Re-Seeding With Seedballs

Have some neglected acreage out there?  Do I have a project for you!!!! 

Our church has several acres that leads up a steep hill to the parking lot.  While the bottom area is beginning to flourish and grow beautiful native grasses; the area that is stressed by the environment, the elements...and people are full of weeds and erosion.

We have worked hard to pull, rake and weed eat old dead weeds and now have sandy steep barren ground.  A place waiting for trouble or... for planting.  This problem has been tumbling in my mind while at work or home.  The native grass seed and  wildflower seeds sat by the door ready to go.  

Then I remembered my Mom telling me about Lady Bird's seed balls.  Seeds rolled into a mixture of clayey soil with a bit of compost and water.   These balls dry and then are "tossed" onto the area to be reseeded.

 

Not quite sure what I'm asking them to do...

 The potting soil became a centerpiece on our cement pad along with paper plates, pitchers of water, baggies of compost and seeds.

Getting kids' hands in dirt.  Priceless!

 Making our own little seed balls to throw out to seed our hills.  Indian Grass, Side Oats Grama, Big Blue Stem, Echinacea, and packets of wildflowers were mixed in with Miracle Gro compost and mixed up!  With a few teaspoons of heavy potting soil, a teaspoon of the seed/compost mix and water enough to make it stick together!

The boys loved getting their hands dirty!

Not quite the marble size but oh well!

Now we are getting in to it!

 

 Now they are drying for 24-48 hours until ready to throw.