Gardening

From the scientists: How to use catnip as a mosquito repellent

From the scientists: How to use catnip as a mosquito repellent thumbnail

We talked to the scientists whose research showed catnip to be as effective as DEET in deterring mosquitoes to find out how to use catnip as a mosquito repellent. Find out what they had to say AND how you can grow and use catnip to fend off mosquitoes! 


Mom’s ‘Meowie Wowie’ catnip

I grew up with cats and an avid gardener for a mom. Thus, mom always had a patch of catnip (Nepeta cataria) growing in our yard, and our family delighted in occasionally offering fresh cuttings to our cats so as to watch them get high on “nip.” 

Years back when The Tyrant and I were living in an apartment, mom gave us some of her fresh catnip to offer to our cat, Charlie. It just so happened that Susan had food poisoning at the time, and I’d gotten her Easter lilies as a get-well-soon sympathy gift. We didn’t know it, but Easter lilies are highly poisonous to cats…       

When I came home that evening, The Tyrant woke up and we both discovered Charlie the cat laying on the floor completely immobilized in a small puddle of drool. I tried to get her to stand, but she flopped back down in a heap. 

After a quick google search, we learned about Easter lily toxicity to cats and began to panic. “Charlie must have eaten some of the lilies!” we thought. 

It was a Friday night, so we couldn’t bring her to the vet. In a panic, we called animal poison control, which is not free, for the record. Over the duration of the 45 minute phone call with the poison specialist, Charlie the cat slowly regained motor function and was eventually able to sit up.

It turned out, she hadn’t eaten Easter lilies; mom’s catnip was just far more potent than the crummy nip she’d been getting from the pet store. No, we weren’t thrilled to have to pay a significant sum of money only to find out our cat was just really, really high. 

We saved seeds from mom’s “Meowee Wowie” catnip (as we started calling it) and have been growing it in our own garden for the past 10+ years. During that time, we’ve been thrilled to know that catnip has other benefits: namely, it’s a potent mosquito and insect repellent. 

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8 Comments

  • Reply
    SUSAN
    August 13, 2024 at 2:16 pm

    My cat is allergic to mosquitoes! They attack her nose, ears and belly. This is a recent development and I am not sure how to help her. The vet said to keep her inside. PERIOD! She is 10 years old and has had free range of our 5 acres all her life and is used to roaming around for hours and also finding shady hidey holes for naps. So I’m certain she would rebel against permanent incarceration!!
    I found catnip spray online, but it also lists citronella as ingredient (not good for cats!). I’m leaning towards essential catnip oil, but concerned that it would be too strong for her skin.
    What do you suggest I mix it with? olive oil?? coconut oil???
    And the last time I planted a small catnip plant from a nursery, the cats IMMEDIATELY ate it down to the roots!! Thanks in advance.

    • Reply
      Aaron von Frank
      August 14, 2024 at 12:49 pm

      Hmm, that’s a tough one… I feel like it’s outside of our range of expertise to recommend something that would work on a cat without potentially causing unintended problems. Something you might consider instead of applying essential oils or sprays directly to your cat’s fur and skin is using a mosquito-repellent band over or alongside her collar. We’ve used these ourselves and they work quite well. During mosquito season, you’d probably have to change the band once per day or so. I don’t know if your cat will tolerate wearing a collar or the smell of the band, but it might be worth a shot. Wishing you both luck!

  • Reply
    Preston
    September 14, 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Hi there, Is having the catnip plant in the garden good enough as a repellant for mosquitos? Or do you have to rub it on you to be effective? Looking to plant dog safe plants around the yard to help with mosquitos

    • Reply
      Aaron von Frank
      September 15, 2023 at 10:12 am

      As far as we know, there are no plants that effectively repel mosquitoes by virtue of growing in your yard. The mosquitos might not take shelter immediately around certain plants like catnip or lemongrass due to the chemical constituents in those plants, but mosquitoes will still be in your yard. Where plants like catnip provide a mosquito repellent benefit to humans is when you apply the plant compounds to your skin, topically. We’ve found fresh catnip to be very effective in this regard. We simply rub and smush the fresh leaves in our palms, then rub them on our skin. That provides at least 20-30 minutes of protection. You could also experiment with making catnip leaves into a salve or lotion. That would also allow you to use the plant even when it’s late in the season (like now) after the catnip has seeded and died back.

  • Reply
    Adam
    August 23, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    Wow thankyou, I’ve travelled and worked as a VSO, this is amazing research, Thankyou

  • Reply
    Jennie Broadhurst
    July 16, 2021 at 9:19 am

    Did you have any idea for a kid safe amount of catnip essential oil for a repellant?

    • Reply
      Aaron von Frank
      July 16, 2021 at 1:33 pm

      Hi Jennie! I can’t say for certain and the scientists I spoke with weren’t comfortable making those sorts of claims either. They were just doing tests/research to determine whether — and to what degree — catnip essential oil repels mosquitoes. Since people (including children) can be allergic or sensitive to various essential oils, it might be best to try a small amount first to test for any reaction, then use as-needed to repel mosquitoes once you know your child isn’t going to have any problems with catnip essential oil. Wish I could give you more specific information and direction, but that wouldn’t be responsible. Another option: You could always try to find a commercial mosquito repellent that contains catnip essential oil since they’ve hopefully tested and figured out ideal ratios when doing their product’s research and development.

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Recipes

Recipe: Stinging nettle quiche

Recipe: Stinging nettle quiche thumbnail

Despite their prickly reputation, stinging nettles are a tasty, nutrient-dense vegetable. In this article, you’ll find out how to make your own delicious stinging nettle quiche!


Every year around this time (late winter through early spring), we get really excited when we see our stinging nettle patch bounce to life. Why the heck would we be excited to see a stinging plant typically loathed by hikers and gardeners alike? 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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For starters, stinging nettle is a perennial vegetable that requires no tending (you actually have to fight to contain it). Secondly, it might just be the most nutrient-dense green on the planet. It also has a wonderful flavor reminiscent of cucumbers and spinach; its high protein content even contributes some umami notes when the leaves are cooked. 

To be clear, there are precautions you’ll want to take when intentionally growing or harvesting stinging nettle, as we detail in our article, Why you should grow and use stinging nettle. Otherwise, you could end up with a yard full of nettle and very stingy hands.      

Stinging nettle leaves are best used before the plant starts to produce flowers and seeds, so we pick all we can during the current ~6-8 week time window. We also wilt and freeze as much as we can for later use. (Our toddler loves stinging nettle & mushroom omelettes for lunch, so we’ve got to stock the freezer.)  

Our new favorite stinging nettle recipe: stinging nettle quiche.

Our new favorite stinging nettle recipe: stinging nettle quiche, which you’re about to find out how to make!

What can you make with stinging nettle? 

Stinging nettle is a very versatile veggie. When in doubt, you can simply substitute wilted/cooked stinging nettle 1:1 for cooked spinach in any recipe. A couple of our favorite original stinging nettle recipes from years past: 

With our ducks starting to lay eggs again, we wanted to come up with some good egg & stinging nettle recipes to have on hand. Thus, the creation of this stinging nettle quiche recipe

In addition to eggs, it puts A LOT of stinging nettle to use. It’s also absolutely delicious.

After her first piece, The Tyrant had seconds… and considered having thirds. Our toddler also wolfed down his serving. Nuff said. 

Stinging nettle quiche recipe tips

Here are important tips and considerations to get this recipe right on your first attempt: 

1. Measurements 

This recipe uses a pie pan that is 1 1/4″ deep x 9″ across (measuring from the inside). It holds exactly 4 cups of filling.

Before getting started, pour a measured amount of water into your pie pan to determine how much it holds. More than 4 cups? Consider scaling up the ingredients a bit more to suit. 

A little trick we use when making new recipes like this stinging nettle quiche that require fairly precise quantities: mix the ingredients in a large measuring bowl so you get the quantities right BEFORE you pour them into the pie pan. 

3 cups of quiche filling allows room for rise plus cheese on top in a pie pan that holds 4 cups.

3 cups of quiche filling allows room for rise plus cheese on top in a pie pan that holds 4 cups.

In this case, you have to also consider a pie crust taking up some room, plus the rise of the quiche during baking, plus the addition of cheese on top. So, we had about 3 cups of quiche filling prior to pouring it into the crust.  

2. Pie crust  

Making a pie crust for this recipe using whole wheat pastry flour.

Making a pie crust for this recipe using whole wheat pastry flour.

a. You don’t have to use a pie crust for this recipe. You can go crustless and still end up with a delicious meal that will be more akin to a frittata.  

b. You can use any pie crust you want for this recipe (just keep in mind the measurements mentioned above). We like making our own whole wheat pie crust using pastry flour. If you need a whole wheat pie crust recipe, Lively Table has a good one. Or you can go into more uncharted territory by making a chestnut flour pie crust.  

c. Pre-bake your pie crust for about 15-20 minutes until slightly browned on the edges BEFORE adding filling and baking. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a raw, soggy crust. Ain’t nobody got time for that. 

If you do make your own pie crust, don’t forget to poke holes in it with a fork prior to baking or it will bubble up and break. Nope, no time for that either. (Aren’t you glad you’re reading these recipe notes so you don’t make any mistakes?)        

