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	<title>Better Backyard Blog &#187; Garden Accessories</title>
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		<title>Edible Birdhouses</title>
		<link>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/edible-birdhouses/1041/</link>
		<comments>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/edible-birdhouses/1041/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:49:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Garden Accessories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edible bird house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edible bird houses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edible birdhouse]]></category>
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</style>Edible birdhouses do exist and are growing ever popular.  These types of birdhouses are great family do-it-yourself projects.  There is no need to pull out any tools if you do not want to.  Edible birdhouses are constructed mostly of edible food items commonly found in any household.  Additionally, edible birdhouses allow for more birds to [...]]]></description>
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</style><p>Edible birdhouses do exist and are growing ever popular.  These types of birdhouses are great family do-it-yourself projects.  There is no need to pull out any tools if you do not want to.  Edible birdhouses are constructed mostly of edible food items commonly found in any household.  Additionally, edible birdhouses allow for more birds to feed at the same time.  The entire birdhouse offers food to any curious bird that happens to drop in for a taste.  Some edible birdhouses are more like works of art when they are finally completed and add great character to any landscape.</p>
<div style="float: left; margin: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K33HX4/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=backyard-blog-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=B000K33HX4"><img src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=B000K33HX4&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=backyard-blog-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" alt="Edible Birdhouse" border="0" /></a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=backyard-blog-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000K33HX4&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></div>
<p>If you are looking for a great family time project, try building an edible birdhouse.  This great do-it-yourself project is quick, easy, and fun.  Common food items like sunflower seeds, various nuts, peanut butter, flour, graham crackers, and raisins are all that’s needed.  Then, you will need a paper plate, twine or string, Elmer’s glue or your favorite brand, and a small milk carton.  Cut three holes into the paper plate forming a wide triangle around the edge.  This will be used to string the twine and hang the birdhouse when it is completed.  Take the milk carton and glue it to the bottom of the paper plate.  Mix the peanut butter and flour in a bowl and cover the graham crackers with this super sticky mortar and stick it to the sides and top of the milk carton.  Now decorate the exposed sticky side of the graham crackers with birdseeds, nuts, and raisins.  Viola!  Your edible birdhouse is now ready to be hung.</p>
<p>Anyone who has ever witnessed the traditional birdhouse in action knows that space can become limited as more and more birds fight for room as they concentrate around the main feeding dish.  The fact that all parts of an edible birdhouse are fair game puts this issue to rest.  As a result, all birds frequenting this edible birdhouse are not obligated to wrestle for feeding room.  If it is congested in one area of an edible birdhouse, any of your feathered friends can just shift their location and resume their delicious meal.</p>
<p>An edible birdhouse can be exotic or as simple as you want it to be.  It can be custom made to your exact specifications.  Generally, custom ordered birdhouses are made of natural wood and covered with bird seeds and nuts.  Another idea for edible birdhouses that can be considered is doing your own conversion.  By this I mean that your own homemade edible mortar of peanut butter and flour can be applied to a plain birdhouse’s exterior and then the birdhouse can be decorated with sunflower seeds, various nuts of your choice, and raisins.</p>
<p>Edible birdhouses are great educational fun.  Because of the design concept of this particular style of birdfeed, edible birdhouses offer your feathered friends more of a feeding opportunity and reduce the central feeding bowl clutter normally associated wit ha traditional birdhouse or bird feed.  Whether you choose to do the construction of your edible birdhouse yourself and count it as quality time for the family or buy a custom made edible birdhouse, you will find this interesting design for feeding birds very intriguing.</p>
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		<title>Add a Touch of Class to Your Lawn with a Gazebo Birdfeeder</title>
		<link>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/add-a-touch-of-class-to-your-lawn-with-a-gazebo-birdfeeder/1286/</link>
		<comments>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/add-a-touch-of-class-to-your-lawn-with-a-gazebo-birdfeeder/1286/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:08:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BirdHouses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Garden Accessories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bird feeders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gazebo birfeeder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outdoor spaces]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/?p=1286</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style>Birdfeeders are decorative and provide food for birds all year long but a gazebo birdfeeder adds a touch of class to any backyard and garden. Designed in an octagon shape, the gazebo birdfeeder is a classic. It’s made in the image of the fashionable backyard gazebos with a roof for shade and a platform for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style><p>Birdfeeders are decorative and provide food for birds all year long but a gazebo birdfeeder adds a touch of class to any backyard and garden. Designed in an octagon shape, the gazebo birdfeeder is a classic. It’s made in the image of the fashionable backyard gazebos with a roof for shade and a platform for the birds to sit on while feeding.</p>
<p>This design makes it easy for birds to reach the food and you can hang it from the eve of your house or mount it on a pole. Placing it on a pole will make it harder for squirrels to reach the seed. They come in all sizes and colors so you can find something that suits your taste perfectly.</p>
<p>Gazebos birdfeeders help create a tranquil atmosphere and they add color and style to your backyard. They’re fun to collect and they can be used all year long to keep the birds in your neighborhood healthy and happy.</p>
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		<title>How to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders</title>
