Lucy & Amelia Seed Bombs
A large crowd gathers around a sidewalk display on First Saturday in downtown Frederick. All eyes are transfixed as Brian Slagle—a lean, goateed artist/designer with a green thumb—blends water, red clay, organic compost, cayenne pepper, and wildflower seeds.
“What are these?” says a woman studying the finished product, a large gumball-sized orb.
They’re Seed Bombs: Toss them in a yard…plant them in a pot…watch them grow.
Since launching his handcrafted garden weapon in the fall of 2011, Slagle, a Frederick native, has crisscrossed the state giving demonstrations at fairs, festivals, and in classrooms. Late nights are spent filling orders in a garage-turned-studio to keep up with demand from a growing list of clients, among them the Muse, McCutcheon’s, and the Common Market in Frederick; Nest in Clarksville; and Whole Foods in Annapolis.
Seizing on a concept made popular by the Guerilla Gardening Movement of the 1970s, the Savannah College of Art and Design graduate put his own creative spin on the Seed Bomb. Slagle and his wife, Katie, a graphic designer, established Lucy & Amelia, LLC and introduced the Hummingbird and Butterfly Wildflower Bomb Mix and Mesclun Salad Bomb Mix (individual bombs containing six varieties of lettuce seeds).
“Family gardening—it’s about enjoying planting and making things with your kids,” says Slagle.
“I have children that are at the age where they are starting to do things that I miss doing as a kid. Reliving childhood through my children is something I’ve been looking forward to.”
Hand packaged and adorned with colorful logos, other Lucy & Amelia catalogue items include the D.I.Y. Seed Bomb Kit, Micro Seed Bombs (1/4-inch balls featuring a variety of herbs), and limited-edition vintage oyster-can terrariums. New lines of Seed Bombs are also in the works. The inventory just keeps growing.
Lucy & Amelia Seed Bombs are available online at etsy.com and goodsie.com. For more information, contact 301-305-9004 or LucyandAmelia22@gmail.com.
Brian Slagle has created a line of Black-Eyed Susan Seed Bombs for Maryland Life. The bombs are available for purchase at www.Shop-MarylandLife.com.
