Gardens Against Greenhouse Gas
Students make seed bombs to promote native biodiversity.
Native plants promote biodiversity by providing habitat for native pollinators like birds and insects. In this activity, students make seed bombs out of clay, soil and native wildflower seeds to promote the natural ecosystems in their area. They will also learn how plants act as carbon sinks in the fight against climate change.
What You Need
- Wet potter's or non-toxic air dry clay
- Soil or compost
- Hardy seeds (native to the region; avoid invasive species)
- Water
- Large bowl or container
- Small cardboard box or biodegradable cardboard cups
- Bucket
- Towels
Guide:
Safety Notes
- Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe delivery of virtual outreach to youth.
- Ensure that there are no additives or toxic chemicals in the clay.
What To Do
- Add 3/4 cup of non-toxic clay and 3/4 cup of soil to a bowl and mix well using your hands.
- Take a teaspoon of dough and press in 3-5 native wildflower seeds.
- Roll the dough in your hands into a small ball (like when baking cookies).
- Place the seed bomb aside to dry. They can be placed in individual small cardboard boxes or in paper cups for transport.
- Plant your seed bomb by throwing it or laying it anywhere you would like wildflowers to grow. Make sure to get permissions for where you are going to plant them!
Discovery
The soil in the mixture provides the seeds with nutrients to start their growth. The clay holds everything together and prevents the seeds from blowing away, while also preventing the seeds from drying out, Seed bombs allow plants to grow in hard to reach locations.
Plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis, which consumes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In this way, plants act as carbon sinks on land because they absorb more of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release into the environment. On the other hand, carbon sources release more carbon dioxide than they absorb, which contributes to climate change and global warming. Almost 65% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to carbon dioxide gas released from carbon sources such as fossil fuels and industrial processes. Plants aid in the fight against climate change by decreasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This is why having healthy forests and planting trees is so important.
Planting species that are native to the region supports the natural relationships between plants, pollinators and animals. As climate change proceeds, the environmental conditions in a region, such as temperature or rainfall, can fluctuate outside of their typical range. This allows invasive plant and animal species to expand their region into areas they would not normally inhabit. Invasive species may have adaptations from their previous habitat that can give them an advantage in the new region. Native species may not develop this particular adaptation. Invasive species can outcompete natural species for resources, which could have a negative impact on the balance required for the ecosystem in the area to function appropriately.
- Instead of growing wildflowers, grow your own food! The process of food production is responsible for almost one-third of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Growing your own food helps reduce the greenhouse gases that are produced when processing and transporting food. Supporting eco-friendly initiatives, such as local food sources and farmer's markets are also great alternatives.
What's Happening?
The soil in the mixture provides the seeds with nutrients to start their growth. The clay holds everything together and prevents the seeds from blowing away, while also preventing the seeds from drying out, Seed bombs allow plants to grow in hard to reach locations.
Why Does It Matter?
Plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis, which consumes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In this way, plants act as carbon sinks on land because they absorb more of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release into the environment. On the other hand, carbon sources release more carbon dioxide than they absorb, which contributes to climate change and global warming. Almost 65% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to carbon dioxide gas released from carbon sources such as fossil fuels and industrial processes. Plants aid in the fight against climate change by decreasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This is why having healthy forests and planting trees is so important.
Planting species that are native to the region supports the natural relationships between plants, pollinators and animals. As climate change proceeds, the environmental conditions in a region, such as temperature or rainfall, can fluctuate outside of their typical range. This allows invasive plant and animal species to expand their region into areas they would not normally inhabit. Invasive species may have adaptations from their previous habitat that can give them an advantage in the new region. Native species may not develop this particular adaptation. Invasive species can outcompete natural species for resources, which could have a negative impact on the balance required for the ecosystem in the area to function appropriately.
Investigate Further
- Instead of growing wildflowers, grow your own food! The process of food production is responsible for almost one-third of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Growing your own food helps reduce the greenhouse gases that are produced when processing and transporting food. Supporting eco-friendly initiatives, such as local food sources and farmer's markets are also great alternatives.