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Backyard Bazaars

Backyard Elder Branch Pith Insect Nesting Tube Maker

Cut hollow elderberry twigs, push out soft interior pith, and bundle natural wooden tubes for solitary bee houses.

Startup Cost: £15 Location: Remote/Home Difficulty: Easy Useful side income A few hours a week

Earning and time figures are our broad estimates, not guarantees — actual results depend on your area, your effort and demand.

Why it's left-field

Gardeners buy bundles of hollow elderberry twigs prepared in your garden shed to re-stock solitary bee hotels.

How it works

  1. 1Prune straight elderberry branches from garden hedges during winter pruning.
  2. 2Push soft white interior pith out using brass rods to create hollow wooden nesting tubes.
  3. 3Tie uniform hollow twig tubes into bundles of 20 with jute twine for online sale.

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