20Gardener%20Misc/Seedballtumbler.jpg[/img]
Soil, Is the bucket level or pitched down like a concrete mixer.
Eric
I would use a pipe floor flange to connect the crank to bucket.
https://www.fdsons.com/black-iron-fittings-black-floor-flange-c-22_204_206_2558.html
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20DDF%20-%20Helpful%20Gardener%20Misc/Seedballtumbler.jpg[/img]
Soil, Is the bucket level or pitched down like a concrete mixer.
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
yup thats pretty much it, except there are four wheels. two front and two back.
thats what we used to connect it too, except its a small plastic one.
now the only thing that would make it better is if a person could stand in front of it, and spin it themselves. I'm thinking foot power somehow like hooked up to a bike pedal system.
otherwise its best operated by two people.
the front end is pitched up like a cement mixer yes. or all of the seeds would just roll out. you want them all mostly in the back end. this is where they tumble best.
thats what we used to connect it too, except its a small plastic one.
now the only thing that would make it better is if a person could stand in front of it, and spin it themselves. I'm thinking foot power somehow like hooked up to a bike pedal system.
otherwise its best operated by two people.
the front end is pitched up like a cement mixer yes. or all of the seeds would just roll out. you want them all mostly in the back end. this is where they tumble best.
-
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- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 6113
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm
You will need a little scooper attached to one of the pedals. As it comes around it scoops a little clay mixture and flings it into the bucket. You will have to pedal backward to make it workRe: one person operation, I had a vision of a stationary exer-cycle fitted with a carnival water balloon shooter with mist attachment affixed to the handle bars....
Eric
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[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20DDF%20-%20Helpful%20Gardener%20Misc/Seedballtumbler001.jpg[/img]
You may need to add a weight to the bucket to act like a flywheel.
Eric
You may need to add a weight to the bucket to act like a flywheel.
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I'm still not understanding this method completely. I am mostly interested in vegetable gardening. Does this method work well for veggies? If you were to make seed balls for the above veggies would they just be scattered randomly in your garden bed then? And do you mix different seeds together or keep one type of seed in one ball?soil wrote:woo hoo gave it a run yesterday and make about 5000 seedballs in 20 minutes. mostly winter wheat, but also kale, broccoli, arugula, bok choy, lettuce, snow peas, and a few other greens.