Feeding the Birds

When snow covers the ground and ice coats the trees, birds have a hard time finding food. In the winter, birds do not have insects as a food source so they are dependent on seeds. They forage for seeds in the bushes and trees as well as on the ground, but ice can coat every seed and blanket the forest floor. Furthermore, more and more humans have replaces native bushes and trees with sidewalks and lawns. It has become harder and harder for birds to find food, especially during ice or snow storms.

When I hear that winter weather is on its way, I buy a bag of bird food. My son helps me fill the bird feeders. He enjoys filling them slowly, cup by cup. The scoop and pour of tiny seeds is very satisfying. Then we watch the birds from our bed first thing in the morning. My son's favorite bird is the cardinal and the summer tanager, both red birds. I get excited when we see the red bellied woodpecker.

It is important to hang bird feeders away from windows because some birds will get confused by the reflection and can fly into the glass. Sometimes it is necessary to buy reflectors and put them on nearby windows. It is important to keep predators in mind when setting up a feeder so that it is not a trap. However, some birds will prefer fallen seeds because they are ground foragers.

In the winter birds look fat. They puff up their feathers for insulation and look as if they could not eat another bite. But they are not overweight, they are just fluffing their feathers to stay warm. In the summer I stop feeding the birds. During seasons when food is plentiful, birds need to do their natural duties of spreading native seeds and keeping insects in check. However, in the winter and early spring when times are tough, I think it is important for people to feed birds. Besides it is fun and entertaining. Happy Birding!

All the pictures were taken by Lisa Parker. Thanks Lisa! 

Natural Homemade Laundry Soap

I don't buy laundry detergent anymore. I hate the way it smells (mountain breeze? really?) I don't see the need for  all the chemicals they use to make them. And the price of natural detergents is too much. Besides, making laundry soap is easy, cheap, and better for the environment than most detergents.

Ingredients:

1 c. Washing soda
1 c. Borax
1/3 of a Bar of Soap

I use Fels-Naptha soap for the dirtiest toughest clothes with stains. (These three things should be easily found in the laundry isle of your local grocery store.) But Fels-Naptha soap is not as environmentally sound as I would like. So for regular loads I use a natural, locally made soap. I buy a locally made lavender soap from Rudbud Gardens.

Mix together the washing soda and borax first. Then use a cheese grater to grate the bar soap. Mix the grated bar soap into the soda and borax mixture slowly.
If you have a larger container you can double or triple the recipe.

Use only a tablespoon or two per load.

And that is it! Simple, cheap, eco... What more could you want?