Planting Is Punk: The Genesis of The Seed Bomb

Abandoned lots. To the average city dweller, they're so common that they may seem invisible; just blank spots between bodegas on the way to work every morning. But as urban populations swell and available space seems increasingly rare, a new generation of progressively-minded gardeners and community-activists have embraced these empty spaces for all their untapped potential, transforming them into flower gardens, vegetable beds, and neighborhood parklets. 

So how does a patch of forgotten cement become a thriving green space? These days, it might take equal amounts elbow grease and paperwork, but forty years ago, it's likely the answer would have boiled down to one, rather simple device: the Seed Bomb. Typically taking the form of a compressed, earthen ball packed with local wildflower seeds, water, and fertilizer, the Seed Bomb has been used across the world as a method of introducing vegetation to arid or "off-limits" (ahem, privately-owned) land. 

Gardening magazine Wilder Quarterly traced the history of this unexpectedly utilitarian gardening tool in their Autumn issue, recounting its path from ancient Japan to '70s-era New York City to contemporary London and Denmark, but they also commisioned their very own line of Wilder Seed Bombs, designed by Message is the Medium. Each bag contains 10 seed bombs, and is individually packed by a member of their staff. "Who says planting can't be punk?"

Planting is Punk: A Primer in Seed Bombing and Guerrilla Gardening from Wilder Quarterly