seedballs, Seedballs, SEEDBALLS!
The salesgal asked me what I was doing. Started to explain, and she laughed and cut me off and said "you mean seed balls? who is writing about this stuff? 50 people called me about seedballs this month!". Of course I told her it was Fukuoka-san.
so they knew exactly what to send me. lol that is joyful news. Some pottery supply place in upstate NY gets 50 calls a month for seedballs.
Last edited by Toil on Sat May 29, 2010 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
we're about 45/45 sand and silt, 10% clay. The fine sand is everywhere here. You leave something unmulched or uncovered, don't connect to the subsoil, add a slope, and it acts like an organic matter slab shaped sieve that leaves you with nothing but sand as it generally erodes anyway.
no seedballs happening there.
no seedballs happening there.
- Ozark Lady
- Greener Thumb
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- Location: NW Arkansas, USA zone 7A elevation 1561 feet
I even got clay when I hauled the first load of topsoil. Even mixed 50/50 with sawdust, I could have made pottery! (joking) But it was like modelling clay, when it got wet.
The second load from another place looks better, but my husband asked, why did you haul home clay again! It isn't! I hope.
Sand is in short supply around here, wonder if we got a rock tumbler of some sort? Or smash them in some way?
The second load from another place looks better, but my husband asked, why did you haul home clay again! It isn't! I hope.
Sand is in short supply around here, wonder if we got a rock tumbler of some sort? Or smash them in some way?
so far, I dumped every old food seed I had into a bowl and made some with those.
I did some big corn and squash, and big bean. They will be chucked together for a three sisters seed ball experiment.
And I did some white clover nibs.
They are drying now, I'll take a shot, but I am supposed to be cleaning now for when my wife returns.
I'm waiting for wildflowers for dry areas, and I'm going to get some native grasses. I'm on the lookout for some spots where I can legally chuck them, and I'm spreading the technique as best I can to other people.
I did some big corn and squash, and big bean. They will be chucked together for a three sisters seed ball experiment.
And I did some white clover nibs.
They are drying now, I'll take a shot, but I am supposed to be cleaning now for when my wife returns.
I'm waiting for wildflowers for dry areas, and I'm going to get some native grasses. I'm on the lookout for some spots where I can legally chuck them, and I'm spreading the technique as best I can to other people.
here are some wildflower seedballs. My wife and I made all sorts of sizes and a few shapes. They are mostly native, but none are invasive. Its a mix buil for toughness. I wanted to get some good erosion control out of these. Perhaps next will be a natives only mix.
[img]https://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad137/toilpics/582b9b15.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad137/toilpics/582b9b15.jpg[/img]
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- gixxerific
- Super Green Thumb
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Tons of great seed ball clay here but the shipping would negate the whole principle.
By the way if you are looking for s legal place to throw them this how you go about that. While driving check both side view mirrors than the rear view just in case if you don't see anyone it is legal.
I admire your mission, keep us informed how it all turns out.
By the way if you are looking for s legal place to throw them this how you go about that. While driving check both side view mirrors than the rear view just in case if you don't see anyone it is legal.
I admire your mission, keep us informed how it all turns out.
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Ummm... I'd just like to point out that gixx is not a practicing attourney, or even completely sane, we think. Nice guy, but ...
And we need powdered clay for seed balls; even if we gathered it, how does one go about powdering the clay? Dry it and crush it? I just read that bit in One Straw, and it's vague on the topic...
HG
And we need powdered clay for seed balls; even if we gathered it, how does one go about powdering the clay? Dry it and crush it? I just read that bit in One Straw, and it's vague on the topic...
HG
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hey I'd love to know how other people do it.
what size seedballs and when and why?
your recipe?
method in the field?
favorite seeds?
failures?
successes?
do you collect seeds from native plants?
sneaky tricks?
When I am in my garden I keep them in a pouch made for dog treats. It is worn on the belt and has a drawstring that closes it shut. It's a handy, handy pouch. It's safe to have treat touching clay that rubs off the balls, but you have to be careful not to accidentally drop a leftover seedball you forgot to take out before the walk. Don't feed them to the dog either.
what size seedballs and when and why?
your recipe?
method in the field?
favorite seeds?
failures?
successes?
do you collect seeds from native plants?
sneaky tricks?
When I am in my garden I keep them in a pouch made for dog treats. It is worn on the belt and has a drawstring that closes it shut. It's a handy, handy pouch. It's safe to have treat touching clay that rubs off the balls, but you have to be careful not to accidentally drop a leftover seedball you forgot to take out before the walk. Don't feed them to the dog either.
- Sage Hermit
- Green Thumb
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WM, HG, there should be a seedball sticky, no?
So I have sneaky tip #2: on some surfaces, the red clay seedball sticks out like a sore thumb. Short of timing your bombing run with the rains, how to keep the balls low profile and still get the job done?
here is my trick - the shake and bake approach. Once your seedballs are dry, you moisten the outside with water, then you roll them in compost, or put them in a bag with compost and shake n bake.
Voilà! You have seedballs that are almost impossibe to spot, even when there are hundreds of them. This of course should never be used on land that is not yours. It's only so you don't have to look at those ugly seedballs on your beautiful and sterile bare earth while you wait for rain.
So I have sneaky tip #2: on some surfaces, the red clay seedball sticks out like a sore thumb. Short of timing your bombing run with the rains, how to keep the balls low profile and still get the job done?
here is my trick - the shake and bake approach. Once your seedballs are dry, you moisten the outside with water, then you roll them in compost, or put them in a bag with compost and shake n bake.
Voilà! You have seedballs that are almost impossibe to spot, even when there are hundreds of them. This of course should never be used on land that is not yours. It's only so you don't have to look at those ugly seedballs on your beautiful and sterile bare earth while you wait for rain.