noun
mud pie; mud ball
A ball of mud shaped by hand, often by children playing. Can also refer to a simple earthen ball.
子供たちは庭で土団子を作って遊んでいた。
The children were playing in the garden, making mud pies.
noun
seed ball; seed bomb
A ball of soil and seeds used in natural farming or guerrilla gardening. Associated with Masanobu Fukuoka's methods.
自然農法では、土団子に種を混ぜて畑にまく。
In natural farming, seed balls mixed with seeds are scattered on the field.
noun
deer truffle; false truffle
A type of fungus (Elaphomyces granulatus) that grows underground. Usually written in katakana as ツチダンゴ.
ツチダンゴはシカが好んで食べるキノコの一種だ。
The deer truffle is a type of mushroom that deer like to eat.
Compound of 土 (tsuchi, 'earth, soil') and 団子 (dango, 'dumpling, ball'). The deer truffle sense comes from its resemblance to a dirt ball.