3. Fine-dice and pre-cook onions 

If you add raw onions to the quiche filling, you’ll end up with semi-raw, crunchy onions and a watery quiche. Instead:

  • finely dice your onions (about 1/4″ or smaller pieces); 
  • pre-cook your diced onions in a skillet/pan with a bit of extra virgin olive oil until slightly translucent and browned (let them cool to room temperature before adding to quiche filling). 
Pre-cooking your onions are an important step in this recipe.

Pre-cooking your onions is an important step in this recipe.

You can then use that nice onion-seasoned pan to wilt your stinging nettles during the next step (see below). 

4. How to process and wilt stinging nettle (and how much nettle you need)

After cutting the growth tips of stinging nettle plants, we recommend cutting off individual leaves for use in this recipe, e.g. don’t use the stems. You can either compost the stems or save them for veggie stock. If you use the stems, you’ll end up with a very fibrous quiche.  

How much raw stinging nettle do you need? We picked about 8 densely packed cups of stinging nettle leaves (measuring ONLY the leaves after the stems were removed). 

For precision, we weighed the 8 cups of stinging nettle leaves, which totaled a whopping 3.6 ounces. The 8 cups of raw leaves then cooked down to about 2 cups of wilted stinging nettle leaves, which is enough for two stinging nettle quiches. (You only need one cup of wilted leaves per quiche.) 

8 cups of raw stinging nettle in our cast iron skillet, about to be cooked down.

8 cups of raw stinging nettle in our antique cast iron skillet, about to be cooked down.

Don’t boil your stinging nettle leaves or you’ll cook out the nutrients and weaken the flavor. If we find out you boiled your leaves, we’ll also unfriend you. 

Instead, you can either steam the leaves OR wilt them in a pan (which is what we did for this recipe). To wilt your stinging nettle leaves, put a pan or cast iron skillet over medium low heat (3 on our stove), then add some extra virgin olive oil. For our 8 cups of nettle leaves, we used about 1 1/2 tablespoons of EV olive oil. Also, have a measuring cup with water in it next to the stove.

Add the leaves plus a shot of water, and stir, stir, stir. Add another shot of water and continue stirring. You’re NOT trying to brown the leaves (the water prevents scalding), you’re trying to wilt them. You also don’t want soggy leaves, you want them dry, so don’t add too much water. (We used a little under half a cup of water when wilting 8 cups of leaves using this method.)

Once the stinging nettle leaves are wilted/cooked down and there is no water in your pan, remove from heat and let them cool down close to room temperature before adding them to the quiche filling. Repeat: soggy stinging nettle leaves are forbidden: they’ll make a soggy quiche.

Pan wilted stinging nettles. Notice: no water in the pan AND the nettle leaves are not charred. Like all greens, nettles cook down quite a bit. 8 cups of raw leaves yielded 2 cups of cooked/wilted nettle leaves.

Pan-wilted stinging nettles. Notice: no water in the pan AND the nettle leaves are not charred. Like all greens, nettles cook down quite a bit. 8 cups of raw leaves yielded 2 cups of cooked/wilted nettle leaves.

If in doubt, wring out your nettle leaves to remove excess water by hand before adding them to your quiche filling. No, stinging nettles don’t sting once they’ve been cooked, so fear not.   

5. Cook time 

Every oven is a little different in how it bakes. We bake our stinging nettle quiche on 350°F for right at 1 hour. You want it to rise and be firm in the middle.

Put a baking sheet under your quiche to make it easier to pull out and just in case you have any boil over.

Going in the oven… Side note: put a baking sheet under your quiche to make it easier to pull out and just in case you have any boil over.

Arguably, we over-cook ours a bit. Regardless, you’ll want to start paying careful attention to how your quiche is baking after about 50 minutes. If your oven cooks hotter than ours or you prefer a slightly less well-done quiche than we do, you can take your quiche out early. 

Recipe: Stinging nettle quiche

Recipe: stinging nettle quiche

Now, with the above recipe tips in mind, let’s get cooking so you can enjoy a delicious piece (or three) of stinging nettle quiche for your next meal! 

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Stinging nettle quiche

Course: brunch, Dinner, lunch
Keyword: stinging nettle, stinging nettle quiche, stinging nettle recipe
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 slices

A delicious, savory quiche made with stinging nettles. You won't be able to eat just one piece!

Ingredients

  • 1 pie crust, pre-cooked for about 15-20 minutes until slightly browned
  • 1 cup pre-wilted stinging nettle leaves (see wilting instructions in article) 4 cups fresh leaves cooks down to 1 cup wilted leaves
  • 4 large chicken or duck eggs
  • 1/2 white or yellow onion, fine-diced then pre-cooked until translucent and golden brown
  • 1 cup fresh-grated white or yellow cheddar cheese (half is for filling, half is for topping)
  • 1 cup fresh-grated parmesan cheese (half is for filling, half is for topping)
  • 1 cup whole organic milk (ideally grass-fed) (Most quiche recipes call for heavy cream, which you can use. We prefer whole milk.)
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt (optional - cheese adds quite a bit of salt and there may also be salt in your pie crust)
  • 1/4 tsp fresh-cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • extra virgin olive oil as-needed for cooking onions and wilting nettle leaves, 2-3 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Pre-cook onions and stinging nettle as per instructions in article, then let cool to close to room temp. Pre-cook pie crust for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

  2. Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

  3. Mix two cheeses together in bowl, then set aside 1 cup for topping. Whisk eggs then stir in all other ingredients to make your filling. Pour filling into pie crust, then top with 1 cup of mixed cheese that you set aside.

  4. Bake for about 1 hour or until quiche is golden brown on the surface and has risen all the way to the middle (the sides will rise first). Place pan on cooling rack and allow quiche to cool until warm (not hot) before cutting and serving. Garnish (optional) with seasonal flowers and a dash of ground nutmeg.

Stinging nettle quiche: love at first bite. You'll be amazed at how good stinging nettle is as a cooked veggie!

Stinging nettle quiche: love at first bite. You’ll be amazed at how good stinging nettle is as a cooked veggie!

If you’re able to eat only one piece of this stinging nettle quiche, we salute you for your temperance. Regardless, let us know how yours turns out and please consider giving this recipe a rating below! 

KIGI,

Tyrantfarms

Dive deeper into stinging nettle with these related articles: 

4 Comments

  • Reply
    Amy
    June 2, 2024 at 1:05 am

    I just won a pie baking competition with this recipe 😊 I’ve made it a few times and my 5 year old also loves it. I usually need extra eggs and milk compared to the recipe. This time I used 4 packed cups (uncooked) nettles, which led to about 1.5 cups wilted, then I used 6 eggs and 1 and 1/4 cup heavy cream.

    • Reply
      Aaron von Frank
      June 3, 2024 at 12:03 pm

      Wow, that’s neat! Thanks, Amy. Thanks also for the modification tips. Stinging nettle quiche is a favorite recipe in our house as well. 🙂

  • Reply
    E
    March 29, 2021 at 9:37 am

    Yum! I have a large nettle patch and I also harvested wild onions.
    What a thrifty and fun meal largely from my own yard!

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Parenting

Ep. 1: Week 1 Newborn Baby with Dr. Lisa Durette – Developing Mighty Minds

Ep. 1: Week 1 Newborn Baby with Dr. Lisa Durette - Developing Mighty Minds thumbnail

Episode 1: Developing Mighty Minds’ WEEK 1 BABY interview with child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Durette, and parents Susan (aka The Tyrant) and Aaron von Frank.


Watch the video discussion about Week 1 newborn babies:

 

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Or read the discussion: 

Prefer to read rather than watch the video? Or want to follow up on something you heard?

Here’s what parents Aaron and Susan von Frank covered during the Week 1 Baby video interview with child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Durette: 

1. Question: What is going on in your newborn baby’s brain development during Week 1?

Your baby is undergoing rapid brain development. Millions of new neurons (which act like the brain’s electrical wiring) and glial cells (which act like insulation around the wiring) are forming per minute.

During the first two years of life, there’s an overproduction of synapses (connections – the conduit via which brain messages are transmitted) forming; then the connections are pruned if they’re not used. The brain is incredibly moldable and pliable at this point.

Example of synapse pruning: having two languages spoken by parents/primary care givers during the first year, then only one language used later on. The brain would then prune out the synapses that had been used for the lost language.

Synapse development slows slightly around age 2/pre-school. Newborn baby brain size is about 25% the size of an adult brain. By 2 years old, it’s about 75% the size of an adult brain. That’s an amazing growth rate!

Brain growth/development is NOT just about size; human brains are very complex. Human brain development happens via layers and regions in the brain over time as they come online, develop, and interconnect. Right now (newborn), very primitive areas of the brain are the ones undergoing rapid development.

Putting two day old Baby Sebastian in the car seat for the first time for the drive home from the hospital was an incredible feeling. We knew our lives were forever changed.

Aaron & Susan: “Putting two day old Baby Sebastian in the car seat for the first time for the drive home from the hospital was an incredible feeling. We knew our lives were forever changed. “Now what do we do?” we wondered. There’s no manual for most of what you’ll do in parenting; it’s improvisation, learning, and tweaking. Then once you figure something out, your baby will leap to a new stage in development and you’ll start from scratch!”

