Comments on: Seed bombs: Make the world greener while forcing your philosophy on others

By: sackaveli

sackaveli — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:02:06 +0000

If we really care about the earth we need to think about what we plant and where we plant it. This type of planting, although on the surface looks as if it is a positive thing, can be very dangerous. Ecosystems are very fragile and planting hoards of non-native species by this manner creates unnatural imbalances. In other words invasive species could easily be spread by doing this. And above all remember that most the plants that we all think are beautiful were not meant to be spread across the entire world. They should be beautiful in the land that they originate in. Otherwise we get problems like that of Kudzu, Japanese bush honeysuckle, winter creeper and many other countless invasive problems. Please before you plant anything think of the Ecosystem and how that plant might spread. It is more important than you might think.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:56:18 +0000

And yes it was researched for native species. it is important to know what you are doing before you act.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:53:37 +0000

i have eco-friends that have “bombed” the gene laced fields of corn in hawaii with these. they work well in planting things where you can’t go but can throw. Just throw it and watch it grow. Disruption is not a bad thing.

By: Maui Mike

Maui Mike — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:31:03 +0000

Sorry to rain on the “green parade”, but Mr. JR is right: we don’t need more invasive species, even on so-called “brownfield plots.” Please choose your seed species carefully.

Invasive plant species are a very real and SERIOUS problem throughout the Western Hemisphere and Oceania. Where I live (Maui, Hawai’i), more than 40 percent of all “wild” plant species are classified as “weeds” and invasives. These trespassers out-compete native and indigenous species so effectively because they propagate quickly and create a desolate “monochromatic” landscape that eliminates the natural, biologically diverse balance of a patch of ground.

Unfortunately, here in Hawai’i most of the attractive flowering plants are invasive species that entrepreneurs and private gardeners have introduced as ornamental species; these plants escaped (easy-peasie for any plant worth its seedpods)and went nuts in the warm climate and fertile volcanic soils of the Islands.

If you MUST be a seed bomber, do some research beforehand and spread only native, naturalized, or indigenous seed species. Malama aina!

By: sara

sara — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:12:55 +0000

yes! I live in alabama. red clay is EVERYWHERE.
definitley doing this.

By: Jazzy

Jazzy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:05:51 +0000

I am going to do this with my kids, such a great way to teach them how to be green and have fun at the same time.

By: Normal

Normal — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:42:51 +0000

Don’t you have something better to do with your time?

By: Rio

Rio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:11:24 +0000

Invasive plants are just fine, as long as they’re edible. Yum!

By: jer

jer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:07:38 +0000

PLEASE USE NATIVE SEEDS ONLY!!!
WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE INVASIVE PLANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Wolfie Rankin

Wolfie Rankin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:28:25 +0000

Makes me wonder though if these things work.

The balls are a bit wet when you start and the seeds must begin to grow, surely? then when thrown, the roots may not be in the ground so the flowers would just die.

And yes, make sure you’re not planting weeds in a pristine area, any plant not in it’s right place could be called a weed.

Americans love to talk about growing Ivy, Morning Glory and Lantana, but tell that to an Australian and they’d be horrified.

And that includes the “Tickle Me” plant which is Mimosa Pudica, The Sensitive Plant. Also considered a noxious week in Australia and possibly in other tropical regions.

Wolfie!

By: Fern

Fern — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:34:23 +0000

It’s kind of un-hippyish to want to force your ideas on someone…

By: Kevbro

Kevbro — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:42:22 +0000

FYI-
there are no “abandoned brown fields near the river”. You can rest assured in knowing that if it isn’t private property, it’s owned by the state and neither state nor private owners want trespassers randomly planting things.
Don’t get me wrong, the world is far from being green enough. I live on 8 acres of Ozark mountains and am surrounded by hundreds of pristine forests. My “yard” consists of a variety of native grasses, trees and brush and I’d be most upset if someone drove by and tossed seed bombs of any kind.
If you’re going to practice this “seed bombing” of property other than your own, I’d highly suggest you do your research. If you think people with good intentions can’t screw things up, just contact your state wildlife management agency and ask them to share the poor judgment horror stories.

By: Kevbro

Kevbro — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:10:07 +0000

Forcing ones philosophy on others is wrong regardless of intent.
Plants native to an area will grow whether you plant “seed bombs” or not and the planting of non-indigenous plants no matter how attractive or harmless they may appear can sometimes have devastating effects on the existing ecosystem.
So before you go flinging seed bombs in the nearest McMansion neighborhood yards, I’d suggest you sit back and consider how you’d appreciate them coming into your yard and tossing a molotov cocktail of pesticides.
Besides, no matter how hard you may try to show 3 SUV owning John Doe how lovely flowers growing on his highly manicured lawn can be, chances are you’ll most likely end up disappointed when he plows over them with his 24 horse powered Cub Cadet riding mower.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:20:07 +0000

Another great kid- friendly activity your readers would enjoy is to grow a TickleMe Plant from seeds and then watching the plant MOVE when Tickled! As a first grade teacher I no longer plant Lima beans, as the growing of this interactive plant, proved to be much more exciting and educational for my student’s.
I found my supplies for a classroom kit at http://www.ticklemeplant.com but they also sell individual greenhouses with everything you need to grow your own TickleMe Plant from seeds. I assure you your kids will be more excited about gardening, and its just fun to watch the expressions of the faces of children (and even adults) when they see the plant close its leaves and droop when tickled,

By: Godless

Godless — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:24:55 +0000

Make “weed bombs” OVERGROW the world!!!

By: julie

julie — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:02:16 +0000

isnt it amazing how flowers just PISS OFF some people?
Amazing, and _quite_ amusing.

And yes, please, seed bombs on my grave is a great idea. Hope you’ll have to wait a while to do so, but what a nice thought. And since I’ll be very dead, it wont matter at all to me where your dog pisses.

What a silly person.

By: Barney Frank

Barney Frank — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:53:05 +0000

Can’t wait till all you flower children die off and take your failed socialistic views with you.

I be sure to drop some seed bombs on your graves (after my dog pisses on you first).

By: Pseudo

Pseudo — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:22:11 +0000

Come on hippies, make and spread “bombs;” let’s see how long you enjoy your freedom.

By: Uncle B

Uncle B — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:30:16 +0000

Cut a small hole in your pocket,close it with a bow tied string, walk slowly among some dog walkers, pull the string to freak them out! Daisies are nice this time of year, but carrots are fun too!

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:30:12 +0000

thank you for the recepy, I have been collecting seeds from wild plants, especally in autum you can just pick them easily.

Here in Cologne we have a few places which are called “Brache”, they are left without care so they became nice wild oecosystems with native plants.
Now I know how to spread them seeds around without beeing picked by birds ore moved away from the wind. I would like to open a list of wellworking seeds and of course pics to see the results.
Very nice are the seeds of common flax or linseed (Linum usitatissimum) They come as nice blue flowers and as far as I know will multipy next the year.
guten Tag
Paula