334
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$10,398
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 3, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A hand-stamped package of hand-rolled seedbombs containing native seeds from your region.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
A large package of handmade seedbombs, and a custom seedbomb slingshot for tactical intervention!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
A large package of seedbombs and your name engraved on a donor plaque affixed to one of our Greenaid dispensers.
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
All of the above, and a Greenaid dispenser placed at a location of your choice in the Los Angeles area.
Pledge $650 or more Pledge $650 or more
Your very own Greenaid dispenser, and a full container of 300 seedbombs to start beautifying your own community anywhere in the U.S!
Project By
Connected as Daniel Phillips (301 friends)
Commonstudio is an emerging design practice engaging in interdisciplinary approaches to objects, systems, tools, and spaces with an emphasis on issues of urban ecology, social enterprise, and adaptive reuse.
My seedboms have grown amazingly, even in this ridiculous 40 days straight at 100 degrees Summer we're having here. This is such cool thing that you've done. Best wishes!
We need these in London!!
Please come here next!
I received my box of seeds and slingshot. The packaging is so cool, thank you. Now what to do with these!
Just got my seedbombs and slingshot! Can't wait to do some urban guerrilla gardening. Thanks!
Just got my package in the mail today! Thank you so much; it's great! I have a few ideas of where I can send some of these little guys, so I'll be sure to put them to good use soon. :)
Just got mine in the mail today; I can't wait to do some guerrilla gardening!
One of my favorite projects. Totally amazing.
Hurray! Congrats on meeting your funding goal. Looking forward to receiving my seedbombs and slingshot!
I am so excited to have a seedbomb vending machine at my ceramic ocarina super store!
Awesome! So glad you got funding in time! :-D
Congrts! Hope you can spread this idea to other parts of the country
Nice job! Money well spent as far as I'm concerned!
Great job... Super Idea and concept .I hope you can grow to 1000 international machines soon...
Congrats!
I agree with Ippie. I would love to start something like this in Salt Lake
Woot! You're funded! Can't wait to see this awesome idea in action!
Congrats, it looks like you're getting very close! I am just wondering now, since you're close to being funded- if the seedbomb dispenser I can choose the location for with the $300 reward would just be getting placed there, and you would collect the money and keep it stocked with seedbombs, or if I would get the money and need to then purchase the seedbombs from you. ? I guess I need to figure it out because it might turn out that I need to "own" it to put it where I'd like to.... Thanks!
Hi Gustavo,
All ingredients of our seedmixes are posted freely and openly on our website.
Regarding L.A. locations-Sorry you're having trouble viewing addresses-- All you need to do is click on the green placemarkers and you should get a pop-up with addresses. Hope this helps!
Thanks!
i'd back this instantly if it were open-source. why should we rely on folks in cali (nice folks i'm sure) for our regionally-appropriate seed bombs? socialize the info, unless you're really just trying to make a buck.
Could you post information on your website about the exact addresses of the dispensers you've installed in the Los Angeles/ Santa Monica area? I couldn't find any info and would love to use them. Thanks so much!
Hi Tracy,
We agree with you that it would be disappointing if this was not seen within a larger context of individual grassroots action. As we mentioned in our video, its important to keep in mind that seedbombing is not a final solution but an essential first step in the part of a larger movement towards more livable cities from the bottom up. We have always felt that we are spreading awareness as much as we are spreading flowers. In our research, and to our utter shock, we have found that there are entire communities in L.A. who's children have never been to the beach (just 20 miles away) or can't identify a fresh tomato when it's put in front of them. Our question is where and how can we even start to address this situation when people have become so alienated from their surroundings? The hope is that seedbombs can be a fun first step, a gateway drug, in getting folks to better understand and re-evaluate their daily environment (and it's relationship to natural process) and begin to become more active in making it a better place through individual, small scale action.
As we've indicated in previous responses below, we do provide regional ecotypes for our seedbombs and have begun to incorporate grasses into the mix. We've done extensive testing of the seedbombs with a lot of great results (as well as some downright failure), but to write off this project on the basis of square footage germination ratios would be to miss the point of what we are attempting to do. We appreciate your concern and hope that this clarifies the intention of the project.
Thanks!
--Danny/Kim/Commonstudio
In some ways, I think this project is quite clever and has great educational potential. But I would be disappointed if this was as far as most people got in community-based urban ecological restoration. It takes a lot of work to create and maintain effective urban habitat so it would be unfortunate if people thought all they had to do was lob a few of these bombs over a fence.
Have you actually tested the seed bombs? What’s your experience with germination and growth rates? Usually, to get decent coverage on a 1000 square foot area would require at least ½ lb of meadow seed mix (with 500,000 seeds or more per pound depending on species) broadcast evenly. A portion of the seeds don’t germinate, rot away, or are eaten. I didn't see information on your website telling people what quantities they need and what to expect for results. Also, if you want something closer to a real meadow or prairie, you need grasses (60% or more of the seed mix), not just wildflowers. I hope, also, that you are getting your seeds from suppliers who can provide regional ecotypes.
