On Fridays, it gets pretty quiet around here. Everybody gets their work done and is gone for the weekend. So, as I was sitting at my computer Friday afternoon, I hear what sounds like construction work going on in the kitchen.
The catnip leaves need to be chopped up.
I come down the stairs and see Sonja working the food processor and sitting next to her is a bowl of what looks like "grass soup."
Here you can see the "grass soup" being mixed.
She informed me that she was making homemade insect repellent. The main ingredient is catnip leaves! Apparently, after running it through the chopper, pouring boiling water over it and then draining the remainder into a jar like a tea, you can then use it to keep flies, mosquitoes and many other pesky insects from bothering you.
This mixture is ten times more effective than any commercial product with DEET in it. DEET has been proven to have negative effects, so if you can make the time, making your own herbal repellent can be healthier and if you put it in an essential oil (grape seed or jojoba oil), it can also be good for your skin.
Sonja claims its more effective in repelling insects, yet she warns that you'd better be careful wearing it around your house cats. You might be in for a good pouncing.
