As soon as I spotting this bird feeder in Fern Richardson’s beautiful, new book Small-Space Container Gardens, I immediately had to ask her publisher, Timber Press, if I could share it with my fellow Curbliers. Okay, yeah, it’s a bird feeder and Fern’s book is about small space gardening, but she does devote an entire chapter on attracting birds, bees and butterflies to tiny gardens. So there. Now, on to the tutorial!“The simple, clean lines of this square bird feeder make a classy contrast to all the vibrant, wildlife-friendly plants. A paint job inspired by artist Piet Mondrian’s black and primary color palette would add another level to the minimalist theme. Regardless of how pleasing the end results are to the human eye, remember that birds will only show their enthusiasm when the feeder is stocked with delectable seed.”
Supplies
- 4 (1-foot) lengths 1 x 2 wood
- 4 (1-1/2-inch) galvanized screws
- Linseed oil
- Multi-surface heavy duty glue, such as Gorilla Glue
- Small ceramic pot without a drainage hole
- 1 hook bolt
- Birdseed
Method
1. Screw the 4 pieces of 1 x 2 wood together to make a square frame.
2. Seal the wood with linseed oil.
3. Run a bead of glue around the bottom inner edge of the ceramic pot. Place the pot in the center of the bottom of the frame and wiggle gently to make sure there is good contact between the glue, the pot, and the wood frame. Allow the glue to completely harden before proceeding.
4. Screw the hook bolt into the top of the frame, directly above the pot. Add birdseed to the ceramic pot and hang the feeder outside. Enjoy watching birds discover your feeder!
