Upcyling is a creative way to turn what might be trash into useful materials, and the kitchen is a prime resource for this kind of ingenuity. Though you might not be turning wine-making waste into food like the company CrushDynamics does, you can convert an empty egg carton into food-holding containers for creatures. Used cardboard egg cartons offer ready-to-fill compartments that can be packed with soil and seeds to make a small, portable garden — or filled with food that can keep the birds in your backyard happy and fed. After cutting off the top of the egg carton, puncture holes into the corners of the bottom so that you can string twine through.
You’ll want to balance the string so that the filled carton can be tied from a tree branch or suitable perch. Depending on the kind of egg carton you have, you can also thread larger rope through the center of the container to knot, tie, and suspend it. To attract birds, fill the empty holes with fruits, seeds, and nuts. You can also paint the carton bright colors like red or orange, which will stand out to birds such as fruit-loving orioles. High-sugar content fruits such as grapes, apples, berries, oranges, and bananas are good starting points. The fruit will also attract fruit flies and small insects, which will provide the birds with a protein boost. It’s hard to think of a better way to get rid of fruit flies!
Repurpose trash into wholesome entertainment
Should you not have access to a place to hang your creation, the egg carton feeder can also be set on top of a surface so that you can watch various animals retrieve their snacks. If you want to see a variety of birds land outside your window, you can fill the empty egg carton holes with seeds. You can buy pre-made mixtures from the store or make your own bird seed snack. Safflower seeds are loved by cardinals, and thistle seeds are eaten up by American goldfinches and common redpolls.
Placing nuts and sunflower seeds into the egg carton may also bring squirrels to your yard. To keep the seeds somewhat contained in the egg carton feeder, you can swipe xylitol-free peanut butter into the compartments before filling it with seeds. The success of your egg carton creations may inspire you to make other kinds of bird feeders using empty milk cartons or leftover melamine bowls from last night’s dinner party. Saving fruit pieces and unwanted nuts to add to feeders is one of many ways you can repurpose kitchen scraps to reduce food waste, too.
