tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post5412162347038275467..comments2024-03-16T00:21:21.342-07:00Comments on GardenerScott: How to Make Seed Balls From Recycled PaperGardenerScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-71475175095548268602015-03-15T09:57:47.330-07:002015-03-15T09:57:47.330-07:00It is possible to dry the balls in a very low oven...It is possible to dry the balls in a very low oven. It wouldn't be much different than setting them out in the sun. The key is to only leave them in long enough for the paper to dry and not long enough to desiccate the seed.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-54521409026414513332015-03-15T04:41:32.627-07:002015-03-15T04:41:32.627-07:00to avoid germination thing, can we speed up the dr...to avoid germination thing, can we speed up the drying time by putting them in an oven on very low heat? like with making jerky? or would that destroy the seed? or make the germination worse? :/ thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-60258833126679663532013-10-07T16:13:18.462-07:002013-10-07T16:13:18.462-07:00Thanks, Ruby. I've actually found that much of...Thanks, Ruby. I've actually found that much of the paper from bills is thicker and tends to shred and break down better than newspaper when mixed with water. I wouldn't recommend using the shiny magazine pages. Though they are supposedly printed with organic ink and not the metal stuff of previous years, they still take longer to break down than plain paper.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-5907066186450799702013-10-07T13:36:38.576-07:002013-10-07T13:36:38.576-07:00Junk mail, bills, magazines, and other forms of pa...Junk mail, bills, magazines, and other forms of paper can be shredded and used for composting. Many homeowners have been doing it ever since. So, I am not surprised to see awesome ideas like this. Creating seed balls out of shredded papers is definitely wonderful; a great way to recycle papers. I hope more and more people discover other things we can do out of shredded papers. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.williamsdatamanagement.com/?p=scanning-on-demand" rel="nofollow">Ruby Badcoe @ Williams Data Management</a> <br />Rubyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16314434089797506245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-87565486054717677772013-02-05T08:15:19.841-08:002013-02-05T08:15:19.841-08:00Milliscent, in this preparation the paper isn'...Milliscent, in this preparation the paper isn't really a fertilizer, but rather a soil substitute. Paper is a good additive for compost piles because it is organic and will decompose easily. That attribute allows it to act as a temporary substitute for soil when making seed balls.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-46199553617656043212013-02-04T09:23:46.328-08:002013-02-04T09:23:46.328-08:00Great! First time to encounter this kind of experi...Great! First time to encounter this kind of experiment? I never thought that papers could be a good kind of fertilizers, but with this blog it makes me wonder that the small papers from <a href="http://www.shredder-depot.com/" rel="nofollow">paper shredder</a> is very useful. Very interesting!Milliscent Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14433319171442324444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-77560087913363391632013-02-01T15:30:20.195-08:002013-02-01T15:30:20.195-08:00Thanks for the info. Sounds like an easy way to do...Thanks for the info. Sounds like an easy way to do it if you don't want to burn out a blender. :)GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-15577745309144183112013-01-31T10:33:37.745-08:002013-01-31T10:33:37.745-08:00Instead of a countertop blender - you can use a ha...Instead of a countertop blender - you can use a hand blender. I have soaked shredded paper (from my office paper shredder) for 24-48 hours until it is mushy, then whizzed it with a hand blender right in the plastic box I was soaking the paper in - worked like a charm! We were doing paper sculptures - but I think we will try again and make seed bombs for valentines day! Thanks for the tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-68120965357076599492012-08-08T08:52:02.972-07:002012-08-08T08:52:02.972-07:00Jeff, that's a good question and something I w...Jeff, that's a good question and something I was concerned about too. That's why I recommend squeezing and patting as much water out as possible so the paper is just damp when you add the seeds, to minimize germination problems. On a drying rack, mine were dry in a day. I suspect some lighter, smaller seeds in a mix may begin germinating, but most other seeds shouldn't be affected by the brief exposure to moisture. For bulk seeds check out an online source. I like Baker Creek Heirloom seeds at www.rareseeds.com and Territorial Seed Co. at www.territorialseed.com.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-85775989283721865752012-08-08T00:19:16.174-07:002012-08-08T00:19:16.174-07:00Won't the seeds sprout within the balls while ...Won't the seeds sprout within the balls while drying? Also, other than buying seeds in those little packets which would get expensive, any suggestions as to where seeds can be bought in bulk?Jeffhttp://www.letseatsushi.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-47419288054782860092012-07-24T08:09:14.350-07:002012-07-24T08:09:14.350-07:00Jessica, best wishes for your wedding. The blender...Jessica, best wishes for your wedding. The blender is to shred the paper into small pieces while mixing it with water. You can achieve the same effect by tearing the paper into pieces that are as small as possible. Try stirring the water and little bits of paper with a fork to help shred them a little more.