2. Question: For the sake of clarity and establishing definitions, what is the difference between a mind and a brain? What is theory of mind? When does it arrive? How would you know?

A brain is a thing; a physical structure. A mind is an existential construct – the self. The mind is an emergent property of the brain. You can have a brain without a mind, but you can not have a mind without a brain.

Example of these distinctions in action in psychology/psychiatry – “theory of mind.” Theory of mind is recognizing that other people and animals have different emotional and mental states and experiences than you do. That’s a result of one mind recognizing the distinct individual mind of another — and it’s impossible for newborns to have theory of mind because their brains haven’t developed to have that ability yet.

For instance, Lisa’s daughter first showed empathy (an example of theory of mind) at age two when she recognized that their pet cat might be scared by what she was doing, and she tried to comfort the cat accordingly.

This understanding about baby brain development and lack of ability to have theory of mind can be helpful for parents experiencing postpartum/peripartum anxiety, depression, and psychosis, conditions which can affect both fathers and mothers. These conditions are often caused by massive hormonal swings. Symptoms may include:

  • the perception that your baby is evil and is out to get you, and
  • thoughts of suicide, infanticide, and persistent negative thoughts which lead to parental withdrawal.

It’s important for new parents who are understandably feeling overwhelmed to realize that your baby is not out to get you! A baby doesn’t have the capacity to understand that they may be causing you pain or making you tired (they can’t connect causes and effects yet or understand that you’re having a different emotional experience than they are).

What should you do if you’re experiencing postpartum depression? Think of it as no different than a physical injury – get help! Don’t be ashamed. Contact your pediatrician, call 911, or call your local mental health agency. Don’t assume it’s going to go away on its own or ignore it. 

Postpartum depression does NOT mean you’re a bad parent or bad person. It does require help and treatment, both for your sake and your baby’s sake (your baby needs primary attachment, physical touch, etc).

3.A. Question: How does your Week 1 baby see the world right now, both visually and otherwise? What general capacities do their brains have at this stage in development?

Newborns have terrible eyesight. They see in black and white, not color vision, until ~4 months old. They may only have 20/600 vision. Newborns are also unable to focus their eyes on objects beyond 1 foot in front of their face.

Repeatedly hearing your voice, feeling your touch, and smelling you are very important in helping them establish who their primary caregivers are.

Week 1 Sebastian was constantly on one of his parents, helping him to establish a connection to his primary caregivers.

Week 1 Sebastian was constantly on one of his parents, helping him to establish a connection to his primary caregivers.

3B. How can you test your newborn baby’s reflexes and what do those reflexes tell you about their brains?

Newborn reflexes are different than adult reflexes. You can test your newborn’s reflexes at home! (See below.)

These differences are due to how their brains are currently developed — only the more primitive brain regions are functioning in newborns. Their higher level brain regions are not connected yet.

A few examples of newborn reflex tests you can do at home:

  1. The “Babinski reflex” – Rub your fingernail along the bottom of your baby’s foot. Their toes should splay up and out. (An adult’s toes will scrunch down under the same reflex test.)
  2. The “Moro reflex” – A sudden move (such as dipping really quickly while holding your baby) or a loud noise (hand clap) causes the baby to startle and throw out their arms and legs, then pull them towards their body.
  3. Rooting – Stroke their cheek or side of mouth. The baby should turns towards the source, open mouth, and suck (aka rooting).

Newborn reflexes change over to more adult-like reflexes after about 3 months (there’s a lot of variability). New parents: don’t be too nervous or concerned if your newborn’s startle reflexes aren’t robust or exactly like other babies! If your newborn has no startle reflexes, ask your pediatrician to conduct an evaluation.

4. Question: As new parents, what stage- and developmentally-appropriate actions should you take starting in Week 1 to help your baby develop their Mighty Mind? Diet? Physical touch? Other things?

The biggest thing you can do to develop your newborn baby’s brain/mind: provide baby with consistent love and nurturing to promote attachment. Also:

  • skin-to-skin touch and feeding,
  • snuggling and cuddling,
  • responding to their needs and cries.

It’s also VERY important for primary attachment figure(s)/parent(s) to talk to their baby. The more language that babies hear from their parents, the better.

Primary attachment figure (the individual or individuals who provide the most caregiving to your baby) voices are the ones that cause the most impact — not television or radio or other people’s voices. Primary attachment figures are the people who are consistently there raising the baby, which may or may not be their biological parents.

Overstimulating objects, toys, noises, etc are NOT effective in developing a newborn’s brain at this stage of development.

5. Should you read to a newborn baby?

Talking to a newborn baby is what matters if you’re a primary caregiver. Reading a book allows the baby to hear your voice, but they can’t see the book or focus on it visually, so new parents don’t need to read to their newborns so long as they’re constantly talking to them and providing them with consistent love and nurturing.

6. Question: What is the most important mental health advice that new parents should keep in mind for themselves during the first weeks postpartum? After all, they’re going to be transitioning into the extraordinary challenge of parenthood while being totally exhausted by lack of sleep, recovering from the physical strains of childbirth, and possibly even experiencing postpartum anxiety, psychosis, and depression.

The first few weeks/months postpartum are often the most psychologically challenging for parents.
Measures to take to keep yourself (as a parent of primary care giver) mentally healthy:

  • sleep when your baby is napping to try to stay as well-rested as possible;
  • maintain good nutrition and hydration (healthy foods and lots of water);
  • lean on your partner and/or support network to help with cleaning, meals, and other needs.

It’s not abnormal to have “baby blues” in the weeks after birth due to massive hormonal changes and sleep deprivation. What’s abnormal or concerning? What are possible symptoms of postpartum depression or psychosis?

Symptoms may include:

  • Perception that your baby is evil or trying to harm you.
  • The desire to withdraw or not interact with your baby.
  • Starting to think that the world would be ok without you (suicidal ideations).
  • Thoughts about killing your spouse or baby.

Don’t ignore these symptoms! Contact your pediatrician or local mental health experts. Or if it’s an emergency, call 911. Remember not to feel shame or that you’re a bad person if you’re experiencing postpartum depression, just as you shouldn’t feel shame if you have a broken arm. Both medical conditions are treatable, so get help.


More in Developing Mighty Minds:

Subscribe to Tyrant Farm’s Parenting (below) to get the latest Developing Mighty Minds episodes as they’re published!

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    Parenting

    Introducing Developing Mighty Minds with Dr. Lisa Durette

    Introducing Developing Mighty Minds with Dr. Lisa Durette thumbnail

    Featured image: Dr. Lisa Durette holding our newborn son, Sebastian.

    Would’t it be helpful if other parents had access to Dr. Lisa, child & adolescent psychiatrist? 

    The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for us — and likely for you as well. Being first-time parents is difficult enough. Throw in a global pandemic, and the difficulty level ratchets up quite a bit. 

    One thing that helped us get through with our sanity intact was family. Even though we couldn’t be together, we could regularly communicate using online video tools like FaceTime and Zoom. 

    We’re incredibly fortunate to also have a nationally renown, triple board certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist in the family: Dr. Lisa Durette, sister of The Tyrant. Not only did Lisa fly in from Las Vegas to help deliver our son Sebastian, she also provided invaluable support and parenting insights throughout his first year and beyond via our regular Zoom conversations. 

    Days before Sebastian was born, the three of us discussed how neat it would be to let other new/expectant parents tune in on our baby brain question & answer sessions with “Dr. Aunt Lisa” as we jokingly call her. Thus, a new idea was brought to life… 

    Dr. Aunt Lisa and The Tyrant a couple of days before the birth of Sebastian.

    Dr. Aunt Lisa and The Tyrant a couple of days before the birth of Sebastian. “Will swinging induce labor?” Probably not, but let’s do it anyway!

    Developing Mighty Minds is born  

    Developing Mighty Minds™ is a new resource for parents interested in understanding more about what’s happening in their and their baby’s brains throughout the journey of parenthood. As Lisa says, “It’s also a valuable resource for clinicians and students working with youth and families – it provides a window into normal and early childhood development by watching the evolution of a single child.”

    Why is my baby doing this? Is it normal? Is what I’m feeling normal? What age-appropriate things should I be doing to help my baby develop their mighty mind? 

    In each video/article, Dr, Lisa Durette and parents Aaron and Susan von Frank will discuss the mental development of their growing baby — and yours!

    We invite you to come along on the journey to learn more about what’s happening inside your baby’s Mighty Mind. You’ll also get to learn parenting methods and techniques to help you fully develop your baby’s Mighty Mind using evidence-based information from one of the nation’s top child and adolescent psychiatrists, Dr. Lisa Durette.

    Whether you're an expectant or new parent, a student, or a clinician, we hope Developing Mighty Minds will give you unique and valuable insights into the mental development of infants, toddlers, and beyond... 

    Whether you’re an expectant or new parent, a student, or a clinician, we hope Developing Mighty Minds will give you unique and valuable insights into the mental development of infants, toddlers, and beyond… 

    Get started!