Fantastic Idea! I'm glad to support this project. I just wish we could get some of the seedbomb dispensers in the northeast. The less lawnmowers, sprinklers, and blight the better!
-Nate
GREAT idea! I love it. I also posted your information on my Facebook and Twitter. Hopefully it will help get the word out.
I hope you reach your funding goal!
-Joanna
Hi Dangx3,
We are currently figuring out the logistics of shipping the seedbombs internationally, which of course requires a bit of red tape. We are close to knowing for sure and will keep you posted!
Thanks!
Hi Nichole,
Firstly, thanks for your support! To answer your question the slingshot is intended to be a fun way to enable you to distribute seedbombs into the far flung nooks and crannies of the urban landscape, such as fenced lots or highway medians. Hope this clarifies!
Can you explain the slingshot?
Any chance I could get some seed bombs in Canada?
I think this is a great idea. If you can get the $ to get this off of the ground, would love to see a follow--up "how to" PDF/video on how to make your own for your own region. And yes, NYC is FULL of sourland vacant lots that have been taken over by mono-species weeds. For NYC anyway I could see a blend of clover, foxgrass, blue cornflower, and a few other things that are hardy and can take a high toxin level. Wild grapeseeds also sprout in surprisingly poor land. Can't wait to see what sprouts up in my bag of bombs!
I really like this idea! - I live in Wales, in the UK and think something like this would be great..... anyway of introducing this in the UK? (with my help?)
Can I get some Chicago Seedbombs?
Hi Carlos,
We certainly appreciate your concern. I'm glad to hear that Philadelphia is as lush as you say it is. Unfortunately for us statistically, L.A. is one of the grayest cities in the country-so you don't have to take our word that there are plenty of sites that could use some intervention. "Disrupting existing ecosystems" would certainly defeat the point, which is why we DO in fact respond to the native ecological conditions of the areas in which the machines are to be placed. For example, our L.A. machines are armed with a native California wildflower seed mix (containing species such as White Yarrow, California Poppy, Birds Eye, Blue Flax, Arroyo Lupine, Five Spot, and more). Our first prototype machine was placed near downtown and contained species native to the ecology of the L.A. river watershed. And although the 3 minute video didn't allow us to get into the specifics, we're in the process of developing regional mixes for every state in the U.S. Perhaps a visit to our website or a bit more research on the specifics of the project would have clarified this.
As we've had a couple of other comments regarding this, we've updated our description text to include the seed mix we've developed for the L.A. area.
Thanks and sorry for any confusion.
-Danny/Kim
Not to rain on any parades, but isn't there already plant growth taking place wherever possible?
I don't think i've ever seen a patch of dirt (living in Philadelphia, I see a lot) without it being covered with plant growth. Aside from generic sell-terms like "green" or "beauty", what is it you're attempting to accomplish?
Disrupting existing ecosystems of indigenous plantlife with transplanted weeds in various cities around the US?
Making it difficult for the maintainers of existing green spaces by distributing "bombs" designed to plant random plants without the bomber having to take so much as a moment to consider their actions?
Furthermore, why isn't there a single description of the type of seed included in your entire presentation of the bomb?
Seems more like scheme-y "design" than a project worth considering.
If you really believe there are places around the US where plant life won't grow, why not create a project educating others on the different ways to make seed bombs themselves?
Maybe research plant life in the area, put together bombs based on need or specific purpose...
I agree with Ippe about the open sourcing. I'd be willing to help out here in South Dakota and I have family in several major cities including Chicago, New York, Albuquerque, San Angelo, Pheonix, Jacksonville, Santa Monica, Atlanta, and St. Louis. I know they would be willing to help out to. This is an awesome idea and I've spread the word. I'm going to follow this and see (with fingers crossed) if you get funded.
Great idea! Good Video. But....no mention of the seeds contained in the balls. Green Edibles are what our cities need. Calendula, Amaranth, Buckwheat (awesome for bees) and Orach would be a good start. We can not effect global climate change but we can effect how much we rely on big agriculture and GMO infused products.
Ippie...this is an easy thing to make. Gumball machines are fairly cheap and seed balls are easy to make as well.
Again, Great idea! It's one of those "why didn't I think of that?" ideas.
we'll throw some of your seed bombs in our farm! excited for you and hope you reach your goal!
Love this!
agreed w/ ippie about the potential expansion and open-source, though not so disappointed. it's really a genius idea.
Love the idea, yet disappointed it is only focus on your community. Would be willing to donate if you would put significant % of the money to "open source" your effort and place equipment lists, plans, how-to's etc so others could become a "franchise" of your effort and deploy seedbomb vending machines in their communities.