Homemade Birdseed Wreaths

The Basics

• In the summer or in warm climates, use peanut butter, lard and vegetable oil in wreath mixtures rather than suet, which can become rancid if the temperature is over 70 degrees. Beef tallow (melted suet) will become rancid at temperatures of 80 degrees or higher.

  To make a wreath form, cut a circle from heavy cardboard. Make it any size you like, but 10 inches is the size most often used. Measure and mark a line about 3 inches from the outside edge all the way around, and cut along it to remove the center of the circle.

  To make the wreath, prepare the birdseed mixture according to one of the recipes below and either press it onto a cardboard wreath form or press it into a greased bundt pan or ring-type gelatin mold and let it set until it hardens. Decorate the wreaths with cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds and dried apple slices.

Summer Recipes

• 2 cup vegetable oil or melted shortening
  1 cup each crunchy peanut butter, oatmeal and bird seed
  Mix the ingredients together and spread it on a cardboard wreath form. Add raisins, cranberries, chopped peanuts or sunflower seeds by pressing them into the mixture. Let the wreath dry before hanging.

  1 cup each lard, peanut butter, yellow cornmeal (water-ground or stone-ground, if possible), and sugar, plus 3 cups oatmeal.
  Put the cornmeal and sugar in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, melt the peanut butter and lard together in the microwave, then pour them into the mixing bowl. Add the oatmeal last, about a cup at a time. Pour the mixture into a greased bundt pan or gelatin ring mold. Cool it in the refrigerator, then remove from the pan or mold and allow it to dry on a baking rack.

Winter Wreaths

• 4 packages unflavored gelatin (1/4 oz. each)
  1 1/2 cups boiling water
  8 cups birdseed
  Prepare the gelatin per the package directions Stir in the birdseed, let it set to absorb the liquid, then stir it again. Press the mixture into a greased bundt pan and cool it in the refrigerator. Remove it and allow it to dry on a baking rack.

  1 cup whole-wheat flour
  3s cup yellow cornmeal
  1/2 lb. lard
  1 cup honey or corn syrup
  4 cups bird seed
  Mix all the ingredients together and press the mixture onto a cardboard wreath form. Add cranberries, chopped unsalted nuts, raisins and sunflowers while the mixture is still sticky enough to allow you to press them into its surface. Let the wreath dry, then glue a piece of raffia to the back for hanging.