Don't Toss An Old Coffee Container - Here's A Clever Way To Use It In The Garden

It's no secret: We love our coffee. According to the National Coffee Association, two-thirds of Americans drink it on a daily basis, and among them, 71% make their coffee at home. That adds up to a lot of coffee grounds — and a lot of containers that likely end up getting tossed. The next time you use up that last scoop of grounds, consider upcycling the container into a bird feeder. 

Bird feeders come in many styles, such as trays, tubes, window- or table-mounted, houses, and more. But if you're a DIYer, you have even more options. You can build one from popsicle sticks, plastic bottles, or even repurpose chipped coffee mugs. Reusing a plastic coffee container is one of the simplest DIY ideas, since it merely requires cutting holes and figuring out how to mount or hang it.

First, decide where you want to set up the feeder. Ideally, it will be mounted on a pole about 5 feet high and at least 10 feet from trees or other structures, to make it less accessible to other critters. If you hang it from a branch or set it on a flat surface, you're running the risk of attracting squirrels. However, if this is your best option, use this common spice to keep squirrels off your bird feeder. Before working with the coffee container, clean it to get rid of any residual coffee grounds. Wash the tub with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. You can use this same solution when regularly disinfecting the bird feeder. Rinse well to completely remove any bleach and then dry the container thoroughly.

Use a box cutter or sharp scissors to cut holes into the container. You can cut several large openings into the side of the tub to give birds access from multiple angles. You can also cut one or two smaller holes several inches up from the bottom of the container, and insert thin dowels below each one as a perch — an option that works well for hanging feeders. Another design is to cut a large opening into the lid and mount the feeder horizontally, with the bottom of the container drilled into the pole, as pictured above. 

If the feeder needs to be hung, whether from a tall shepherd's hook, on a branch, or a hook hanging from your patio overhang, drill a small hole in the center of the coffee container lid and another hole directly below that in the bottom of the tub. Thread durable string through the top and bottom holes, going right through the container. Tie a knot below the bottom of the container to secure the string underneath the feeder, and make a loop above the lid for hanging. For a pole-mounted feeder, simply drill a screw through the coffee container into the pole, but make sure you can unscrew it easily for cleaning. 

Clean your feeders about every two weeks, but even more frequently if you're getting a high amount of visitors or if damp weather is causing the bird seeds to mold quickly. Also, don't forget to regularly clean the area below the feeder. This not only keeps bird seeds from germinating, but also prevents birds and other animals from feasting on spoiled seeds.