		<link>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-bird-feeders/1267/</link>
		<comments>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-bird-feeders/1267/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:21:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Garden Accessories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoor Spaces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[backyard bird feeders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bird feeders]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/?p=1267</guid>
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</style>If you enjoy feeding birds in your backyard, you may have notice a problem with squirrels. They tend to run the birds off and eat all of the seed. However, there are a few things that you can do to help squirrel-proof your feeders. You can buy a specialty feeder designed especially for keeping the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style><p>If you enjoy feeding birds in your backyard, you may have notice a problem with squirrels. They tend to run the birds off and eat all of the seed. However, there are a few things that you can do to help squirrel-proof your feeders.</p>
<p>You can buy a specialty feeder designed especially for keeping the squirrels out and away from the birdseed. One of the designs available has a door that closes when the weight of a squirrel is placed on the feeder. Some are made from metal, which makes it nearly impossible for the squirrels to destroy but there are others available as well.</p>
<p>Another option would be to squirrel-proof the feeders you already have. One suggestion is to place a cage around the feeder that would keep the squirrels out but leave openings large enough for your feathered friends to enter. You could also put the bird feeder on a pole about six feet high away from any trees or bushes. This will make it easily assessable to the birds but very difficult for the squirrels to reach.</p>
<p>If all else fails, you can change the birdseed that you currently use. Birds love sunflower seeds but so do squirrels. Find a seed that the birds will eat but one that the squirrels will ignore. You can also set up a separate feeder with corn seeds, sunflower seeds, or berries just for the squirrels to draw them away from the birdfeeders. Keeping the squirrels out of the feeders will make it much more appealing for the birds so you may see some new arrivals the summer.</p>
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		<title>Keep Your Hummingbird Feeders Clean</title>
		<link>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/keep-your-hummingbird-feeders-clean/1265/</link>
		<comments>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/keep-your-hummingbird-feeders-clean/1265/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:21:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Garden Accessories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoor Spaces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bir feeders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hummingbird feeders]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/?p=1265</guid>
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</style>Hummingbirds are a nice addition to any backyard and one way to attract them is by placing feeders around in different places. However, it’s important that you keep the feeders clean to keep the hummingbirds healthy. If you leave the nectar in a feeder for too long, bacteria, mold and fermentation can occur. This is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style><p>Hummingbirds are a nice addition to any backyard and one way to attract them is by placing feeders around in different places. However, it’s important that you keep the feeders clean to keep the hummingbirds healthy.</p>
<p>If you leave the nectar in a feeder for too long, bacteria, mold and fermentation can occur. This is very dangerous to these beautiful birds so it’s important that you know how and when to clean them. When the temperature is below 70 degrees, change the nectar and clean the feeder about once a week.</p>
<p>When the temperature goes above 70 degrees, you’ll need to clean the feeders two or three times a week. As a rule, the hotter it gets, the more often you need to clean and change the nectar. If at any time you see black spots inside the hummingbird feeder or when the liquid turns to a milky color, it’s time to clean.</p>
<p>Clean the feeder once a month with half a cup of bleach added to a gallon of water to sanitize or anytime the feeder becomes contaminated. During the rest of the time, rinsing it out with hot water will usually be enough to get it clean. When you keep the hummingbirds happy and healthy, they’ll return year after year for you to enjoy.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>How to Plan for a Garden Shed</title>
		<link>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/how-to-plan-for-a-garden-shed/1254/</link>
		<comments>http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/how-to-plan-for-a-garden-shed/1254/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:08:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Garden Accessories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outdoor shed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outdoor spaces]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.betterbackyards.com/blog/?p=1254</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style>A garden shed may be just what you need to get your backyard or garden area neat and organized. However, pulling a garden shed into an already established area can come with its own set of problems as well. One way to combat this is to plan ahead for your garden shed and prep your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">
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</style><p>A garden shed may be just what you need to get your backyard or garden area neat and organized. However, pulling a garden shed into an already established area can come with its own set of problems as well. One way to combat this is to plan ahead for your garden shed and prep your area for the transition.</p>
<p>First, you should determine how large of a shed you will need to suit your tools, equipment and other items. You also need to factor in the amount of space you have for a shed before determining on a size. You can then survey your yard and determine the best location for the shed. While there are more portable options, you should plan for the shed to be in this spot for a long time.</p>
<p>You may also want to create a path to the entrance of your garden shed. Clear away any obstacles and line the path with rocks or low fencing. Pathway lighting is also very beneficial. You may also want to choose a garden shed that complements your home. It doesn’t have to match exactly and it could be something that you paint yourself but complementary colors will be pleasing for much longer. It will also add to the property value.</p>
<p>When you have all of the details worked out, you are ready to purchase or build your garden shed.</p>
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