The seed bomb workshop is part of a series of experimental ecological interventions called Rewilding Crown Heights. The goal is to increase and support the biodiversity in my neighborhood. 2025 is the first year of this project, I am learning on the go with help from trusted internet resources and fellow urban gardeners. I want to share my thoughts, knowledge, and lessons to low the barrier of entry for others to rewild their own neighborhoods. 

Guerilla gardening is a grassroots movement to plant native flowers and food in public and private spaces. Learn more about the history of guerilla gardening history in New Yory City by watching Vox’s documentary, How Radical Gardeners Took Back New York City. 

Thank you to Imani Community Garden in Northern Crown Heights for providing the venue and compost ♡

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The first rule of seed bombing is to use native seeds only. I used New York City Parks Department’sNative Seed Planting Guide to determine which seeds met the following criteria: 

1. Would the plants be able to grow in disturbed conditions? What is the point of planting seeds if they can’t survive.

 2. Did the plants support native wildlife and pollinators by providing food and/or shelter for native animals and insects?

I cross-referenced the lists of speices for pollinator support and disturbed ecosystems (disturbed ecosystems are areas with poor soil quality often found in citites) to choose five spieces of plants:

    Monarda fistulosa - Wild Bergamot
    Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan
    Symphyotrichum novae-angliae - New England Aster
⁠    Symphyotrichum laeve-Smooth Blue Aster
⁠    Schizachyrium scoparium - Little Bluestem

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Notes:

These seed bombs are a mixture of paper pulp, coconut coir, compost, local dirt, and native seeds. You will also need a non-food blender and strainer, sieve, or screen. 

There are many different seed bomb recipes and variations. This recipe has three layers: the outer paper pulp shell and a dirt/compost mix that holds the seeds. I added a little local dirt to the dirt/compost mix to help the seeds adjust to the local chemistry. Place seed bombs on bare soil that is not too sandy, hard, or compact. Native seeds may take a year to flower.  

Preparation:

1. Order/buy native seeds. Consult with trusted online sources about which wildflowers/grasses will support native animals, soils, and plants. Be wary of germination conditions (some flowers require cold stratification to germinate, others can be planted directly into the ground). 

2. Rip paper into small pieces. The paper can’t be laminated.

3. Soak ripped paper in a bowl of water for 15 minutes. 

4. When the paper is completely saturated and soft to the touch, blend paper with water into a pulp in a non-food blender.

5.  Prepare a 1:1 mix of coconut coir (or any well-draining dirt) to compost in a bucket and set aside. Optional: dig up two cups of local soil (unless the soil condition is very poor) and add the local soil into the dirt/compost mix.

Assembling the seed bombs:

6. Scoop about a handful of paper pulp and spread an even thin layer on strainer, sieve, or screen. This will be the outer shell. 

7. Take 3-4 teaspoons of the dirt/compost mix and place it on top of the pulp, use your finger to make a small hole in the dirt/compost pile (see the picture on the left for reference). 

8. Place about 10 seeds (too many seeds and the plants will compete with each other) in the hole and cover gentley with the dirt/compost.

9. Pinch the paper edges together, forming a ball of paper pulp around the dirt/compost mix. You might need to add a small circle of paper pulp on top to connect all the sides. Give the ball one nice squeeze to seal the edges and get rid of excess water.  

10. Set the seed ball aside to fully dry before use.