What is a Seed Ball

Tiny Spheres, Big Environmental Impact: How Seed Balls Are Healing the Planet

 

Wildfires, floods, storms and extreme weather events sweeping across the globe. We are becoming more and more fragile towards them. But there are some individual steps we can take to fight against climate change and become a part of the change for good! 

 

In a world facing deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate extremes, a humble sphere made of clay, compost, and seeds is emerging as a powerful climate change solution. Known as seed balls, or seed bombs, these small yet mighty tools are driving ecological restoration projects worldwide, helping communities’ green urban spaces and revive degraded lands, combating the effects of climate change, one throw at a time.

 

What is a Seed Ball?

 

Seed balls are compact balls created by mixing native seeds with clay and compost. They are small spheres of clay, compost (or humus), and seeds, sometimes enhanced with paper fibers for protection. The clay protects the seeds from harsh weather, animals, and insects, while the compost nourishes them and provides essential nutrients. Once scattered onto the ground, often in hard-to-reach or barren areas, these eco-friendly gardening balls await rain to dissolve the outer protective coating layer, allowing the seeds to germinate and grow.

 

They are seeds covered with a mixture of clay, powder fertilizer, and various minerals that will optimize the seed productivity and they are studied by R&D to increase their possibility of germination.

 

Although popularized in modern times by Masanobu Fukuoka, a pioneer of natural farming in Japan, seed bombing is an ancient technique used in Egypt and parts of Africa. Today, they are being rediscovered as an accessible, low-cost, and scalable method of ecological restoration and soil erosion prevention. 

 

Why Seed Balls Matter in the Fight Against Climate Change

 

  1. Reviving Biodiversity

Using native seed ball mixtures helps bring back plants that support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. This increases ecosystem resilience against the effects of climate change.

  1. Preventing Soil Erosion

Plants grown from seed balls help stabilize soil, retain nutrients, and protect against erosion, especially in arid or overgrazed landscapes.

  1. Boosting Climate Resilience

More green cover means better carbon sequestration, cooler local temperatures, and improved air quality, all vital in mitigating urban heat islands and climate extremes.

  1. Supporting Pollinators

Wildflower seed balls for pollinators provide a vital food source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.








What are the Environmental & Climate Benefits of Seed Balls?Improved Germination & Plant 

  • Establishment: The clay and compost protect seeds from harsh weather, erosion, and predators while buffering the soil environment to support germination. 
  • Erosion Control & Soil Restoration: As seedlings establish roots, they help stabilize soil, retain nutrients, and reduce sediment runoff.
  • Biodiversity & Habitat Recovery: By using native species, seed balls foster biodiversity, restore degraded areas, and create habitats or corridors for wildlife. 
  • Urban Greening & Pollution Mitigation: Seed ball campaigns breathe life into neglected urban zones, helping cool cities, improving air quality, and supporting pollinators. 
  • Carbon Sequestration & Climate Resilience: Increased plant growth actively removes CO₂, while greener ecosystems enhance climate adaptability. 

 

One Step Further in Our Sustainability Efforts: Atelier Rebul “The Seed Ball Project”

We have a promise to leave a liveable planet for the future generations. We believe that each one of these seed balls is a new life potential for nature!

 

We know that in fighting against global climate crisis every single tree is the future of the total nature for a more livable future. We went one step further in our eco-friendly product movement and brought a forestation project into action with ecording, a social enterprise that develops innovative environmental technologies against global climate crisis to leave a green mark on Earth.

 

We have delivered 500.000 seed balls on soil with ecording by the use of unmanned aerial vehicle ecoDrone that will deliver airborne seed ball shoots in hard-to-reach areas that need to be afforested for every Rebul cologne and Atelier Rebul product.

 

You can learn more about our Seed Ball Project from Atelier Rebul Sustainability Efforts and Promise. 

 

You could also check our eco-friendly collections and learn about all of our sustainability details on our product pages. 



DIY: How You Can Make and Use Seed Balls

 

Making seed balls is simple and fun, and perfect for community reforestation projects, schools, or family activities.

 

You will need:

  • 5 parts natural clay
  • 1 part peat-free compost
  • A selection of native seeds (wildflowers or trees)
  • Water

Steps:

  1. Mix the clay and compost.
  2. Add seeds and water until the texture is like dough.
  3. Roll into small balls (2–3 cm).
  4. Let them dry for 24–48 hours.
  5. Scatter them in gardens, wastelands, or degraded land — ideally before the rainy season.


For detailed instructions: How to Make a Seed Bomb – Wildlife Trusts

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