Seed Bombing Illegal?

[The Helpful Gardener]

Fukuoka-san's gift to the world, seed balls, have spawned the guerilla gardening tactic of seed bombing. It appears there may be legal ramifications here.

So what's everybody think?

HG

[cynthia_h]

It's so sad to see Fukuoka-sensei's gentle terminology, seed balls, corrupted with the terms of war. Looking at the link you provide, I see such materiel offered as grenades, bombs, revolver ammunition, long-distance projectiles, etc., and the act of encasing seeds within a protective clay/compost mix (so that they'll have a better start in life) described as "making seed bombs."

BOMBS???!!!

In Gardening???!!!

Fukuoka-sensei, who joined his ancestors last August at the age of 95, surely must be staggered at this subversion (dare I say, perversion?) of his brilliant idea.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[rainbowgardener]

My first reaction was with cynthia to hate the idea of shaping seed balls into grenades and revolvers. But I love the idea of guerrilla gardening and the more I thought about taking yourself seriously as a subversive gardener, not just planting flowers, but undermining the system, the more I saw the humor and street theater of it all.

I'm all for planting flowers and undermining the system, but the above said, I'm still a non-violent revolutionary. If I take it up, I'll shape my seed balls in to valentines and "bomb" public spaces with flowering hearts!

[a0c8c]

I could only agree with this if they made sure they only spread local seeds. The big problem with eco terrorists like these is they mean well, but don't do enough research into what they're doing. They wanna spread flowers everywhere but usually spread non native species which end up hurting the local environment instead of helping it. It's like the anti whaling groups who throw smoke bombs and stink bombs on whaling ships and pollute the ocean in the process.

[Kisal]

I care what grows on my property. If I caught someone in my yard tossing any kind of seed around, I wouldn't even speak to them. I'd just release my dogs.

[rainbowgardener]

I take it from the articles in the link, they are seed bombing public spaces, not private property.

[The Helpful Gardener]

A distinction made publicly, but who knows? Vacant lots are often so tied up in legalities even cities can't figure out who owns them, and I hear these are prime targets....

HG

[Kisal]

The "legal ramifications" article mentioned seed-bombers being caught by property owners. That's what I was responding to.

I'm really not a nasty person. Besides, that's my pooch Angus in my avatar. All he'd do is slobber all over a trespasser, while trying to mooch a treat. My other dog, Daisy, would just dance around and bark. It's not like I have a couple of guard dogs here!

[The Helpful Gardener]

Even siccing dogs has a range of degrees that makes final judgements difficult...

HG

[Kisal]

Well, knowing Angus and Daisy, they'd end up eating any seed balls they found lying around. Eating is their passion!

[syntheticbutterfly]

I heard of this a few years ago and think its fun, but as with anything people need to remember their responsibilities as well as their rights. If each individual who does this respects the property of others(restricting seed bombing to parks for example and not entering someone's obviously private property) and behave in a respectable manner I don't think they'd find many problems. Another thing I'd suggest to people who do this is that if someone asks what you are up to, take a calm attitude when explaining and don't be aggressive- you never know you may even turn someone round to your way of thinking.

Its the same with dumpster divers- some will do this with respect for the property they are on, and don't have problems. Its those who make a mess and attract attention that have problems.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Okay, let's talk specifics...

What about a brownfield still owned about the company that polluted it, but abandoned for years?

Whay about that foreclosed house that the bank isn't maintaining?

What about that guy next door with the cars rotting in his yard?

All "privately" owned properties. To seed ball or not to seed ball?

And what does everybody thinink about the proposals to make ACTUAL seed bombsfor reclaimation work?

HG

[gixxerific]

It's a whole lot better than what my neighbor wanted to do the guy up the road that made him mad he wanted to throw "Total vegetation killer" bombs in his yard. I talked him out of it of course.

About the seed bombs that is a hard one. Are they invasive species are they actually going to "pretty' up the traget in question are they doing this out of love for mother earth or just to be jerks will it actually help.

How about getting volunteers to go and plant in an organized, constructive manner instead of a chaotic one. That would be so much better for everyone involved.

[The Helpful Gardener]

I dunno Gixx.

Nature doesn't plant in order; it very much plants in chaos and lets systems sort it out. Nature doesn't care about the organization, .and seems to do fine.

Let's say for the sake of my examples, we are using regional natives, and have no "legal" access to the properties. There has been no indication that they are going to do anything with the property for some time...

HG

[gixxerific]

By organized I mean the right plants in the right place Xeriscaping if you would. I was thinking about doing it in way that would benefit nature more than anything.

Fine, I actually couldn't believe I posted that, being an anarchist or at least a wanna be anarchist is there such a thing? Let's go bomb the 'edited' out of everything in site, we'll get some tequila it will be a good time.

You think I'm joking..............................