We grew a pantry for the birds! 

-What I excitedly told my husband when I saw some sparrows eating seeds from last summer's sunflower patch. They are long since dead, yet they still serve as a much needed food source. I had no idea that animals would continue to rely on them through the cold months. Expecting them to be picked clean long before now. 

We planted them instead of hanging a feeder, preferring to build up the ecosystem rather than do so artificially. To leave something that would persist beyond ourselves.

It also felt more environmentally friendly than buying farmed seeds and having them shipped. We could instead grow them locally (on the flowers themselves) and allow the birds to self-harvest the seeds as needed. 

If you have a yard, buy a bag of sunflower bird seeds and plant them liberally somewhere to grow your own patch. (It's cheaper to buy in bulk that way.) 

The feeling that it brings is truly magical…. 😃