A sweet tweet

Welcome birds such as cardinals and chickadees into your winter garden with these easy-to-make seed-covered balls. To keep furry critters at bay, we’ve mounted ours on a suet ball feeder ($2.99), but a garden stake or bent coat hanger will work, too.

Designed by Kate Seaver, Kate’s Garden, Markham, Ontario.

What you’ll need

• 2 tbsp. (30 mL) corn oil
• 2 cups (500 mL) rolled oats
• 1 cup (250 mL) peanut butter
• 1 cup (250 mL) sunflower seeds
• ½ cup (125 mL) whole-wheat flour
• ½ cup (125 mL) crushed eggshells
• 1 cup (250 mL) vegetable shortening
• Cornmeal as needed

Method

1. Combine all ingredients except cornmeal in a bowl. Add enough cornmeal to hold mixture together.

2. Form into balls or bricks, then freeze overnight.

3. Place on feeder.

Read more in How to and Wildlife