Opal’s homestead hacks: Feed the birds

This one really is for the birds.

Opal Harbert, whose life has been more Laura Ingalls than Kim Kardashian, is the queen of making do.

Her penchant for borderline-hoarding, repurposing, and DIY-ing, ever fodder for teasing and eye-rolls, is suddenly seriously sought.

Want proof? Store shelves full of packaged sweets, but empty of flour and sugar.

Canning jars no longer collecting dust. A plethora of social media shares for how-tos and home hacks.

When businesses shutter and conveniences decline, stretching resources becomes instinct, whether we’re actually facing shortages of supplies and income or simply fearing them.

“It’s really a mindset,” Opal said. “We live in such a consumerist, throwaway type society where we buy, use and throw away. I guess that’s changing again.”

So far, Opal’s taught us the lazy way to make healthy broth, repurpose pickle and olive juice, and spare green garbage, returning it to the soil as “lazy” compost.

Today, let’s talk about eggs.

Eggs are cheap protein and quick to fix. Two quickly satisfy hunger pangs and won’t make you fat. Just don’t toss the shells.

“We keep a bowl by our stove,” Opal said. “Put eggshells in the bowl and let them dry, then crush them and sprinkle on the grass. Two reasons: Birds eat them, and what they ‘leave’ is also good for the ground.”

It’s almost poetic. Eggs come from birds (albeit a different kind). It’s apropos of the cycle of life to return them from whence they came.

Shells aren’t the only thing birds could use. Long hair from humans and pets may wreak havoc on vacuums and allergies, but it’s like high-quality lumber to winged creatures.

“Another springtime thing — when you brush cats and dogs, the hair that comes out (and people hair) is great for bird nests,” Opal said. “Sometimes we have found a bird nest with hair from our horses; it’s really fun to see that.”

The Harberts’ yard is home to several non-humanoids.

Need a selfish reason to save egg and brush remnants? Trash bags are expensive. The less trash you produce, the fewer bags you’ll need. Every penny saved …

Coming up: Lazy hydroponics, keeping food fresh, and more shortcuts.