    Ready to get started? Subscribe to our Parenting section (below) to get the latest Developing Mighty Minds’ episodes as they come out and jump into our Week 1 Developing Mighty Minds episode (w/ video discussion & article)

    Tyrantfarms

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      Recipes

      Recipe: Honey-fermented kumquats

      Recipe: Honey-fermented kumquats thumbnail

      Find out how to turn kumquats and honey into a delicious probiotic concoction that’s both a drink and a food, aka honey-fermented kumquats!


      Despite our best efforts to diminish the quantity of fruit on our kumquat tree, it was still loaded. The problem? This is the time of year the tree needs to start focusing its energy towards new growth and flower production for next winter’s fruit, which it can’t do as long as fruit remains on the tree. 

      The other problem? Our toddler LOVES kumquats, which also happen to be the perfect size and shape to be extreme choking hazards without assistance from an adult.

      Any time we’re outside, he runs as fast as his baby legs will carry him to our potted citrus to try to score some fruit before we nab him. 

       

       
       
       
       
       
      View this post on Instagram
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

       

      A post shared by Tyrant Farms (@tyrantfarms)

      His citrus addiction is so extreme, he’ll scream and cry ceaselessly if we don’t let him free-forage the citrus. This is making “outdoor time” a bit unpleasant for the parents (and probably our neighbors).

      What can you make with lots of kumquats? 

      Thus, we made a decision: pick all the kumquats off our tree and come up with ways to use them in our kitchen. But what can you make with lots of kumquats? 

      A pile of fresh-picked kumquats in search of their highest and best use...

      A pile of fresh-picked kumquats in search of their highest and best use…

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      4 Comments

      • Reply
        Carol
        February 20, 2025 at 8:39 am

        My kumquat honey never burp, it’s been at room temp for 17 days. Should I move it to the fridge?

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          February 20, 2025 at 1:12 pm

          Hmm, I wouldn’t give up on the fermentation process yet, Carol. Just to make sure: did you cut/quarter your kumquats before adding honey? If you put the fruit in whole, it’s going to take a LOOOONG time to start fermenting. If you did quarter the fruit and it’s still not fermenting, I’d continue waiting (and tasting a little bit periodically) because the fermentation process is what really makes this recipe magical.

      • Reply
        Naris
        February 16, 2023 at 2:02 pm

        Hi! Did you find any spots of mold on your batch of kumquats? I just noticed a few today and it’s been about 2.5 weeks. Thanks!

      Leave a Reply

      Recipe Rating




      Recipes

      Napa cabbage salad with Thai peanut butter citrus dressing

      Napa cabbage salad with Thai peanut butter citrus dressing thumbnail

      Find out how to make Napa cabbage salad with Thai peanut butter citrus dressing. This simple dressing is incredibly delicious and versatile. Use it for salads, veggie dips, chicken satay, and more! 


      Our late winter garden is full of crunchy vegetables like Napa cabbage and kohlrabi. We still have loads of citrus on our potted citrus trees that we need to use up so they can start blooming to produce next year’s fruit. In the kitchen, we have turmeric and ginger from a fall harvest.  

      Hmm. This combination of produce is perfect for some Thai-inspired dishes. One of our favorites is a salad made from Thai peanut butter citrus dressing generously applied to Napa cabbage and chopstick-cut crunchy veggies. 

      Napa cabbage salad with Thai peanut butter dressing. This may well be the most delicious salad recipe you'll ever eat!

      Napa cabbage salad with Thai peanut butter dressing. This may well be the most delicious salad recipe you’ll ever eat!

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      2 Comments

      • Reply
        Nelson
        August 17, 2022 at 9:36 am

        The salad dressing is delicious. Everyone loved it.

        • Reply
          Susan von Frank
          August 19, 2022 at 10:16 am

          Wonderful! Glad you all enjoyed this recipe, Nelson.

      Leave a Reply

      Recipe Rating




      Gardening In Depth

      5 ways to stop your cat from killing birds and other wildlife

      5 ways to stop your cat from killing birds and other wildlife thumbnail

      Unfortunately, our sweet cuddly cat (and yours) is a homicidal maniac when it comes to wildlife. Here’s how we stopped our cat from killing birds and other wildlife — and how you can, too.


      We love cats. They’re funny, quirky, adorable, and affectionate critters.

      Our cat Bob is a soft, corpulent pile of cuteness who seems to think he’s a lap dog, as evidenced by the fact that he wants to spend most of his non-sleeping minutes on our laps getting his belly and neck rubbed.

      Bob, happy and exhausted, after playing a game of "undercover kitten." How to keep your cat from killing birds, by Tyrant Farms

      Bob, happy and exhausted, after playing a game of “undercover kitty.”

      Some shocking cat statistics 

      Yes, cats are adorable. Unfortunately, they’re also killing billions of birds and causing wildlife extinctions. Here are some cat statistics that may surprise you: 

      How many cats are there in the United States? 

      Estimates vary, but according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are about 60 million PET cats in the United States. There are also 30-80 million “unowned” cats (strays, feral cats, farm cats, etc.).

      That’s a lot of cats! 

      How many birds do cats kill each year? 

      According to Peter Marra, a conservation biologist and director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington, D.C., cats kill somewhere between 1 to 4 BILLION birds each year in the United States and have caused a minimum of 33 extinctions. 

      It’s hard for us to get our heads around numbers this large and disheartening. 

      Why do cats bring you dead birds and other animals?

      Cats bring you dead or injured animals because they love you and want you to learn to be a good hunter, too.

      You’re part of their pride. So those “gifts” are their way of trying to teach you (incompetent human) how to kill animals as well as they do.

      It’s also important to note that your fully or partly outdoor cat only brings you a very small portion of the maimed or dead animals they kill. So what you see is not necessarily representative of the full toll they’re taking on the wildlife around you. 

      The importance of wild birds 

      As you might know, birds are absolutely critical to the health of functional ecosystems. Birds serve as pollinators, insect control, fertilizers, and seed distributors, among many other important functions.

      As one of countless examples: we love watching Eastern phoebes nest under our back porch each spring. These little flycatchers dart around our fruit trees and forest edges hunting insects with mind-boggling acrobatic grace and surgical precision.

      Another round of Eastern phoebes getting ready to fledge. These amazing

      Another round of Eastern phoebes getting ready to fledge at Tyrant Farms. These amazing birds in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae, nest under our back porch every summer, sometimes producing multiple broods.

      We also love watching various species of songbirds nest in our fruit trees and shrubs.

      “Invasive” cats and the extinction of native North American bird species

      The wide-scale killing of wildlife by cats is a classic example of an introduced invasive species wreaking havoc on a new ecosystem. It’s akin to kudzu blanketing entire forest edges throughout landscapes here in the Southeast.

      Consider this: 1/3 of the 800 total native bird species in the US are currently endangered, threatened, or in significant decline. And we now know that cats are by far the biggest killer of birds.

      Knowledge comes with responsibility 

      This information means that we humans (especially cat owners) have a responsibility to do two things:

      1. Acknowledge that there’s a serious problem that’s getting worse; and

      2. Try to figure out how to stop our cats from killing birds and other wildlife. 

      Bob relaxing indoors with Svetlana, one of our pampered Welsh Harlequin ducks. Bob would love to kill small songbirds if he could, but our ducks regularly show him who's boss. How to stop your cat from killing birds, by Tyrant Farms

      Bob relaxing indoors with Svetlana, one of our pampered Welsh Harlequin ducks. Our ducks regularly show Bob the Cat who’s boss. Even though Svetlana rules the roost, most birds would not fair so well around our cat.

      5 ways to stop your cat from killing birds and other wildlife

      After lots of research plus trial and error, we’ve managed to stop our cat’s wildlife killing spree. Below is a list of five proven steps you can do to stop your cat from killing birds and other wildlife:

      Step 1. If at all possible, make your cat (or cats) an indoor cat.

      Our cat Charlie has always been an indoor pet, and is so non-athletic that we’d be shocked if she could kill a moth. She certainly doesn’t pose a threat to wildlife, even if she were to venture outdoors.

      However, our other cat Bob showed up to our house as an abandoned outdoor cat and is completely acclimated to outdoor living. He’s also an incredibly adept hunter.

      Given his background, there’s virtually no way for us to switch Bob to an indoor cat at this point. If we could, we would.

      This means we’ve had to figure out other ways to stop Bob, our outdoor cat, from killing birds and other wildlife…

      Step 2. If you have an outdoor cat (even if it’s confined to your yard), put Birdsbesafe® cat collars on them.

      Remember what we said up above about songbirds not being able to see cats? Well, Birdsbesafe collars take that science into account.

      Their colorful collars allow birds to more easily see your cats from a distance and escape to safety in time.

      Bob the cat (front) might share a bed with Svetlana the duck, but that doesn't mean he doesn't dream of killing wild birds and other animals. Since Bob adopted us, he's been neutered, has an in-ground electric fence, and wears a Birds-Be-Safe collar. These steps have drastically reduced the destruction he's caused to wildlife around our home.

