What do you do when you have “trash” and some spare time? Get creative.

    That’s what Daricek Shelby of the Zero Community did a few years ago. He saw a lot of metal coffee cans being thrown away at work and thought, “I can do something with all those cans.”

    Shelby’s papaw used to have paint cans nailed up in his barn so that birds could build nests in them. Shelby wanted to copy what his papaw had done, so decided he could use the cans to help birds.

    “I decided to put roofs on them and string some wire so that the birdhouses and birdfeeders could be hung in trees, or wherever the purchaser wanted to hang them,” he said.

    Shelby used to make coffee can birdhouses and birdfeeders to sell. Now that he has his own family, Shelby doesn’t quite have the time to invest in building like he once did. “But, the next best thing I can do is to show people how to make them for themselves,” he said.

    And that is just what he did for the Long Creek Community Development Club members during their June meeting.

    Inside the clubhouse, Shelby brought cans and wires and tools and enthusiasm to demonstrate his technique. The birdhouses and birdfeeders are similarly made, although the houses have a hole cut into the side whereas the feeders do not.

    “Just use your imagination,” he said. “But be careful, especially if you have kids helping. You can cut yourself.”

    Shelby said that his kids enjoy hanging up birdhouses that they helped make in their yard in an effort to save cans and help the birds. In return, Shelby’s family enjoys watching and listening to the birds all summer long.

    So try getting creative this summer while helping to reduce trash in your local landfill. You may just end up bringing new enthusiasm to your yard.

    Yard of the Month for June went to Dwayne Fisher of Fisher Road.

    An ice cream social is planned for the July 13 club meeting at 4892 Zero Road. Those in the Long Creek area are invited to join for free.

• Submitted byJill Renee Walsh