Seed balls, also known as “earth balls” consist of a variety of different seeds (we chose native and wild and on the verge of extinction seeds) rolled within a ball of clay. 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. Sometimes neem powder mixed with ash is also included in the mixture to prevent decay of seed.
The technique for creating seed balls was rediscovered by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka. Fukuoka, who lived on the mountainous island of Shikoku, wanted to find a technique that would increase food production without taking away from the land already allocated for traditional rice production.
Such seed balls, ideally need to be bombed or dropped on barren, unreachable by humans, difficult to manually plant lands and valleys. (Ideally to be dropped by trekkers and children who are on a picnic)
Introducing a nature-related activity for tiny tots is always a brilliant idea and seed ball making expert Mrs. Bharti Hardi and The Principal of Sambhrama school, Mrs. Kshama Kulkarni structured and implemented the same.
Some dos and don’ts
1. Collect organic seeds when they drop from the tree, avoid buying from stores
2. Dry them thoroughly in sunlight so as to avoid moisture contamination
3. Use native seeds, or seeds of those trees found outside temples(gulmohar, vad, pimpal, mandar, gulbaksh) or fruit seeds like ramfal, jamun, jackfruit, mango, karvande)
1. Do not plant these in pots, they are made for areas not reachable to us.
2. Do not opt for exotic plants. Wild Indian are the best.
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