Local artists Christopher Humes and Noah Scalin are getting some attention in the national and international press for spreading their seeds — and their message. As a sort of organic way of reacting to violence, Humes and Scalin create Swedish-meatball-size Seed Bombs made of clay, soil humus and wildflower seeds that are meant to be an easy — and ironic — way for anyone to create beauty around them. “If someone turned a corner to a wildflower meadow, versus an empty lot, think of the positive effects it would have,” Humes says.

It all started in 2004: The duo began by molding the seed mixture into the shape of guns, the year Richmond’s homicide rate grew to a startling 104. Humes and Scalin made a gun for each death, and the growing exhibit showed at galleries around town. The $75 guns are still available, but it’s the $12 12-packs of bombs that are taking off. The L.A. Times, ReadyMade magazine and the Turkish magazine ARENA have gotten wind of the project from bloggers, and the art duo is currently in talks with the W hotel chain about a marketing partnership. Get your eco-friendly political statement at plantthepiece.com.

Green 101

Need help getting started being green? That’s just what Montpelier-based EcoLogic was counting on. They offer six different Green Kits from $10 to $65 on their Web site green-kits.com. Each is filled with nontoxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products such as recycled paper towels, plant-based dishwashing liquid and cedar-oil toilet cleaner. All kits arrive in recycled boxes made of post-consumer waste. Now there’s just that matter of the cleaning…