IKEA serves new Swedish Seedball just for insects

IKEA seedball

Mention IKEA food and what springs to mind? Swedish meatballs. Through the years, it has gone through quite a few transformations. In 2020, they introduced plant balls and a year later, the very strange meatball scented candles.

Now, it’s cooking up a meal for a different appetite — an IKEA Seedball for bugs and insects.

IKEA Seedball project with World Wildlife Fund. Sprouted Seedball with butterfly and bee.
Photo: IKEA Denmark

Partnering with World Wildlife Fund, IKEA Denmark is offering a new plantable seedball to raise awareness of the lack of wild habitats for insects. As noted in Hypebae, the joint collaboration is part of a larger initiative dubbed Denmark’s Wild Gardens, which hopes to inspire garden owners to “make Danish nature more wild.”

IKEA Denmark’s country communication manager Christian Mourox said in a statement: “It was important for us to create a campaign that could start a conversation about biodiversity, but also let people take part in the fight for more wild nature. The Seedballs are a great way to do that, especially because they allow all ages to join in and get an understanding of an otherwise very complex issue.”

It’s not the first time IKEA placed bugs on its radar. Two years ago, they offered plans for a Bee Home. The project detailed a free and open-source design that enables anyone, anywhere to design, customise and fabricate a home to support these tiny pollinators.

And now, it’s insect food.

What’s an IKEA Seedball?

Unlike the iconic IKEA Swedish Meatballs, the ingredients for Swedish Seedballs are less tasty, for humans at least. The recipe calls for soil, compost, clay and wildflower seeds. Mix the first 3 ingredients in water and roll them into little balls.

Poke a hole in the centre of the Seedball or Fröbullar. Then, drop in a few seeds such as snake head, cat tail, thimble or similar wild flowers. Close up the holes and let them dry for a few days.

Then just place the seedballs in the garden, pot or planter. Water the seedballs and in time, the seeds will sprout into a big meal for little insects.

IKEA Denmark is offering 7,500 kits exclusively to members of IKEA Family loyalty programme. If you can’t get your hands on a free kit, head over to IKEA Denmark for the free guide on making your own Seedballs at home.

When making the Fröbullar at home, the thing to note is to use wildflower seeds native to your location in order to serve up a tasty meal for hungry insects. And while you’re at it make a big batch and pass the Seedballs out as gifts to plant loving friends. The little guys need as much munching ground as we can give them.

For your own dining, try this Swedish Meatball recipe instead.