Shane S. and Dario I. started the seed ball construction day by getting the materials ready, trays put out, shade tents popped up, and tables sets up. A couple of hours later Girl Scouts from Scripps Ranch Troop 8250 showed up to help out the Boy Scouts from Troop 301. During the day we had about 20 Scouts and a few adults.
If you’re wondering, a seed ball is made from clay, seeds from local plants, other organic matter, and fertilizer, then water is mixed in a 6 to 1 ratio, until the mixture is the consistency similar to cookie dough. It is then made into small balls a bit larger than a quarter. The balls are placed in trays and allowed to dry for days, then put in bags where we will hike them out to the burn areas that need re-vegetation. When the next rain comes the seed ball will breakdown with the seed and the fertilizer covered covered by clay giving the seed a good change to germinate. If we just threw seed out the wind would carry it away. If we didn’t use clay or fertilizer the seeds would was wash away and maybe not have enough nutrients.
Each tray we made held about 125 seed balls, we made 9 trays the first hour, 11 trays the second hour and really picked up the pace and made 22 trays in the last hour. We asked for enough material to last for 5 hours, but the scouts went through it much faster than expected. They kept on task and only took a couple of 10 minute breaks. We spent the last hour cleaning up and moving moving the seedballs into the garage. It was a good thing we did, because it misted the next day. Not enough to destroy any seed balls, but enough to keep them from drying.
Thanks to everyone that showed up, brought snacks, helped clean up or set up or provided transportation and especially those senior scouts that kept the younger scouts (and some adults) on task. We looking forward to seeing some additional scouts on the next build date and also during the distribution day in January.
Mr Stachwick