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Report 6 (of 6): Making Hay
with Clay - Greece
Introduction
Ecologists in Greece are using natural
farming methods in an attempt to turn barren hills
into fertile land. Soil erosion and desertification
has meant that 8 per cent of the land in Greece has
been abandoned over the last three decades. A simple
technique using clay seed balls is defying conventional
wisdom and spreading much needed seeds.
In arid areas, germination of seeds
is often quite difficult. The wind blows seed away
from the site, rain washes seed into arroyos (gulleys),
the desert heat diminishes the viability of the seed
embryos and much of the exposed seed is eaten by rodents,
birds and insects.
Seed balls have four basic components
- mixed seeds, soil humus, red or brown clay, and
water. For rehabilitation purposes, native seeds are
mixed together and then, in the correct proportions
(see how to section), the seed blend, humus, clay
and water are mixed and rolled into small (1 cm or
half-inch diameter) clay balls. Seed balls can be
made either by hand or by simple machine, depending
on labour availability.[1]
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Seedballs
All Photographs Copyright © 1996 Jim Bones
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The clay protects the seeds from the
drying sun, rodents, birds and insects until sufficient
rain comes to melt the clay. The seeds are then able
to sprout, protected within a mini environment of the
nutrients and beneficial soil microbes found in the
humus and clay. Although not all seedlings within a
seed ball will survive to maturity, the appropriate
species for each micro location will be there to survive.
The clay coating protects the seeds from excess sun,
heat, wind, water and pests, while the compost inoculates
the soil with beneficial organisms and gives the seeds
an extra boost when sprouting time comes.
Seed balls are part of a wider philosophy known as
natural farming, a method of farming which does not
use chemicals or fertilisers and where farmers do
not till the soil or weed the ground. Learning from
Fukuoka Masanobu (see Natural Farming), a farmer
Panaiotis Manikis has pioneered this approach
in Greece, leading a project to re-vegetate barren
hills, mountains and deserts as part of wider effort
to create a 'Greenbelt for southern Europe' - a green
barrier from Portugal up to Iran-Iraq to stop desertification
and recreate fertile soils.
How to Make and Use Clay Seed Balls
General recommendations from Jim at
seedballs.com provide very clear instructions on how
to make and distribute seed balls.
- Seeds
Collect seeds for your clay balls, and clean and
store each type of seed according to its needs.
Select seeds carefully, considering species which
are indigenous to the area, those you want to re-introduce
to the land and what effect this will have on the
landscape. Each seed ball can contains hundreds
of seeds of different kinds and these in turn produce
thousands more seeds.
- Proportions
One part - dry mixed seeds
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Three parts - dry compost with fungi and soil
microbes (plant compost, not animal manure)
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Five parts - dry red or brown clay, finely powdered
and sifted, not grey or white clay,
if possible. (Red clay contains a broad
diversity of minerals, especially iron and
manganese. Some grey clays were deposited
in anaerobic environments, and may contain
sulphides and salts.) The clay needs to
be dried and ground finely to ensure a lump-free
mixture. Two bricks can serve as an effective
grinder. Local clay may have the local complement
of mineral nutrients to which the native
plants have already adapted.
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One to two parts - water (see
below).
- Mixing components
After thoroughly stirring the seeds in a large flat
container, and covering with dry soil humus from
compost, add dry clay and mix well. Mix ingredients
dry, turning and sifting to coat seeds with soil,
then clay, then add water a little at a time, kneading
like dough, rolling the seeded clay into 1 cm (half
inch) diameter balls. The seed ball should be the
size of a marble, and should feel sound and not
crumbly.
- Drying
As you roll more and more seed balls, set them out
in a shaded place to dry for at least 24 hours.
They will be ready in a few days and can be dispersed
from that time on. Heater drying may damage seeds.
When dry, seed balls may be stored in a cool ventilated
place for weeks or applied immediately.
- Storage
Do not keep seed balls in plastic. Use used paper,
cardboard, straw, etc. The seeds, along with essential
soil humus, are already planted within the protective
clay shells, so they do not need to be buried. They
should not be watered unless you are going to continue
to water them until natural rainfall takes over.
- Scattering
Seed balls are then distributed in the area to be
re-vegetated. Seed balls can be strewn over large
or small areas in any season. A minimum application
seeks a scatter density of at least 10 seed balls
per square metre, or about one per square foot,
to establish trigger points from which the vegetation
can spread. Adequate coverage requires at least
0.2 grams of seeds per seed ball, or 2 grams of
seeds per square metre minimum. Rehabilitation requires
at least 3 grams of seeds per square metre.
Seedballs germinating
All Photographs Copyright © 1996 Jim Bones
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With rainfall the clay coating melts
and the seeds germinate where the ball has landed.
While loose broadcast seeds are likely to wash downhill
in heavy rains, the seed balls will stay put until
the seedlings have a chance to put down roots. There
is no need to water the seed balls. They will absorb
moisture from the ground, the dew and the rain and
will sprout when conditions are right. Many seeds
will grow from a single seed ball and the plant
most suited to the micro-conditions of that site
will prevail. The most suitable sites for 'seed
balling' are those free from thick grasses.
Natural Farming
Founded byFukuoka Masanobu, a Japanese
ecologist, natural farming advocates a ''do-nothing'
approach to gardening. Fukuoka's approach has similarities
to Western organic gardening and permaculture, but
also has many features that are unique such as not
preparing compost and using seed balls instead of
sowing or planting seedlings. The four basic tenets
to natural farming are:
- No cultivation - that is, no ploughing
or turning the soil - the earth should be left to
cultivate itself naturally by the penetration of
plant roots, and the activity of micro-organisms
and earthworms.
- No chemical fertiliser or prepared
compost - left alone the soil can maintain its own
fertility through the cycle of plant and animal
life. The only fertiliser used is a light layer
of poultry manure on top of the straw and clover
mulch and this is usually provided by ducks and
chickens roaming free.
- No weeding by tillage or herbicides
- weeds play a part in building soil fertility and
should be controlled by mulch and other natural
means rather than eliminated.
- No dependence on chemicals - the
best approach to disease and insect control is to
grow sturdy crops in a healthy environment. Natural
predators should be encouraged to take care of any
unwanted pests.
(Source: Liz Edols report)
The Future
The use of seed balls started in Greece
in 1998 and after a period has successfully re-seeded
1000 hectares in the mountains around Athens. Further
large scale sowing has been done as part of the Greenbelt
for southern Europe project, which has the active
support of the national and local community. Seed
balls offer a simple effective and natural was to
re-vegetate barren land and have started to play a
major role in the re-greening of arid regions all
over the world.
Acknowledgements
This case study draws heavily on the
excellent guidance available at seedballs.com
Further Information
South-European Greenbelt Initiative
http://www.mir.org/greenbelt/english/initiat.htm
Adobe Seed Ball Excellent natural
gardening and permaculture site.
http://www.seedballs.com/
P.O. Box 101 Tesuque, N.M. 87574
Tel/Fax: +505 955-0956
E-mail: jimbones@seedballs.com
Newmoon Organics sells seeds
for seed balls
http://www.newmoonorganics.com/
seedballs.htm
Seedballs New Zealand is a
project trialling seed balls in New Zealand
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/sces/
seedballnz/
Article
by Liz Edols on natural farming
[1]Seedball.com
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