Pinecone Bird Feeders

birdfeeder1

Making bird feeders is such a lovely way to express and model our love for the animal kingdom and also provides a strong transition from a focused inside activity (in breath moment) to an outside activity (out breath moment).

Little hands love having the responsibility of spreading the lard or peanut butter onto the pinecones as well as the sensory experience of dipping them into the birdseed. This craft is wonderful for even the youngest of children because it is so forgiving and it is hard to make mistakes.

Supplies

  • Pinecones
  • String or Twine
  • Lard or Peanut Butter
  • Bird Seed Mix
  • Butter Knife & Baking Sheet

Let’s Begin

  1. Tie the string or twine around the pinecones in advance – it’s easier to do this now as opposed to when they are all sticky and seedy.
  2. Arrange a bowl of lard or peanut butter in one bowl and the seed in another and have a baking sheet available to lay the finished feeders on.
  3. Provide your child with the knife and demonstrate how to spread the lard or peanut butter onto the pine cone and then how to dip and spread the seed over top
  4. Repeat until you have covered all the pinecones. You can make little seed balls for the squirrels or chipmunks (or possums!) with the left over seed and lard and leave them on ledges or on branches of trees.

Meagan Wilson is a parent educator and author of the now-retired seasonal series of Whole Family Rhythms. After finishing a BA, she went on to complete her Foundations in Steiner Education and Anthroposophy at Sydney Steiner College, as well as her Waldorf Early Childhood Certification at the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto. She has received her certification as a Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach and has supported hundreds of parents to create a strong family rhythm unique to their own values and culture. She has four young children. Meagan provides resources, support and information to parents who are looking for a bridge to cross between their unique family life and their children’s (often but not always) Waldorf schools.

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4 Comments

  1. Claire on November 20, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    I can’t wait to set my daughter up for this… and string them in the trees. Thanks for your inspired work preserving natural, seasonal wonder!

  2. Camilla on November 28, 2017 at 5:21 am

    I really like this, Meagan. A simple, thoughtful and calm activity for the whole family to do together 🙂 Thanks!

  3. The Friday Five: #30 - Unwavering Fable on December 18, 2017 at 6:44 am

    […] | Making pinecone bird feeders with Josephine! She’s been loving birds lately and when the birds finally find our feeders I […]

  4. Kim on February 26, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    We loved doing this activity, but our seeds were eaten mostly by squirrels, and we found that all pine cones were completely ripped off the tree and stolen by greedy squirrels this morning.

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