Terra Seeds is a planting kit designed by Tom Fosbery of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Israel. Intended for hobbyists, families and urban gardeners, the project replaces conventional seed packets and planting accessories with fan-shaped units made from compressed local soil, tapioca starch, nutrients and seeds. Each unit is placed directly into the ground, where it breaks down naturally during the growing process. The planting medium, nutrients and seeds are combined within a single component, eliminating the need for separate packaging.
Compressed local soil forms the structure of the kit, while tapioca starch acts as a natural binder during handling and storage. Once exposed to moisture, the starch dissolves and allows the unit to decompose into the surrounding soil. Nutrients are integrated into the material to support early plant growth after planting. The fan-shaped geometry provides a stable form while maintaining a compact footprint.
Image Credit: Tom Fosbery
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Zero-packaging Gardening
- Compostable seed formats point to new retail models where planting products reduce plastic, paper and accessory waste while simplifying the consumer gardening experience.
- All-in-one Planting Units
- Integrated combinations of seeds, nutrients and growing media create opportunities for beginner-friendly products that collapse multiple gardening steps into a single biodegradable component.
- Local-material Product Design
- Using regionally sourced soil and natural binders highlights potential for lower-impact manufacturing systems that adapt gardening products to local climates, crops and supply chains.
Sectors Adopting This
- Home Gardening
- Hobbyist and family gardening markets could be reshaped by compact, ready-to-plant formats that make seed starting more accessible for casual growers and small-space households.
- Sustainable Packaging
- Packaging companies have room to explore edible, soluble or soil-compatible materials that function as both product structure and end-use medium rather than disposable wrapping.
- Urban Agriculture
- Dense city growing environments benefit from lightweight, low-waste planting systems that support balconies, community gardens and educational programs with minimal storage and setup requirements.
