Mara Zimmerman

SEAD is a collection of biodegradable vessels and packaging that can be planted in the ground along with the seeds they hold, as a means of protecting and nourishing the soil. Designed for small growers cultivating home and urban gardens, the set consists of three parts—the SEAD Pod, SEAD Egg, and SEAD Cup—produced through a simple binderless manufacturing process. SEAD serves as a case study in which waste is used as an alternative to virgin material. I used seafood processing waste to facilitate the cultivation of heirloom seeds for SEAD. The set includes a number of SEAD Pods, each of which contains heirloom seed. I designed the pods so that they can be broken off and planted along with the seeds they contain. The rest of the seeds remain sealed and protected for storage. The SEAD Egg is designed to encourage the inexperienced and less horticulturally inclined to find joy and engagement in the growing process. Its whimsical shape invites the sower to crack it open and add the shell to the soil along with its seed contents. The SEAD Cup is a small container that aids seed germination, allowing for initial placement in more controlled conditions and subsequent transplantation directly into the soil, without the need for unpotting and disturbing young roots. I developed SEAD with the goal of creating a holistic framework that can help people bring sustainable material-based projects into the real world.