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Birdhouses & Feeders

Make a House Wren Nesting Box (Free Plans)

Published on February 1, 2021Last updated October 4, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Use these free building plans to build a wren nesting box for your backyard. This box is suitable for House, Carolina, Bewick's and other small wrens. I also have free instructions for … [Read more...]

How To Make a Stone Birdhouse

Published on December 6, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Decorative stone birdhouses and a bluebird.

Make a decorative stone birdhouse for your garden with these step-by-step instructions. With the right adhesive, it can last outdoors for years. To make nesting boxes suitable for wild birds, see … [Read more...]

How to Make a Butterfly Water Feeder

Published on August 11, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Homemade butterfly feeder hanging from a tree branch in the garden.

While butterflies rely on water from puddles and ponds, a simple waterer like this can also help. Made from a repurposed grapevine wreath, it's pretty yet cheap and easy to create. Not sure which … [Read more...]

Easy DIY Ant Moat For Hummingbird Feeders

Published on June 1, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Hummingbird approaching moat at feeder that prevents ants from getting in the sugar water.

If you have ants raiding your hummingbird feeder, this simple DIY moat will prevent them from ever reaching the sugar water. I’ve been using mine for a while now, and it completely solved the … [Read more...]

Make a Chickadee Nesting Box (Free Plans)

Published on May 13, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Chickadee perched on a branch.

Build a chickadee nesting box with these free plans. The hinged roof makes cleanup easy, so you can reuse the box year after year. I also have plans for making a wren nesting box and bluebird … [Read more...]

New Bird Feeder? Use These Tips to Attract Birds

Published on May 1, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Bird eating berry in the garden.

Along with a plant-filled organic garden with plenty of insects and nesting places, there are several other things you can do to attract birds to your garden and encourage them to settle in. See … [Read more...]

How to Make Hummingbird Food (Sugar Water Recipe)

Published on April 27, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Hummingbird landing at sugar water feeder.

Love hummingbirds? This sugar water recipe has the correct ratio to match the nectar hummingbirds find in the wild. We've also simplified it so you can make any size batch from small to large to avoid … [Read more...]

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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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