      Bob the cat (front) might share a bed with Svetlana the duck, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t dream of killing wild birds and other animals. Since Bob adopted us, he’s been neutered, has an in-ground electric fence, and wears a Birdsbesafe collar. These steps have drastically reduced the destruction he’s caused to wildlife around our home.

      Do Birdsbesafe collars really work?

      An independent, two-season field study by Dr. Susan Willson at St. Lawrence University published in the Global Ecology and Conservation Journal (GECJ) in 2015 concluded that the Birdsbesafe collars reduced bird fatalities by a whopping 87%!

      (You can buy Birdsbesafe collars on Amazon.)

      This means that — if widely adopted by cat owners — these collars could prevent hundreds of millions (perhaps billions?) of bird deaths each year in the US alone.

      Apparently, these collars don’t inhibit a cat’s ability to successfully hunt rodents. However, they will inhibit their ability to hunt lizards, due to the respective structure of each animal’s eyes.

      Good news for gardeners and farmers! 

      Birdsbesafe collar - stop your cat from killing birds

      Bob the cat being fetching while showing off his Birdsbesafe collar and electric fence collar (more on that below). Birdsbesafe collars are one of the main tools you can use to stop your cat from killing birds.

      *Note: When birds are fledging in our yard, we do not let Bob out unsupervised, even though he’s wearing a Birdsbesafe collar. Yes, fledglings can see him better, but not being able to fly very well makes them especially vulnerable. Please do the same.  

      Do bells on cats protect birds? 

      Yes, bells do help stop cats from killing birds, but they don’t work as well as Birdsbesafe collars. A study in New Zealand found that bells reduced bird fatalities by about 41%. By comparison, Birdsbesafe collars reduced bird fatalities by 87%.

      Step 3. Spay, neuter, adopt.

      Another way to stop your cat from killing birds? Help keep cat populations under control.

      There’s absolutely no reason to let your cats make more cats unless you’re a breeder, so please get them spayed or neutered.

      There’s also an extra reward for neutering your male cats. According to Veterinary Centers of America (VCA Hospitals), the benefits of neutering your male cats include:

      • they’re less likely to range as far;
      • neutering eliminates spraying in 85% of males (we happen to be in the unlucky 15% on this one!);
      • they’re less aggressive;
      • they’re less likely to fight, get injured, and have abscesses — or cause injuries to other cats.

      Also, there are countless numbers of “unowned” kittens and cats who need homes. These can be found at your local animal shelters. If you must have a cat, adopt one and raise it as an indoor cat.

      Step 4. If you have an outdoor cat, get an in-ground electric fence.

      A few years back, Bob’s now-deceased brother Oscar (who was likely taken by coyotes) would travel the neighborhood in search of rodents to kill. Cats also kill as many as 20 billion mammals in the US each year: rabbits, moles, voles, mice, etc.

      One day, Oscar showed up lethargic and covered in blood, which the vet later informed us was the result of two BB gun pellets. As it turns out, in our state, it’s legal to shoot other people’s pets who trespass on your property.

      Between our two mostly outdoor cats’ potential to kill wildlife and be killed by bb gun-wielding neighborhood kids, coyotes, etc, we decided it was time to put an electric underground fence in our yard to keep our cats in our yard.

      Hey, it’s way cheaper than vet bills!

      bob and oscar von kitten - stop your cats from killing birds and other wildlife. Caption: Bob (left) and his now-deceased brother Oscar (right). As far as we know, cats are the only animals that regularly fall asleep in the middle of a fightThe fence we used is very easy to install (see Amazon product links below) and only took us a few hours to have up and running. It took us a couple of weeks to train our cats using the small white flags that come with the kit, but after that they knew exactly where the no-go perimeter zones were.

      Bob (left) and his now-deceased brother Oscar (right). As far as we know, cats are the only animals that regularly fall asleep in the middle of a fight, as happened here. The electric fence we used is very easy to install (see Amazon product links below) and only took us a few hours to have up and running. It took us a couple of weeks to train our cats using the small white flags that come with the kit, but after that they knew exactly where the no-go perimeter zones were.

      Is it inhumane to deliver a mild shock to a cat to keep it in your yard? Perhaps so.

      But we think it’s far MORE humane than allowing our cat to unnecessarily kill or maim hundreds/thousands of other native animal species in the forests and fields near our house.

      The underground electric cat fence and accessories we use & recommend: 

      1. PetSafe In-Ground Fence package – This product comes with one adjustable cat collar (you can get more if you have more cats), enough wire for 1/3 acre, and white flags to help train your cat(s) on the location of the fence boundaries. 

      Other items you may want to consider getting: 

      2. Collars – The fence package comes with one cat collar, but if you have multiple cats or need replacements, this is what you’ll need.

      3. Collar replacement batteries – 4-pack batteries last us 1 year per cat. So 2 cats = 8 batteries/year. 

      4. Surge protector – Our first fence was fried during a lightning storm, so we kicked ourselves for not getting a surge protector from the start. We remedied that when we replaced the fence, and the second one has made it through some serious lightning storms.

      PetSafe provides loads of information on how to install the fence AND how to train your cats on it. It’s surprisingly easy and simple to set up. 

      One note of warning: your PetSafe fence will keep your cats from leaving your yard, but it won't necessarily keep other wildlife from entering your yard. For instance, we regularly have skunks that come to visit. Despite being sprayed by skunks on numerous occasions, Bob the cat seems to have trouble resisting getting into fights with skunks. This means we've also had to become experts at getting the skunk spray off of our cat, which you can read about here. (No, tomato juice doesn't work.)

      One note of warning: your PetSafe fence will keep your cats from leaving your yard, but it won’t necessarily keep other wildlife from entering your yard. For instance, we regularly have skunks that come to visit or raise babies under our front porch. Despite being sprayed by skunks on numerous occasions, Bob the cat seems to have trouble resisting getting into fights with skunks. This means we’ve also had to become experts at getting the skunk spray off of our cat, which you can read about in another article if you’re ever in need! e. No, tomato juice does not work.

      Since most of our yard is comprised of no-till, mulched veggie garden beds, installing the perimeter wire for our electric cat fence was super easy. In spots in our yard where there’s still turf grass lawn, we simply used garden staples to tamp down the wire firmly to the soil.

      Our lawn mower passes right over the tamped-down wires without a problem.

      Is it hard to train cats on the PetSafe in-ground fence?

      PetSafe provides white perimeter flags that you stick into the ground where your electric fence wire is located. You only leave the flags up until you’ve completed kitty training.

      It took our cats about a week of training (2-3 “training sessions” per day) before they understood where the perimeter boundaries are. The collars give a warning “beep” that increases in frequency the closer they get to the line. Too close, and the cat gets a zap.

      Electric cat fence results: years after initial installation? 

      Years after installation, our  PetSafe in-ground fence still works great. The only time our remaining cat, Bob, “escapes” his yard is when his collar battery dies.

      Our electric cat fence has saved us an enormous amount of stress (where’s the cat? dead? injured?). It’s stopped our cat from killing birds and wildlife. It’s probably also saved us far more in vet bills than the initial price of the electric cat fence.

      And that’s a good investment, as far as we’re concerned.

      Bob the Cat at home, where he should be, getting a belly and chest rub.

      Bob the Cat at home, where he should be, getting a belly and chest rub. Bob wants you to stop your cat from killing birds, too.

      Step 5. If you can’t adopt a stray cat and make it an indoor cat, take it to an animal shelter.

      This is a controversial subject… It’s one of those ethical conundrums where there’s no absolutely perfect scenario. However, we do think there is a clear best answer

      A stray cat is absolutely guaranteed to kill birds and other wildlife, even if it’s got a nice person leaving food outside for it. That’s what cats do. They hunt, regardless of whether they’re hungry.

      Ideally, you can bring the stray cat to a no-kill shelter. Ideally, the cat then finds a nice home where it can live out its days indoors happily murdering stuffed toys, sofa arms, and socks.

      By getting a stray cat out of your ecosystem, you are guaranteed to stop the cat from killing countless numbers of birds, lizards, frogs, toads, rabbits, moles, and other native critters. These other animals have a right to exist, and they play a critical role in their/our ecosystems.

      Still not convinced that you need to bring the stray cat to a shelter?

      By bringing a stray cat to a no-kill shelter, you’re either saving or drastically extending the cat’s life. As it turns out, the average stray cat only lives for about two years, whereas an indoor cat will live for 12-18 years.

      If you love cats and nature as much as we do, we hope you’ll take the steps necessary to stop your cat from killing birds and wildlife.

      Given how much unnecessary damage is being done to other species as a result of our shared fondness for felines, we cat owners have a responsibility to make things better. 

      References & Recommended Reading:

      5 Ways (that actually work!) To Keep Your Cat From Killing Birds and Other Wildlife

      KIGI,

      47 Comments

      • Reply
        Pat
        June 17, 2023 at 5:16 pm

        One thing not usually mentioned and not possible for many is the strategy I’ve been using. I accompany my cat on walks in the morning and evening and did so with my previous cat. They, and the birds are quiescent during the middle hours of the day. They love having the company and frequently come to get me if I’m not out yet. They got used to it because I followed them with a double leash and comfy jacket early on. (You have to start very young and hold it loose, more like a bridal train, and “train”, actually gain cooperation, with subtle movements and voice, and no yelling or pulling, more like teaching a young toddler.Some small animal harnesses, for ferrets, etc. come in sizes that fit kittens and can be like the old “training bras” that 10 year olds wore.) If the leash gets taut,they can back out of the harness. I can’t stand seeing people pull or yank them to try to maket hem walk like a dog., Just stand still when the cat wants to go a different way than you and use a nice voice to reinforce cooperation.

