Gardeners use bamboo and burlap to deter crop-eating birds
A six-step guide details how to construct a 7-foot figure using household items to protect organic vegetables and flowers.
By Priya Marino ·
Gardeners and farmers can protect their crops from local flocks of birds by building a scarecrow from common household materials. The process involves constructing a frame from bamboo poles and dressing the structure in old clothing. This method serves as a physical barrier for organic vegetable gardens and flower beds where pesticide use is not desired.
The construction begins with a 7-foot bamboo pole and a 4-foot bamboo pole. Builders use a hammer and nails to join the two poles in a cross shape. The 4-foot pole must be positioned half a meter down the length of the 7-foot pole. Wood glue offers an alternative to nails for this connection. The resulting frame mimics the skeleton of a human figure.
Dressing the frame requires a large shirt, a pair of old pants, and a wide-brimmed hat. The shirt is slid onto the horizontal pole of the frame. Builders pull the sleeves through to the center of the spine and button the shirt. Wire is used to tie the bottom of the shirt and secure the sleeves to the arms. The wide-brimmed hat helps prevent birds from identifying the figure as inanimate.
The pants are prepared by tying wire around the leg openings. Straw or hay is stuffed into the pant legs up to the waistline to create a full appearance. The pants are then attached to the bottom of the shirt with additional wire. The shirt is filled with straw, hay, leaves, or wood clippings. Builders can adjust the stuffing to create specific shapes, such as broad shoulders or a rounded belly.
The head is formed from a burlap sack. The sack is filled with the same material used for the body and shaped by hand. Twine is tied around the open end of the sack to secure the filling. The completed head is pushed onto the top of the 7-foot pole. A permanent marker can be used to draw a face on the burlap surface.
The finished scarecrow is placed in a spot with high bird activity. The base of the 7-foot pole is driven into the ground. In hard soil, builders may dig a post hole about one foot deep to ensure stability. The hat is placed on the head as a final step. Historical records show that scarecrows have been used since Egyptian times to ward off crows. In medieval Britain, children dressed as scarecrows to patrol fields. In Germany, figures were designed to resemble witches to encourage spring.
Shop Square burlap potato sacks and Grandpa’s Best Timothy Hay Bale are recommended for the project. The burlap sacks provide structure for the head and body. The hay is soft and pliable, allowing it to be molded easily. Prices for these items were listed at the time of publication but may change.
A bird field guide is suggested for gardeners who need to identify the specific species frequenting their plots. The scarecrow method is presented as a solution for holes in flowers and crops in organic settings. The materials listed include twine, wire, burlap, straw, and old clothing.
