Cover Crop: Seed Ball Time!

[@timothyblazer1749]

Now i understand why Kenyans use coal dust instead of compost. Fine particle size, and maximum hydrocarbon load to provide a little boost for the seedlings when they sprout. Easy to automate due to consistency. Great work!! Coal dust is probably not the way to go for yearly work, but for revegetation of spoiled land it makes sense.

[@Doktracy]

This looks like a great way for me to seed my 1 acre pasture in the fall for my goats/horses.

[@BareMtnFarm]

Yes, it will work but we have a few extra tips. Wait until you have had period of good rain and the ground has adequate moisture. A little rain may make it germinate but if it goes dry after, the little seedlings don't root in ground and dry and die. Another is to watch for birds and slugs eating the seed. Thanks for watching.

[@dioniciolorenzoperez4505]

Gracias desde jalisco México

[@sanctuarybloomsnicole3714]

I love all of your creativity! 😃 That mesh on a stick, hose attachment and barrel on casters with a motor and speed control! 😃 If I went to a box store for even just the mesh on a stick, it would probably set me back $17.99! This video was full of great creations! 😃

[@ClickinChicken]

That's how an oyster makes pearls. Good luck! If people have a plug aerator pull, that works too.

[@taksojdet]

Great video, thank you! #savesoil

[@BareMtnFarm]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching the channel!

[@declanmurphy5453]

excellent video and excellent presentation, thank you. What preparation of the seeds is needed before you add them to the tumbler barrell? do you soak them, or scarify ? or are they just dry seeds ? Thanks again, you are a natural presenter! Declan

[@ZE308AC]

This is a great idea that most likely was used by the natives and Aztec and other civilization before us.

[@BareMtnFarm]

Yeah, its definitely a process that has probably been used by many cultures in some form throughout the ages I'm sure.

[@jacksondaniels9960]

Love this video Thankyou. Please do a video on making tree seed bombs !

[@jimlyons4972]

Tony, I want to under seed my rice crop with triticale on 3 acres - probably about 300 lbs of seed. From the looks of it with your tumbler I’d be at it for a week straight just trying to make seed balls. Ever seen a scaled up system?

[@BareMtnFarm]

Wow! on that scale you might just look into a seed pelleting system that's at commercial scale and you could better control for coating, thickness and size.

[@harichhayaa7017]

Hi! Awesome video. Can you please advise what's the RPM?

[@BareMtnFarm]

Thank you. It is 35 rpm. Hope that helps.

[@harichhayaa7017]

@@BareMtnFarm Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@drpk6514]

You could add some pectin or hydrogel so it could hold water and germinate and grow easier.

[@julianchoque7402]

I think that your machine should strart making seed balls one by one.

[@Kulah-SS]

Would you please make a video showing your tumbler design? I saw the drawing, but the belt connections are slightly confusing. Thanks.

[@BareMtnFarm]

Great suggestion! @Anonosuarus Rex We'll put it on the list. However, we won't be using the Von Bachmayr until late summer.

[@ZE308AC]

Cam you also use gypsum to the mix?

[@BareMtnFarm]

Yes you can, but it has to be in a very fine powder form to bind properly. Be careful on the addition amount as the calcium in gypsum can counteract the binding properties of the clay creating a seedball that can crumble very easily.

[@terencemcclammy294]

A question about growing zinnias in coastal Oregon.What time do you seed your zinnias in soil blocks? I think I should have started a bit earlier. I now am getting excellent flowers .When growing zinnias in California, I would have abundant flowers by mid May started in the field. Not so here.

[@BareMtnFarm]

We typically start our zinnias a couple of weeks before setting them out. for us we target the first planting around June 10th. The main reason for us is that the soil temps need to be well north of 50F for zinnias to grow. If the soil isn't warm enough the plants sit, don't grow turn yellow and become easy targets for slugs. We don't use plastic mulches so that is why we maybe later than others who may get them in several weeks earlier.

[@dianebarlow1515]

You are so clever. FYI I saw on my perpetual calendar that you start your snapdragon seedlings Sept 1. Are you going to do that again this year?

[@BareMtnFarm]

That's the plan!

[@solomonktl6]

According to Fukuoka, don't you plant winter seed balls in May which is naturally when rye would ripen and fall?

[@BareMtnFarm]

Hi @Solomon Fukuoka's rainy season that is key to adequate seed ball germination usually peaked in May/June. Where we are at our dry season begins in May/June and the rainy season begins in earnest in Sept/Oct. So for us sowing in Fall yields better success.

[@solomonktl6]

@@BareMtnFarm oh ok. Where are you located? I just planted a quarter acre of kamut seedballs. It was such a challenge because the seeds were naturally elongated so in the cement mixer, it doesn't come out round. So I feel it might not be as successful a harvest. I'm doing barley in the fall so hoping better success.

[@jmc9507]

would small cement mixer work also?

[@BareMtnFarm]

Yes, you would need to remove the baffles from the mixer. They would break the seed balls. Also you need it to be level and it should work. Thank you for the comment and for watching.

[@dddev641]

Great idea ... what benefit is the seed ball compared to dropping seeds ? Deb

[@BareMtnFarm]

Hi @Deb D The seed-ball affords us some protection from birds and provides a little compost/biology next to the seed for a surface broadcasting.

[@maureenflood5157]

Are there plans to follow to build the drum?

[@francishunt8969]

I wish he could have showed us how he put the seeds. So where is the seed mix? Funny how many good videos dont show you the most important parts. But good job with the roller

[@AliGursoy-by8ol]

Bunu kil ve kompostla nasıl yapacağını, nasıl toplar haline getireceğini, tohumları toplara nasıl yerleştireceğini bilen var mı? Ve bunları yapan ekipman nedir? Seri üretim yapmak istiyorum, ülkemde çok sayıda ağaçsız alan var.

[@purushothamnikkam6069]

11:20

[@SustainerNYC]

Great to see the update! Thanks

[@BareMtnFarm]

Thanks for watching!