Earth Day Seed Bombs: Grow a Little Love for the Planet
To celebrate Earth Day, I get to read a favorite book, It Starts with a Seed, in one of my son’s classes and teach them how to make seed bombs. We did a test run this morning at home, and they turned out great! This is one of my favorite activities because it’s a hands-on way to teach kids about gardening, native plants, and helping our planet.
Here’s a little how-to for you to make your own:
Materials You’ll Need
Compost
Powdered clay
Seeds (native plants and pollinators work best—we did sunflowers and milkweed for large seeds, and California poppies, yarrow, and flax for small seeds)
Water
Bowls
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mix the Base: In a large bowl, mix together 5 cups of compost with 3 cups of powdered clay.
Add Water: Slowly mix in water until you get a clay-like, moldable consistency. You want it to hold its shape without being too soggy.
Form a Block: Once the mixture is ready, roll it into a large block.
Hand Out Supplies: Give each child about an almond-sized piece of the compost/clay mixture. Then, give them a few large seeds (2-3) and a handful of smaller seeds (5-6).
Press in the Seeds: Have each child press the large seeds into the center of their compost mixture ball.
Coat with Small Seeds: Next, have them press the smaller seeds into the outside of the seed ball.
Let Them Dry: Leave the seed bombs to dry in a sunny spot for a day or two until they are hard.
Plant! To "plant" your seed bombs, simply place them in shallow holes in your garden or a pot.
Water and Wait: Water them lightly and watch for your new plants to pop up!
We've been reading It Starts with a Seed since Weston was born (hence the stains on the cover!), and the boys both still love it. It's an awesome book that follows a sycamore seed as it grows into a giant tree and a home for animals.
This activity is a great way to get outside, get your hands dirty, and help create a little more beauty in the world. I hope you and your family have fun with it!
More ways to create beauty in the world?
If you loved making these seed bombs, you’ll be an expert at our other nature-based craft. Check out our post on DIY Rainforest Terrarium: An Easy Earth Day Craft for a fun, hands-on project that lets you bring a little bit of the wild indoors!