        I think an “indoor cat” is one that has a companion animal, preferably a sibling, at least 2 window seats and 2 climbing trees, a human that engages them in games at least twice a day, preferably stairs and a hallway to run around, a catio in a yard with some plant life in it and that they can move around in, not just sit on a small shelf. and an owner who has patience to show the cat where to stretch and claw and gives gentle praise and no harsh punishment or who is not fussy about their furnishings. Many can not provide this, its mostly for high earners. Many also can not do the patient positive education I do with my cats. An apartment or small house with no one home is sometimes better than being in a cage in a shelter unless its a fabulous one with playground and playtime. But it is a very unatural boring life for a cat, and, to me, is also cruel. So is leaving a cat outdoor all day or night without it having a means to get inside for safety, rest, comfort, food, and drink.

        The first year of a kittens life can be spent habituating it gently to a half and half life. Chasing bugs in a catio is great and my cat does that when I go to bed since one of her 3 catios is attached to a window. I spent about 1K on catios, trying to make her an indoor cat in a small apartment. Now I spend many hours with her outside, mornings and evenings, and have a radiofrequency tracker (fantastic!) to know where she is at other times. I don’t know a really good solution for people who have neither money nor timeand patience. Perhaps join with another kitten owner right from the get-go to give them a more interesting natural life with your protection.

        Comments welcome. (I do wish though that people who want to watch birds in their yard would take some of the responsibility by heeding the advice to keep the feeders away from cat hiding places. Bird experts seem to agree that the birds don’t really need the extra food, its more for the pleasure of the human.)

      • Reply
        Tim
        January 27, 2023 at 12:33 pm

        CATS …ARE….PREDATORS!!! Get over it! you can’t make it something other than what it is! you take an obligate carnivore and domesticate it thinking it will be different than its original instinctual nature. When we try that kind of behavior modification on humans for some activity one may find repugnant(for whatever reason – usually religious/ideological belief driven) we call that abuse and violence towards that individual!
        Get over it or don’t have a cat!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          January 30, 2023 at 3:23 pm

          Thank you for your comment. Yes, this article very clearly acknowledges that cats are predators – very efficient ones at that. The point of the article isn’t to deny the reality that cats are predators, only to clearly acknowledge a problem while also trying to help develop one part of a broader solution set to that problem.

          The problem: there are 60 million pet cats plus up to 80 million “unowned” cats in the United States. These are non-native predators that are demonstrably wreaking havoc on native wildlife. For anyone who happens to own a cat or cats, there are proven methods that can be deployed to mitigate the amount of destruction their cat(s) can have on native wildlife. This doesn’t mean the cat ceases to be a predator, only that the damage they cause is minimized or contained.

          In some other countries like Australia who have similar problems with cats, Aboriginal Australians hunt and eat feral cats and the government is also trying to eradicate them using other methods: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/magazine/australia-cat-killing.html. Given the emotional component of the human relationship with cats, it seems difficult to even get some people here in the US to acknowledge that there’s a problem, despite what seems to be clear and compelling evidence.

          We have a cat, not by choice, but because someone dumped kittens who were accustomed to outdoor living on our front porch many years ago. Thus, we have a responsibility to minimize the damage our remaining cat can do to nearby wildlife.

          • Reply
            Lee
            January 6, 2024 at 1:39 pm

            I whole heartedly agree with all the advise here. I am doing what I can to keep my 3 cats from killing birds. 2 of my cats (female) don’t care for chasing birds. My boy has an addiction that I am working to curb. The issue with mice is one I do not discourage. I find that all the statistics here about cat populations decimating bird populations very discouraging. Not for the reason you may imagine. Cats don’t come close to the primary predator for decimating bird and wildlife populations. The reason so many wildlife are driven to extinction has nothing to do with cats. That’s right PEOPLE are the biggest threat to all forms of wildlife and even themselves. I will continue to minimize the impact my lone boy cat has on our neighborhood. But until we can curb the impact people have on our environment. The effect cats have is a drop of water in an ocean of man-made insecticides, loss of habitats, pollution,etc,etc. The list is all but endless. Until we can get a handle on the human problem concentrating our efforts on the cats is just something to do to make us feel good without having to address the real issue.

        • Reply
          LJAwGtN
          June 15, 2023 at 11:26 am

          Blimmy – yeah ok Tim what ever you say!

      • Reply
        Michele Zagorski-Goreski
        November 3, 2022 at 9:02 am

        Hi,
        I have a concern that the collars ( if I understand correctly) are not break away collars. From the way they seem to hug the cat’s neck, I would think they have some sort of elastic nature to them such as can be found in some kitten collars. Again, I could be completely wrong in assuming that, but I wanted to offer my thoughts because maybe others are thinking the same as I am and are refraining from purchasing. Maybe some are also so sold on the collar that this concern never entered their minds.
        My intention is too be helpful in posing the question. I have seen in the past much trouble with elasticized collars and cats getting snagged in low lying brush and bushes resulting in much risk and harm to the cat. I did check out Amazon to see if I could learn more about its construction but did not find any info. Could you please elaborate on the construction of the collar? Thank you in advance for answering my concerns.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          November 3, 2022 at 11:49 am

          Hi Michele! There are two collars referenced in this article so we’ll address both:
          1. Birdsbesafe collars actually slip over whatever breakaway cat collar you already have on your cat. It’s more like a covering for your existing collar.
          2. The electric collars (for electric cat fences) are made with a stretchy elastic material, so cats won’t get dangerously snagged with them. Unfortunately, this means that our cat has sometimes “lost” his and we’ve had to pay for replacements.

      • Reply
        Jessica wiliam
        August 3, 2022 at 9:28 pm

        Thanks for sharing useful information. This helps me a lot.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          August 4, 2022 at 11:15 am

          You’re very welcome! We hope the info provided helps lessen the toll your cat(s) take on local wildlife.

      • Reply
        Claudia Fahey
        May 20, 2022 at 7:50 am

        So i have 2 c outdoor cats that are somewhat feral both fixed, mother and daughter i was able to rehome 3 kittens of the litter but not the 4th. Daughter is a killing machine even though we feed them well and she has had shots as she is tame enough to take to vet. I already have 4 rescue cats including 2 special needs I cant bring anymore inside. I wasnt aware that cats are considered invasive…how sad Ive grown up with cats and love them dearly. Ive stopped feeding the birds to start out with but now they climb the trees is there anything I can spray on the trunks to keep them from climbing? Thanks

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          May 20, 2022 at 1:25 pm

          Hi Claudia! Sorry you’re having issues with your cats killing wildlife. As far as keeping your cats from climbing trees, any sort of spray/smell you apply is going to inevitably wear off and need to be reapplied regularly. Instead, we’d recommend utilizing something more permanent. Depending on the size of the tree(s) you’re dealing with, you could either: a) make a collar type contraption similar to those used to keep squirrels from climbing bird feeders, or b) put a slippery metal or plastic strip around the tree about 5′ off the ground that would stop your cats’ claws from gripping thus preventing them from climbing higher (these are called tree baffles and you could probably purchase them online). If your trees have low-hanging branches that your cats can jump into, that’s going to be trickier to deal with. Then you might just have to create some kind of tall fence barrier around the tree to keep your cats from gaining access. Presumably, there are birds nesting in the referenced tree(s) that you’re trying to prevent your cats from getting to? Regardless, hope these suggestions help!

      • Reply
        Adele
        July 25, 2021 at 6:22 pm

        I have been crying since last night when my inside/outside GPS wearing cat had a bird in the backyard. I chased the cat away and thought the bird was ok but died in my hands. I’m wrecked. The neighbor has a sanctuary of a backyard set up to attract birds. The only way I will never feel this bad again is if I keep the cat inside 100% of the time. I have another cat who stays in the yard and doesn’t jump the fence and enjoys being outside. I have been crying all day. I love them dearly, but I wish I never got cats.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          July 26, 2021 at 8:54 am

          So sorry, Adele! Unfortunately, it’s very difficult converting a cat that’s used to being outdoors into being a fully indoor cat. Since you do have a fence already, another possibility that’s not mentioned in this article is getting either: 1) a cat fence topper, or 2) cat fence spikes (link to referenced items on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eZllai). We have large grape vines and other fruit growing on our fences so those options wouldn’t work for us, but perhaps they will for you. Best of luck!

        • Reply
          Diane
          November 22, 2021 at 6:14 am

          And I’m crying here at 3am because my neighbors cat who I took in with permission and gave him medical care (asthma) is a killer…of anything. He brought in an adult rabbit and there was a blood bath in my hallway and he did damage to this innocent rabbit who looks like he is suffering neurological damage. No emergency care vets are open. So I’m sitting here crying. I feel your pain and I do not know what I am going to do about this cat….he loves us dearly. So broken.

