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Homegrown Goodness for the Felines

October 5th, 2017

I always grow catnip in the garden. Little sprigs are picked throughout the growing season and brought in for the cats. This time of year I harvest armloads of it to dry for the stuffing of cat toys, which I make and give to friends & family. I found the fantastic Cotton & Steel fabric to use for the cat toys I make. I simply cut the cats out, back with scrap fabric, and sew a piece of cotton string in for the tail. So far all the recipients have fallen in love with their toys. As you can see, it’s hard to keep our cats away from the toys I make for others.


Catnip is also valuable in the garden because it’s a great insect deterrent. If the mosquitoes are bothering me while I’m working, I harvest a handful of the catmint and rub it on my exposed skin. This works splendidly for me (the cats love it too). I once went to a friend’s home and her cats were rubbing on me and licking my legs. We got a good laugh when I remembered that I’d rubbed myself down with catnip that morning because the mosquitoes were thick in the garden. Perhaps I’ll make a few to sell someday, until then, all of our cats and our friend’s cat will be happily enjoying the homegrown catnip.

What fun gifts are making? Are you able to use any garden items in them? 

One Comment to “Homegrown Goodness for the Felines”
  1. Dorothy Donatello on October 7, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    Susie, I have been following your blog for years and I look forward to every post. I will say I really miss your podcasts. But to the point, I love your cat toys and would love to order some for my friends and my cats for Xmas. Is that at all possible? I do not have a machine and by hand, it will not look professional. Please e=mail me if it is a possibility. keep up the great posts.
    Thank you.

    Reply to Dorothy Donatello's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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