In July of 2010, Culver City, CA design practice Commonstudio got a great deal of press for their Kickstarter project Seedbomb Vending. The project was to fund the start of Greenaid Vending, which are seedbomb vending machines. Seedbombs are balls of seeds, clay and organic fertilizer designed to be thrown into vacant spaces that should have green things growing in them:
Made from a mixture of clay, compost, and seeds, “seedbombs” are becoming an increasingly popular means combating the many forgotten grey spaces we encounter everyday-from sidewalk cracks to vacant lots and parking medians. They can be thrown anonymously into these derelict urban sites to temporarily reclaim and transform them into places worth looking at and caring for.
Not only was the initial Kickstarter campaign successful, the project has continued to grow. Currently they have more than 50 locations in the US and Europe. There’s a lot to like about them:
Greenaid seedbombs are hand-rolled in Culver City, CA using local materials, sustainable packaging, and socially responsible labor. Working in partnership with Chrysalis, a local non-profit, Commonstudio offers employment opportunities and a living wage to formerly homeless or economically disadvantaged men and women from the Los Angeles area. Every seedbomb you purchase is an investment in our shared future on a greener, more equitable planet.
What’s more, the seeds in the seed bombs are matched to the area’s native species, so they’re not introducing invasive species into ecosystems.
Congratulations, Greenaid! It’s really nice to see a project like this succeed.