          • Reply
            Aaron von Frank
            November 22, 2021 at 12:43 pm

            So sorry, Diane. We feel your pain. Seeing the data from scientists who calculate the toll that cats take on wildlife is tragic, but it seems abstract. When you actually experience the carnage yourself over and over, it becomes real. Hopefully you can use some of the tips in this article to help stop your cat from killing wildlife.

        • Reply
          Jodie
          May 26, 2022 at 4:04 pm

          Adele let’s get a grip here. The cat surely you know that cats are hunters by nature they are not maliciously killing the wildlife believe me I know what you’re talking about because I felt very upset when my cat killed a mourning dove although the idea that I wish I never got the cat never ever crossed my mind because it’s simply in their nature it’s a predatory instinct so please do not fault the cat for that if you’re that upset about it then simply keep your cat inside.

      • Reply
        Susan Petrie
        May 1, 2021 at 6:24 am

        I have two cats who are well looked after, who come and go freely in and out of the house. They do sleep most of the day indoors. i have a largish garden and I have just found a pair of robins nesting in a low tree. they have just started building and are busy coming and going with leaves etc. What do I do. It is early in the season so do I let the robins take their chances or do I disturb them to find some where else to nest. (we also have neighbours who have cats.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          May 1, 2021 at 9:55 am

          Hi Susan! That’s a tricky one. We’ve had similar situations with birds nesting in our yard, on our porch, etc. What we’ve done is try to erect temporary caging around the area to keep our cat (and other cats) out. That at least keeps cats from getting to the nest. Then you have to try to monitor the development of the baby birds so you know when they’re going to fledge and leave the nest. For the first couple of days after fledging, they’re pretty vulnerable to cats and other predators since they’re very clumsy fliers and inexperienced at detecting and escaping predators. We keep our cat under pretty heavy lockdown when fledges are about. Typically, the fledges and parents leave the yard within the first day or so. Hope this information helps you and keeps your cat from killing birds!

      • Reply
        Pat
        December 26, 2020 at 8:39 pm

        Our cats are indoors only, but a few weeks ago an intact stray showed up and is killing birds in our backyard. We put a break-away collar with a bell on him and are feeding him plenty, but he still hunts though his victim count has, thankfully, decreased.

        We took him in to have him tested for diseases and had him vaccinated, and we are going to have him neutered next month. But we absolutely cannot take in any more cats (we have several of our own and were arm-twisted into taking in 3 of a relative’s who can no longer care for them), and the only no-kill shelter in the area is full. The only other option is animal control, who are so full they kill dogs and cats after 48 hours.

        This is a human-caused problem and it makes me so angry that irresponsible idiots refuse to spay/neuter and the rest of us have to clean up their mess.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          December 27, 2020 at 8:36 am

          Ugh, so sorry to hear this, Pat. Yes, cats are basically an invasive predatory species infestation, but they also happen to be cute and like people due to thousands of years of domestication. A perfect storm for small-sized wildlife in their path. Hope you’re able to figure out a workable solution for the new stray in your yard.

      • Reply
        Kim Palmer
        December 19, 2020 at 6:54 pm

        The problem with no-kill shelters is not really what you think. I try to find a no-kill shelter when I get a new cat. I try to find one there first. When I got my last cats I asked about where they take the others that do not get a home. I asked because I had never seen so many cats in my life. They told me that a ranch about 20 miles away got all of the cats. My friend of mine had 140 acres and people were always dumping their cats on her property. One needs to know that they are exposed to all of the wildlife. Fox, coyotes, bears. eagles, etc. catch them and kill them. What is worse? ?

      • Reply
        Rachel Bailey
        October 20, 2020 at 4:44 am

        Thank you for this post – I came across it by chance. I am a garden designer with a permaculture slant including edible perennials in all my designs. I love nature and especially birds. Recently a new housing development near me has brought with it lots of cats and I am seeing the impact on our bird populations. I don’t own a cat, but I have just shared the research paper and link to Birdsbesafe collars to all my cat-loving friends! So thank you for posting about this.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          October 21, 2020 at 7:01 am

          Glad to hear the info was helpful, Rachel! It’s much easier to implement these procedures on your own cat rather than someone else’s, but hopefully more and more people will get on board to prevent their cats from killing wildlife.

      • Reply
        Mamma bear Australia
        August 25, 2020 at 7:58 pm

        Thank you so much for that great article. My cat Lego is just a killing machine. Today he brought me a baby duck and I was heartbroken. He is getting around a bird a week and it’s killing me. I’ve reduced his outdoor hours significantly – like your “Bob”, Lego is just not an indoor cat and so I have to look at other ways. I have contemplated the cat fence but wanted to know if they really work. I want to stop him from getting out at all. We have a beautiful reserve with a big pond across the road and I can’t tell you how many animals – mice, rats, monitor lizards, ducks, baby birds and skinks he has brought home for me. 🙁 I’m going to invest in one of those fences today. I think you are right in how much it will reduce damage to the wildlife and reduce the possibility of vet bills. Here in Australia we have nasty paralysis ticks that have cost me $000’s in the years. So thank you for a great article!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          August 25, 2020 at 10:21 pm

          Thanks for caring and best of luck keeping your cat from killing birds and other wildlife! Paralysis ticks – yikes! You Australians have quite a lot of terrifying critters to deal with. It’s amazing that Lego is still alive given the circumstances.

        • Reply
          LISA A SUMMERLIN
          June 4, 2021 at 6:01 pm

          Cat fences work! I have one (home made) and my cats get to enjoy the backyard, which keeps them from going crazy.
          It also keeps them warm in summer when the AC is at 71 degrees!
          The commercially available ones are nice, but out of my budget.
          I wish more people would get them – would you make your dog stay inside for its whole life?
          You still have to use the collars, and keep them them inside when birds are fledging.
          We have a section of wire fencing we use to enclose our bottle brushes when a Cardinal builds a nest there.
          It protects the nest but does not help during fledging time.

      • Reply
        Trinkado
        October 7, 2019 at 1:07 pm

        I have a serious, and unique situation. My son and I adopted a cat that had been left behind by a family that moved. He was declawed and neutered. Imagine leaving a declawed cat behind! He also can’t talk. We don’t know what happened to his focal cords. The neighbors told us he has been known as the neighborhood cat for the two years he has been by himself, but neighbors have been feeding him and bringing him in when the weather is bad. I did not want him running around without the proper vet care. My son and I adopted him. We took him to the vet and had tests done, and he got his rabies vaccine. He was a very healthy 8 year-old cat. We knew he was used to being outside. We wanted him to be an inside/outside cat. His name, the one we gave him, is Shelby. A neighbor made him a trinket out of a small scallop shell that we put on his collar; in addition to his rabies license. He basically stays inside until sunset, when we let him out. Sometimes he comes back in for a couple of hours until out for the night. The problem is, he is killing rabbits! He brings them to the front door as presents. I open the door and I’m mortified. My son said rabbits are an intrusive species and can ruin an ecosystem like they did in Australia. I only care that it’s disgusting and I want none of it. I get so mad I want to take him to a shelter. He makes enough noise from his collar that he can’t get a bird. I can’t put an electric fence, we have been renting this home for 6 years. The rabbits were coming into our yard and I love watching them. What can I do? He would be so unhappy being inside the entire time. Taking him to a shelter seems like a cop out. We decided to adopt him and now we’re giving up. Any suggestions are appreciated.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          October 7, 2019 at 4:39 pm

          Sorry to hear this! Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like there’s much you can do if he is to remain an outdoor cat without an electric fence to keep him contained. Older/larger rabbits might be able to escape him due to their size and speed, but younger rabbits won’t have much of a chance – especially if he finds rabbit nests.

          As for rabbits being a problem to a healthy ecosystem (e.g. invasive species), that sort of thing is nearly always the result of the introduction of a non-native species that has no natural predators/resource competition within the new ecosystem. In this case, wild rabbits are native throughout the US and their predators are abundant, thus holding their populations in check. Rabbits can be a pest via eating your garden plants (especially edible greens), but birds of prey alone keep them from ever being too overpopulated and problematic.

          Statistically, the lifespan of your cat is likely to be greatly reduced by virtue of him spending a lot of time outdoors (especially with no claws). So the problem might not be a problem for too many more years.

          Sorry not to have a good solution to offer you under the circumstances described.

        • Reply
          Talia the something
          October 24, 2019 at 7:25 am

          try a catbib and add loud bells to his collar

          • Reply
            Trinkado
            November 30, 2019 at 2:20 pm

            As I mentioned in my comment, he has a shell and rabies badge in his collar. It makes for a loud combo and I know that’s why he hasn’t been able to get birds. Since I wrote my comment two months ago, he left me another present. I keep saying me because I have a chair right outside our front door that I use to read and sit in the Sun. His last two kills have been left by the chair. The last time he did this, the rabbits organs were placed around my chair; it was totally creepy. Cats kill for sport, even if we’ll fed. I’ll never understand this but the experience has confirmed one thing. I am a dog person.

