On a brisk winter Monday morning, community members joined the Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center staff to prepare seed balls for spring planting.
The event was a chance to give back to nature, although nature could have been more hospitable. The biting cold hindered the original plan to prepare planting beds and remove invasive species like buckthorn. Undeterred by the weather, the dedicated nature lovers pivoted to a more suitable yet equally impactful activity: making balls of mud with seeds inside.
“This is a good service project for Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Iron Oaks Manager Cheryl Vargo. “The seed balls give native plants a better chance to grow where leaf litter sometimes makes it difficult.”
The atmosphere at Irons Oaks was a blend of camaraderie and determination. Volunteers of all ages climbed out of their winter gear, rolled up their sleeves, and gathered around tables laden with clay, compost and native seeds. The goal was clear — to create seed balls that would later be distributed across the forest floor. Eventually, the flowers that grow from the seed balls will provide vital nourishment and habitat for local fauna.
The process of making seed balls is both an art and a science. It involves mixing the right proportions of clay and compost to create a nurturing environment for the seeds. Once formed, these seed balls are left to dry. When the snow melts, the seed balls will be dispersed in the forest, allowing the seeds to sprout and grow.
Vargo said there will be more opportunities for community members to volunteer at park district locations later in the winter and spring when temperatures are tolerable for outdoor work. It is best to remove buckthorn in the winter months. The invasive shrub is hardy and can prevent other plants from growing around it.
