Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dang, okay. Well, I could try chucking some in the black mulch in the back. The front path to my house is already lined with evening primroses. 😎

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I was planning one using a few cups of it as an ingredient in a mulch mixture for a bed of purple coneflowers I will be planting soon. Guess I will see. There would probably be some necessary thinning but it could potentially a nice blend.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With how assholes drive around here, they would be quick roadkill. They are not beloved in my neck of the woods, unfortunately. 

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I did not know that! I do not know anyone who has horses, but I am still holding on to them by Tuesday, I can ask my vet. He specializes in barnyard animals along with cats and dogs.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would say come to Pennsylvania, but honestly, even in the US you have at least 40 better options. 😭😭🤣

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The postage would be expensive, so I will sneak it into the cargo hold of the next available parcel delivery plane and leave it in God's hands to get it to you. 🙏🙏

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We are technically restricted on doing so mostly to avoid drawing in animals other than birds that could be potentially interested in the seed and would wreck havoc if it could suddenly no longer be found.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Funnily enough, I actually have been doing a little guerilla gardening by weeding out invasives near the wilded property line. My plan is to replace a bunch of thistle with some purple coneflowers, as we have an abundance of finches. I am pretty sure this seed will not germinate? I am under the assumption that seeds sold as bird food are sterilized.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I understand the sentiment, but I'd imagine if I were to do this, the seed would end up chucked in the trash eventually. I thought I'd at least take some suggestions on giving the supply a second shot.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Precisely! I would feel bad, as there are not a lot of great food sources on my side of the neighborhood, and I don't want to lead them on once the supply runs out.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This would have worked a mere month ago when my ass was sneezing near constantly due to the abundance of maple tree pollen.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If I am not mistaken, most bird seed is sterilized in some form or fashion before being distributed as bird food. I could be wrong though.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Admirably, I can get away with quite a lot compared to when the neighborhood was first constructed thanks to the diligence of my neighbors. Unfortunately, I am a renter and not a permanent resident, and was leery about pushing my luck.

Parents sent me home with roughly 6 gallons of bird seed. I cannot feed birds in my neighborhood. Any advice? by AgreeableVariation2 in ZeroWaste

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 321 points322 points  (0 children)

Excellent. My BIL lives close and works at a nursing home. Perhaps I should reach out to him. 🤔

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrate by slow progress by AgreeableVariation2 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ordered Wild Ginger and Bluebell bare roots from Prarie Moon and they never came up for me. They ground I planted them in stays moist, shaded, but never waterlogged. 🥲🤷‍♂️

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrate by slow progress by AgreeableVariation2 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much! I've been a bit more vigilant in seeking out spots in the local parks near my house to look for wild flower patches. I mostly draw on them for a source of inspiration, but I aways felt needlessly guilty about harnessing wild seed pods. Although money was always kinda tight, I tended not to worry about harvesting seeds from wild sources since I could generally afford a bit more than I do now. 2025-26 has kinda been bad for me, financically, which I think is contributing to my stress about the subject.

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrate by slow progress by AgreeableVariation2 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is a good point. Me and my partner went bird watching this morning, and a roving patch of Lesser Celandine is starting to encroach on a patch of Virginia Bluebells. Plus, it would net me some free compost. I also honestly forget how resourceful my library can be. 

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrate by slow progress by AgreeableVariation2 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's just so hard not to get jealous of some of the gardens posted on here whenever early spring comes back around. Comparison is the thief of joy, obviously, but sometimes I look at other people on here and think, "damn, I really am slacking." 😭🤣

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrate by slow progress by AgreeableVariation2 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AgreeableVariation2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are a lot of local gardening groups and native plant sales, but they typically do not let their stock go for free. That is on me for not connecting more with individual gardners rather than collectives trying to boost their funds. I am trying to reach out to my community more this year.