On Wednesday April 22, the East Side Elementary students in Cannon County celebrated Earth Day by learning about pollinators and creating wildflower seed balls to attract them.A program about the importance of pollinators to our ecosystem and our food supply was presented to 8th grade students. The students watched a short video about a large scale wildflower planting with seed balls or seed bombs.
The students then engaged in a hands-on projects to make wildflower seed balls. This activity should insure that pollinators thrive by planting wildflowers to provide habitat. Students created wildflower seed balls by combined clay, water, compost, and wildflower seeds. After drying, these seed balls can be distributed on an area of ground where pollinator habitat is desired. No digging or special planting is required, just distribute on an area you want to grow wildflowers and the rain will do the rest. The seed balls have all they need to protect the seed and provide nourishment for germination and growth.
Most wildflowers seeds are very small and sometimes establishment can be difficult. This technique was introduced by a pioneer in organic agriculture from Japan named Masanabu Fukuoka who authored the book, One Straw Revolution.
The Cannon County Soil Conservation District provided the materials to make the seed balls. Once completed, the class had made about 500 seed balls. Presenters for this program were Pamela Hoskins, NRCS District Conservationist, Patricia Reid, Cannon County Soil Conservation District, and Katie Hoskins, a high school student volunteer. If you would like to learn more about the importance of pollinators and making wildflower seed balls, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/ or www.Xerces.org and to watch the incredible YouTube video, “A Bee Friendlier Flower Bombing”.
