The Story Behind My Seed Ball Machine

Last month, I gave a regular gumball machine a botanical makeover. Let's talk about it. 

I'd been thinking of ways to add something fun and interesting to my market setup and after a conversation with my friend, Laura, I was inspired to try a gumball machine as a way to sell product. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was playful. Unexpected. And it felt fairly reasonable to accomplish.

Off I went and bought a brand new gumball machine from Amazon. I searched for used and vintage machines, but most of them had issues with the coin dispenser or were just too far away. I decided that it would be worth it to invest in something new since I really wasn't equipped with the tools and knowledge to fix any issues with an older machine.

To start, I gave the machine a complete makeover. I spray painted it white for a clean, fresh look, then added custom vinyl decals with my Cricut that I designed on Canva. I wanted to go for a playful, simple look that was both clean and fun to look at. Though I may change the design in the future, for now I am enjoying the butterflies, bees, and flowers. It reminds me of something I would have drawn as a child and I find satisfaction in using my creativity to honor the little girl within me. 

Ok, decorating the machine was just the first part. The next task was to come up with a product to put inside. I loved the idea of "seed bombs" but I really wanted to change the name. I wanted the product to feel more on brand with what Terra Cotta Plant Boutique represents: beauty, inspiration, quality. Meadow Marbles was the name I thought of first. It was much more aligned with what I wanted. But the gumball machine has three compartments, so I wanted to create three different varieties. I settled on wildflowers, sunflowers, and milkweed. 

• Meadow Marbles – a regional blend of wildflower seeds

• Sunflower Drops – bright, cheerful sunflower seeds

• Milkweed Marbles – made with milkweed, a favorite of the monarchs

Each “marble” is made from a blend of worm compost harvested from my own worm bins, clay, and seeds. I mix it all with water until the texture is a pie dough consistency, then use a small metal scoop to portion and roll each one. They’re laid out on a dehydrator tray and dried completely before I package them up for use.

It’s definitely a slow process. A single batch takes about an hour, and it takes three batches to fill just one section of the machine. But I’ve come to enjoy the rhythm of it. There’s something meditative about working with your hands, knowing you’re creating something that might help a little patch of the world bloom.

The seed ball machine made its first appearance at the Toledo Night Market. And while I’m still working out a few bugs (like humidity issues), the response was lovely. People were kind and curious and paid anyway, happy to have me open it manually and hand them their Meadow Marbles.

There’s still a little tweaking to do, but I believe it is okay to start before things are perfect. Taking this idea from my thoughts and making it a reality was a huge step of confidence and that is usually the most difficult part. Now comes the fun part of fine tuning it until everything is just right. 

I'd like to give a big "Thank You" to all the wonderful patrons from the Toledo Night Market who shared their love and support for this new endeavor. I look forward to seeing this project evolve. 

Let me know what you think of the new seed ball machine! Like and leave a comment on social.

If you’d like to see the full behind-the-scenes process, I’ll be sharing a full video on YouTube soon. Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss it. 

Talk to you soon, 
Brooklyn