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DIY Bee Feeder

One way to help local bees is to provide a type of feeder. Bees eat pollen and nectar from flowers. If you want to attract bees in a subtle, decorative way, use a planter. Fortunately, bees populate many types of flowers, so you can use different types in the feeder. Another method is to use a nectar substitute, like sugar water, inside of a feeder. This type of feeder requires you to refill it occasionally

Things You'll Need

Long planter box
Soil
Hand shovel
Flowers
Water bottle with cap
Hammer
Small nail
Peanut butter lid
Ruler
Floral wire
Wire cutters
Saucepan
Sugar
Funnel

Instructions

Pollen
- 1
  Fill a planter box three-fourths full of soil. Do not pack the soil.
- 2
  Dig a hole in the dirt, about 4 inches deep. Dig another hole, 2 inches down from the first. Keep digging holes until you have enough for the flowers or run out of room. Leave a 1-inch space of dirt at each end of the planter.
- 3
  Remove one flower from the tray. Hold it over one of the holes. Loosen the roots with your fingers, and then place it in the hole. Pack dirt around the roots. Repeat with all of the other flowers until all the holes contain a planted flower.
- 4
  Wet the soil with water. Place the planter outside in a low traffic area.
Sugar Water
- 5
  Rinse out a water bottle. Place the cap right side up on a flat surface. Hold the nail over the center of the cap. Hammer the nail in to the cap to make a hole. Remove the nail.
- 6
  Measure the distance across the peanut butter lid. Measure the height of the peanut butter lid. Multiply the height of the lid by two and add that number to the distance. Add 4 inches. Cut two pieces of floral wire to this length.
- 7
  Lay one wire on a flat surface. Measure the distance of the height from one end of the wire. Add a 1/2 inch. Bend that amount of the wire into a "L" shape. Repeat with the other wire.
- 8
  Place the peanut butter lid, flat side down, on top of one of the wires. Push the lid against the "L." Bend the top of the "L" over the peanut butter lid.
- 9
  Lay the second wire perpendicular to the first wire. Place the peanut butter lid on the second wire and bend the second wire in place as you did the first.
- 10
  Bend the other end of both wires upward against the edge of the peanut butter lid. The lid now has bent wire over two of the sides and two wires standing upright. Imagine a plus sign shape with the wires.
- 11
  Fill the water bottle with water. Pour the water into a saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow the water to cool for 20 minutes.
- 12
  Place the funnel inside the opening of the water bottle. Pour the sugar water into the bottle. Screw on the lid.
- 13
  Set the peanut butter lid on top of the water bottle's lid. Hold the peanut butter lid so there is about a 1/2-inch gap between the bottom of the peanut butter lid and the top of the water bottle lid. Wrap the two wires sticking up around the neck of the water bottle.
- 14
  Turn the water bottle upside down and place it on a flat, outdoor surface.

Animals & Science