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-5448339887928486202012-07-24T06:53:00.379-07:002012-07-24T06:53:00.379-07:00Is there a way to mix everything without using a b...Is there a way to mix everything without using a blender? Im thinking about using this idea as party favors for our wedding. We don't have a blender yet :-) It's on the registry list.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03370374836274393905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-17811988671811208662012-06-03T09:02:24.079-07:002012-06-03T09:02:24.079-07:00Lashy, for a very red and very natural dye conside...Lashy, for a very red and very natural dye consider beet juice. Take a beet, cut it into a few pieces, and bring it to a simmer in a pot. Let it simmer for an hour or so, remove the beet pieces, and then let the water cool. Soak the shredded paper in this water before you form it into the desired shape. Shredded white paper will hold a redder color than newspaper (which tends to turn grey). Have a great wedding.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-7012916003066597542012-06-01T13:38:28.782-07:002012-06-01T13:38:28.782-07:00Hey there! I decided to make these seed bombs as a...Hey there! I decided to make these seed bombs as a wedding favor for my guests! I need to male them red, do you think there is a more natural option for colouring? Also i find red food colouring comes out rather pinkish.. Any suggestion for a more intense red?Iashyhttp://www.iashy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-20166520015178607652012-05-13T16:25:08.455-07:002012-05-13T16:25:08.455-07:00Glad to hear it! I hope they bloom for many years ...Glad to hear it! I hope they bloom for many years to come.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-13050959691057508852012-05-13T15:52:25.024-07:002012-05-13T15:52:25.024-07:00We made the heart shaped ones with wildflower seed...We made the heart shaped ones with wildflower seeds for Grandma for Mother's Day. A BIG hit- thank you.Dan and Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-53458320846825602982012-05-11T08:43:09.306-07:002012-05-11T08:43:09.306-07:00I've learned that compressing the seed balls t...I've learned that compressing the seed balls too much in an effort to squeeze out the water reduces the seeds' ability to sprout -- kind of like compacted soil. Keep the paper relatively loose to give them the best chance to grow.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-3047717706075119212012-05-11T08:03:32.669-07:002012-05-11T08:03:32.669-07:00Great idea!
Let us know how these turned out!!!
G...Great idea! <br />Let us know how these turned out!!!<br />Got so exited about Your post that i just made my first balls and can't wait them to dry out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-63200820408784249332012-04-03T08:37:44.534-07:002012-04-03T08:37:44.534-07:00Seed balls can be made with any kind of seed. For ...Seed balls can be made with any kind of seed. For large ones like melons or sunflower seeds, modify the recipe to use fewer seeds per ball. For small seeds like carrots or lettuce, seed balls can be helpful in planting -- you know exactly where you're putting the seed. I'd suggest making very small balls when you use vegetable seeds because it will help reduce the amount of thinning you'll have to do alter.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-31222253882206833492012-03-25T11:30:23.994-07:002012-03-25T11:30:23.994-07:00Hello,
i've seen seed balls being sold online...Hello,<br /><br />i've seen seed balls being sold online but since I'm from the Philippines, i'm a bit hesitanat to order since I know there are laws for importing live seeds/plants into our country. <br /><br />So I decided to just make my own seed balls. I have a question, would vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, etc work instead of wild flower seeds? I don't think we have those in the Philippines.Maitanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-52888565047410526792012-03-08T09:45:21.445-08:002012-03-08T09:45:21.445-08:00I've experimented with different recipes for b...I've experimented with different recipes for both the clay and paper types of seed balls. Compost can be used in both but I recommend sifted compost, so there aren't any sticks or chunks. A ball formed with paper pulp and rough compost didn't hold together very well. Using a basic ratio of two parts wet paper pulp to one part sifted compost results in a seed ball that retains its shape. I even pressed the mixture into a cookie cutter mold and it held shape nicely; this also works to press out excess water. A paper/compost seed ball doesn't look as good as a plain paper ball because the compost dirties up the color. Though I haven't planted these experimental balls yet, I suspect the compost would help to improve the seed germination and growth over plain paper. Let me know if you try it.GardenerScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489924261765056667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690637486415508827.post-51640582924384483702012-03-06T09:15:16.220-08:002012-03-06T09:15:16.220-08:00I have a recipe for the clay and compost kind... d...I have a recipe for the clay and compost kind... do you think the paper would work/stick if i used paper and compost?Wild; Lovedhttp://wildloved.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com