Blake Ketchum

If you use local clay, make certain that it isn't weedy. Clay is often from low lying or riparian areas, which also collect a significantly weedy seed bank from large areas of land. The latent upland weed seeds can then grow when you remove them from the wet conditions and seed bomb upland with them. So be careful if you are not using the clay right where you collected it! Don't seed bomb it far or you're sure to spread weeds.

Most elementary schools do not recycle their clay. You can plan ahead with the art teacher and take that clay off their hands. Donate some seed balls to the school in return! That's what I do with my seed balls business. The clay will have no seeds, and helps the environment by putting the clay to a green end, rather than landfilling it.

We sell matrix made with our compost and recycled school art clay here; http://seed-balls.com/shop/details/seed-ball-matrix
. It's all ready for seeds, but I would imagine that most permies would like to make their own seed balls from scratch - very rewarding.

Have fun!

I see that this is an old post, but seems people surfing might run into it and find the information helpful.

Hi Folks,
I'm new here, and am exited to be a part of the community.

I am a Soil Scientist and a Web developer. I keep dogs, red wigglers, soldier flies, and a teenager. I love plants, birds, nature in general. Last year, I bought house on a rocky clayey 1/2 acre of kentucky bluegrass and weeds. I am working slowly on converting it to a mostly self-sustaining micro prairie, and maybe planting some some fruit and veggies as well. I am planning on using all no-till techniques for several reasons, sustainability and a bad back are on the top of the list.

I am also starting a small business that incorporates my interests in conservation, soil science, no-till ag, and web development. http://seed-balls.com. I want it to be an information hub for seed balls, as well as my modest online shop. I am very excited about it. I would love to have any feedback that you can provide.

I noticed a bit of a deficit in the scientific literature about the efficacy of seed balls. I am thinking of doing some small-scale pilot experiments of seed balls. The first questions that I think I will be working on are:

red clay vs grey clay

compost: clay ratio

number of seeds/seed ball

Looking forward to getting to know you!

My other hobbies are dog agility, propagation from spores & propagules (ferns, liverworts and mosses... not me), English concertina, and trumpet.