Flower grenade is a blooming good idea

Monday 22 March 2010

Flower grenade is a blooming good idea

A Glasgow design firm is sowing the seeds for success after inventing a device to brighten up “weary wastelands” in modern cities.

Kabloom, based in the South Side, sells grenade-shaped ‘SeedBoms’, which are packed with wildflower and garden plant seeds.

The grenades are designed be thrown onto empty patches of ground by so-called guerilla gardeners, green-fingered insurgents bent on turning urban dead-zones into blooming gardens. The eco-design company was amongst the finalists in the entrepreneurship section of this month’s John Logie Baird awards. Now they have been chosen to show their creation at a show organised by underground design collective The Gin Palace, who operate “pop up” boutiques. Their next event will be held from 9 to 11 April at 12 South Frederick Street. Darren Wilson, 30, who owns Kabloom, said: “We make SeedBoms for the urban guerilla gardener who can go out, find a bit of weary wasteland or neglected neighbourhood and bring a bit of nature into the city. “Our SeedBoms allow people to lighten up dull places. We don’t exploit nature, but work with it to enhance urban environments. “It comes down to making a positive impact on your community.” Run from the Southside Studios in Govanhill, Kabloom is a one-man operation and sells the bizarre invention on a small scale through shops in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The SeedBoms are dubbed “friendly bombs that grow”. They are shaped like hand grenades and made from biodegradable and recycled material including egg boxes, shredded office paper and even tea bags. Inside them, there is organic compost, organic fertiliser and wildflower seeds. Once thrown onto wasteland or into overgrown public spaces, the grenades break down and release their seeds. Kabloom started selling the bombs last year and hopes to organise furtive, co-ordinated late-night attacks on wastelands across the city. Although the SeedBoms are unlikely to make Mr Wilson a millionaire, he had this tip for aspiring entrepreneurs: “When you have an idea, you have to work hard to see it through. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are always people or organisations to give you assistance so don’t be afraid to put your idea out there.”

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