MAKE | Guerilla gardening – seed bombs (of love)

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By Patti Schiendelman
Posted 2008/06/26 @ 8:35 pm
Category Energy, Gardening, Kids & Family

I’m a big fan of guerilla gardening – neglected or abandoned urban spaces can be pretty bleak, it’s neat when people take the time to brighten things up. Heavy Petal Gardening has an easy recipe for Seed bombs – make sure you use seeds that are native to your area. (I especially like the way these look – people will think there have been dung beetles around.)

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7 Responses to Guerilla gardening – seed bombs (of love)

The Oracle. on July 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 am said:

From dictionary.com for WEED:
2. any undesirable or troublesome plant, esp. one that grows profusely where it is not wanted: The vacant lot was covered with weeds.

So, by definition, make now promotes planting weeds in public space. The downhill slide continues.

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Patti Schiendelman on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 am said:

Well, I’m thinking a vacant lot is already covered with weeds – that’s what I meant by neglected or abandoned, that nobody is caring for it – and making it look nicer makes people care about their neighborhoods more. It’s not turning off someone’s tv or messing up their vacation photos (I’m one of those people who doesn’t *get* the tv-b-gone). Planting flowers is a value-added project.

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d*pow on July 3rd, 2008 at 10:09 am said:

definition Oracle: a prophet, an authoritative person who divines the future.

hating on flowers? the future of abandoned lots will be a bleak space with native plants. sounds delightful.

thanks for your insight, Oracle.

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Mike on July 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pm said:

It would have been better to see a before and after picture of how they worked.

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Zach on July 7th, 2008 at 7:04 pm said:

Seems to me that somebody *does* want these growing, so they’re not weeds, right?

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AW on July 8th, 2008 at 11:52 am said:

Clever idea, so long as you’re using non-invasive plants. This can apparently be done in bulk (instead of by hand) by using a rotating drum. Doesn’t look too difficult to Make. There’s a video of it here:

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Alex Steed on July 10th, 2008 at 8:16 am said:

I spoke with Erik Knutzen, author of (the book) Urban Homestead and (the blog) Homegrown Evolution. His book is fantastic and filled with different suggestions/schematics for things like the seed bomb. He was a really good guy in the interview:

http://makesomethinghappen.net/2008/07/10/mshcast-5-erik-knutzen-guerrilla-gardening-and-urban-homesteading/

Check out the book and web-site. They’re well worth your time.

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