Upcycle An Old Pot Lid And Mason Jar Into A Cute Bird Feeder For Your Backyard

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You can, of course, use Mason jars to preserve food like soups, fruit, and vegetables through canning. They've been a pantry staple since the mid-19th century. However, they're not just handy for human food; you can also use Mason jars to deliver birdseed to the hungry feathered visitors in your backyard. With just a few materials from your local hardware store, it won't take long to upcycle an old Mason jar and a pot lid into a bird feeder you can hang from your patio roof, a sturdy tree branch, or a shepherd's hook.

Before you get started, let's visualize the final product. The mouth of the jar faces downward and attaches to a pre-made bird feeder base. That's where you pour in the birdseed and where birds can access it. The base also acts as a perch for the birds to rest on while they snack. The pot lid attaches to the jar's base — now the top of the feeder — acting as both a protective roof and a place to attach the cord you'll use to hang it outdoors.

Besides a glass jar and an old pot lid, you'll need a few more items to complete this handy way to use an old Mason jar in your yard and garden. Get your hands on a Rocky Mountain Goods Feeder Base, a tube of Gorilla Epoxy Ultimate, and a length of water-resistant paracord or natural hemp rope. If there's no handle on the pot lid, you'll also need a drill and a Muzata Stainless Steel Eye Bolt.

This project should take less than half an hour to complete. If your pot lid doesn't have a handle, you'll need to start by attaching the eye bolt to it. Drill a hole through the center of the pot lid using a drill bit that's slightly larger than the bolt diameter. Then slide the bolt through the hole and screw the nut on firmly. You may need to trim the end of the bolt with a hacksaw to make sure it doesn't interfere with the Mason jar when assembled.

The next step is to attach the pot lid to the bottom of your Mason jar (once inverted) using the adhesive. The epoxy comes in a syringe with two compartments — one compartment contains the resin and the other contains the hardener. Detach the plastic stir stick from the syringe and squeeze out equal amounts of resin and hardener onto a paper plate or piece of scrap plastic. If things get messy, don't worry — you can banish glue stains from your clothes with an item you likely already own: nail polish remover.

Use the stir stick to mix the resin and hardener together and spread the blended adhesive on the bottom of the Mason jar. Press the pot lid firmly onto the Mason jar and wait about five minutes for the adhesive to set. The final step is to turn the Mason jar upright, fill it with birdseed, and screw on the pre-made base. The pot lid will protect the birdseed from rain, but you should still empty and clean the feeder at least once every two weeks.