Make-It Monday: Seed Bombs

Pollinators are so important to our lives – not only do they pollinate the flowers many of us plant in the summer to make our landscapes beautiful, but they also pollinate many of the crops our farmers grow around the world and right here in South Dakota.  By making these seed bombs, you can give our pollinators (like bees and butterflies) plenty of options to find pollen while beautifying your garden or neighborhood!

Find a helpful how-to video below:

Materials

• Construction Paper (this is a great way to get rid of scraps left over from other projects)
• Scissors
• Bowl
• Water
• Blender or Food Processor
• Paper Towels
• Muffin Pan or Silicone Molds (optional)
• Seeds (I used a flower mix that has seeds native to South Dakota in it)

Instructions

1. Using your scissors, cut construction paper scraps into one-inch squares (approximately – it they are a little bigger, smaller, or not exact squares, it’s all good!) and place them in a bowl.  If you are using multiple colors, keep them separated.
2. Once you have cut your squares, fill the bowl with water so all the paper is submerged.  Leave it sit for 20 minutes – 2 hours.
3. After your paper is done soaking, dump all the paper and water in to the blender/food processor.
4. Blend or process your paper until it reaches a pulp-like consistency.
5. Place a paper towel over your drain and pour the contents of your blender/food processor over the towel.
6. Wring out all the water through the paper towel.
7. It’s time to form your seed bombs!  Choose a method below:
   1. If you are using a muffin pan or silicone mold, fill the mold about a ¼ inch or halfway and press down firmly.  Add a sprinkle or two of seeds, then follow it up with another ¼ inch of paper.  Press firmly again.
   2. If you don’t have a muffin pan or silicone mold, you can press the paper pulp into a circle, put a sprinkle or two of seeds in the middle, and form the pulp into a ball shape.
8. Once you have your seed bombs formed, you have a few options:
   1. You can plant them right now, add some water, and watch them grow!
   2. You can dry them out for 24-48 hours, store in an air-tight container, and plant and water them at a later date.

Make-It Monday projects will be posted each Monday (except for holidays) throughout the museum closure for COVID-19.  For a full list of previous projects, visit Make-It Monday.

Questions? Contact Sarah, the museum's education coordinator.