"You need to dig out your soil about four inches deep and mix the dirt with a cup of sand and then refill the depression," he said. "That will help filter the water, and toads love to dig, so the sand is good for that."

Some garden centers may sell toad houses, but Helbig prefers to make his with hardware cloth and netting. When it's finished, he sprays it with a polyurethane sealer and lets it dry. The houses can be made in any shape or size.

In addition to bee blocks and toad houses, Helbig makes English style bat boxes and bluebird boxes. The material is all recycled, with the exception of the fasteners needed for the lids.

"I get the wood from wherever I can find it," he said. "The roofing metal I use on the bat and bluebird houses comes from scrap "¦" Helbig said while he does charge a minimal fee for his creations, it's not about the money.

"We know so little about nature," he said. "I want to share what information I've learned."

As part of that effort, Helbig plans to get a Web site for Earthbird up and running in the near future and hopes to begin offering programs at the library next spring.

n Jerri Brouse is a freelance writer who lives in Lewisburg. E-mail comments to scoop@ptd.net.