Seed ball
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Seed balls, also known as "earth balls" or nendo dango and tsuchi dango (粘土 団子 and 土 団子 in Japanese), consist of a variety of different seeds rolled within a ball of clay, preferably volcanic plastic red clay. Into this medium various additives may be included, such as humus or compost. These are placed around the seeds, at the center of the ball, to provide microbial inoculants. Cotton-fibres or liquified paper are sometimes mixed into the clay in order to strengthen it, or liquified paper mash coated on the outside to further protect the clay ball during sowing by throwing, or in particularly harsh habitats.
The technique for creating seed balls was developed by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka.[1] Generally about 5 measures of red clay by volume are combined with one measure of seeds. The balls are formed between 10mm and 80mm (about 0.4 to 3.15 inches) in diameter.[2]
Seed balls have use in nearly any region where plants can grow: for reseeding ecosystems into areas of man-made deserts, avoiding seed eating insects and animals and protecting seeds until rains fall to soak the clay ball and stimulate the seeds. Seeds contained in such balls then germinate in ideal conditions for each climate/region.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Adler, Margot (April 15, 2009). "Environmentalists Adopt New Weapon: Seed Balls". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103129515. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
- ^ Mixtures by Fukuoka Masanobu in his patent for advanced seedballs, titled "Paper/seed-unified planting seed unit and preparation process thereof"
[edit] External links
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- "What's a clay ball?" and "Clay Ball Method" advice derived directly from Fukuoka Masanobu by The RainMaker Project, a major project in Africa by Yokohama Art Project, Japanese NGO.
- Masanobu Fukuoka re-invented seedballs (in this era), this is his patent for advanced seedballs, titled "Paper/seed-unified planting seed unit and preparation process thereof"; There's his previous earlier Japanese patent for less advanced seedballs - where's that?
- Making Seed Balls, by Jim Bones, he learned personally from Fukuoka Masanobu and from his books.
- "Seed Balls by Masanobu Fukuoka 1997" YouTube 18:43 long video, caption: "Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan."
- Making Hay with Clay - Greece
- The who, what, how of seedballs
- How to make seedballs
- 'On Seedballs', a website dedicated to seedballs
- Seed Bomb R&D forum come read and discuss about seed balls.
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