            • Aaron von Frank
              December 2, 2019 at 2:39 pm

              Sorry to hear that. Lots of animals engage in surplus killing (including dogs) so that phenomenon is not unique to felines. Bob will likely be our last cat for the same reason. We wouldn’t actually have a cat if he and his brother hadn’t been abandoned in our yard years back.

      • Reply
        Emmazier
        August 25, 2019 at 3:59 pm

        Hello! 🙂
        Thanks for the informative article, this PetSafe fence method could be a lifesaver for us with my cat. Do you put the Birdsbesafe collar on to the PetSafe collar or you out it on a separate one?
        Thanks for your answer in advance!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          August 26, 2019 at 11:19 am

          You’re very welcome! The electric collar goes directly on our cat’s neck. Separately, he wears a breakaway collar (with a BirdsBeSafe cover over it). So he has on two collars – one for the fence (to keep him in our yard) and one so birds can see him. Does that make sense? If not, I can snap a photo for you.

          • Reply
            A B Molnar
            August 26, 2019 at 3:50 pm

            Thank you for the quick response! Yes, it makes perfect sense! Then I’ll purchase a breakaway collar from BirdsBeSafe as well (not just the collar cover). I was just worried whether two collars would make my cat’s neck too “crowded”. But seeing that this “two collar method” has worked for you for years, it will probably work for us as well 🙂 Thanks again for writing your experiences down! You’ve got such a lovely blog!

            • Aaron von Frank
              August 28, 2019 at 10:39 am

              You’re very welcome, and good luck!

      • Reply
        Emma Rose
        March 28, 2019 at 6:20 am

        My outdoor cat cannot seem to keep a collar! I have bought him many and they all come off and get lost somewhere around the neighborhood. I know it’s important to use breakaway collars to reduce risk of strangulation, (and I have seen him get a collar stuck on something and not be able to breathe), so I’m hesitant about your collar suggestions. Do you have any thoughts on this?
        Thanks!!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          April 7, 2019 at 9:49 am

          Hi Emma! Great question. The electric cat fence collar has an elastic part so a cat *can* pull their heads out of it if they get stuck. Our cat has managed to slip out of it when he’s been in tricky situations. As for the Birdsbesafe collars, those actually slip over the top of whatever collar you’re already using – breakaway collar, etc. Hope that helps!

          • Reply
            Emma Rose
            April 10, 2019 at 9:19 am

            Yes, it does! Thanks!

          • Reply
            Priscilla Verdia
            June 20, 2019 at 2:04 am

            I wish I thought these were safe for the cats, but I don’t. I want to save wildlife, so I’m keeping my three tabby cats inside now that it is bird nesting season. I’d love to slip a collar on them and feel safe letting them outside, but I wouldn’t. And The electric fence is out too. Think about what happens if the cat gets out when the electric fence batteries die. How will he overcome his fear of shock to return back over that line of fence? Surely, he doesn’t understand the concept of dead batteries. And the Birdsafe colorful collar is an accident waiting to happen to your cats. If a collar is snagged on a nail, branch or barbed wire and the cat begins to panic, the collar will be tightened with each spin of its body. I’m not risking my pets to either of these options. I hope your pets stay safe. I believe you mean well. I just can’t try either of these.

            • Aaron von Frank
              June 20, 2019 at 8:48 pm

              I should also add that another benefit of taking the measures outlined in this article is that we’ve drastically reduced injuries to our cat (and other cats) from him getting into fights with neighborhood cats. He’s now far outlived the average life of an outdoor cat.

      • Reply
        Alice
        March 24, 2018 at 4:30 am

        Useless. Was expecting a how to train in-house cat not to kill in-house bird.

        Nature is balanced, humans shouldn’t get themselves “too” involved with it unless to correct other humans’ mistakes.(like #2)

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          April 8, 2018 at 9:22 pm

          Sorry to disappoint. The title of the article is “5 WAYS TO STOP YOUR CAT FROM KILLING BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE” so I don’t think we indicated the article was about indoor birds and indoor cats.

          • Reply
            Alice
            April 8, 2018 at 9:59 pm

            “Your cat” can easily be misunderstood with “indoor”.
            Mostly, neither owners want their cat outside nor Cats themselves like to go outside needlessly, anyway.

            I appreciate your effort, sorry for calling it useless.

          • Reply
            LJAwGtN
            June 15, 2023 at 11:21 am

            Well, I didn’t find your article “useless”. Thank you its no silver bullet granted, but it’s a realistic approach and better than doing nothing. Just felt compelled to jump in and say thanks after such a rude comment above. Me, I blame the Mother for the lack of manners and what people unknowingly miss out on in life with a lack of manners.

      • Reply
        Suzy Hayes
        September 8, 2017 at 11:16 am

        We kindly & lovingly supplied our new neighbors with the stats on cats/wildlife from Cornell, Audubon, ABC, Lost Birds of Hawaii, etc.; which only fell on their uncaring, deaf ears. After months of carnage, the ONLY thing which has worked to keep my neighbor’s fat cats out of our yard & which has cease the slaughter of wildlife on our property…….we released our 2 American Black & Tan Coonhounds. We haven’t seen their cats since!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          September 14, 2017 at 11:43 am

          Ugh, it’s so frustrating when people are not just causing damage, but don’t even care about the damage they’re causing! Kudos to you for trying and also for coming up with a solution. Even though you now have an oasis for wildlife, it’s likely your neighbor’s cats have moved elsewhere to continue their killing spree.

      Leave a Reply

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      Gardening Recipes

      Stridolo (Silene vulgaris): how to grow and eat this rare Italian veggie

      Stridolo (Silene vulgaris): how to grow and eat this rare Italian veggie thumbnail

      Stridolo (Silene vulgaris) is a gorgeous flowering plant native to the Mediterranean. Often described as an herb, we think it instead deserves full “vegetable” status. Find out how to grow, harvest, and eat stridolo in this article. 


      When we first grew stridolo about ten years ago, we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. We also weren’t sure what to make with it in the kitchen or when to make it, since the plant’s flavor is rumored to vary significantly by season and stage of lifecycle. 

      Experience is a form of discovery. One of the many benefits of gardening is that you get to intimately know plants at each stage in their lifecycle, which often means different flavors, textures, and culinary opportunities.

      With many years of growing stridolo now under our belt, we have more knowledge about its many virtues, peculiarities, and uses. We’ve also come to realize that many of the things said about this unique plant aren’t accurate. 

      Stridolo growing in early fall (October 13) in Ag Zone 7b. This is a wonderful multifunctional plant: it's a great edible, pollinators love it, and it's also an attractive landscape plant. If you grow it as a front row plant, you may want to trim back the older, tall flower stalks to promote new growth/flower production.

      Stridolo growing in early fall (October 13) in Ag Zone 7b. This is a wonderful multifunctional plant: it’s a great edible, pollinators love it, and it’s also an attractive landscape plant. If you grow it as a front row plant, you may want to trim back the older, tall flower stalks to promote new growth/flower production.

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      15 Comments

      • Reply
        Tony Plato
        March 19, 2024 at 10:47 am

        This is eaten a lot in Cyprus where it is called Strouthouthkia. Also a favourite for omelette or scrambled eggs. I brought cuttings home to the UK and found I already had some when it flowered!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          March 19, 2024 at 11:14 am

          Neat! Yes, it seems like every Mediterranean country has their own name for this wonderful plant.

      • Reply
        Barb Chamberlain
        July 6, 2023 at 7:51 pm

        So glad to find this very informative post. I just saw stridolo/sculpit at my local urban farm store and was curious. I think I’ll head back and get a couple of plants; always happy to find something that’s pretty to look at, good for pollinators, and edible for humans.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          July 7, 2023 at 6:37 am

          Stridolo/sculpit is a great plant! I was munching on the flowers yesterday. And the late winter – early spring greens are one of our absolute favorite greens. Enjoy!

      • Reply
        Xochi
        April 20, 2023 at 12:23 pm

        This is great! I’m growing stridolo for the first time and I tasted a leaf thinking it would have a strong herby flavor, and was surprised to find that it tasted rather simple and, well, green! Thank you for writing up your experiences with this plant, it’s good to know I’m on the right track. 😅

      • Reply
        Elen
        May 14, 2022 at 5:16 pm

        Thank you for your great blog. Really appreciate such informed writing. Too many gardening websites seem to just copy what they’ve read elsewhere!

        I’ve been growing stridolo – o’r bladder campion as I’ve been calling it – since last year. It made it through the (very mild) winter and now it’s in bloom. Its looking wonderful. Very bushy and healthy. I haven’t made much use of it in the kitchen yet. The odd salad, that’s all. I’m glad to see you can eat it throughout the year. And I agree, it’s definitely more vegetable than herb in my book. It’s left me wondering why we don’t eat more of it. Certainly much easier to grow than kale and spinach. And much prettier – it wouldn’t be out of place in an ornamental garden. Definitely one of my favourite recent finds. I can’t wait to try the omelette recipe.

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          May 16, 2022 at 11:00 am

          Thanks, Elen! Agree with everything you say about stridolo/bladder campion. It is far easier to grow than common annual and biennial leaf veggies. The only thing I think is hindering its popularity and broader adoption is that it’s got a much shorter harvest window for tasty greens relative to plants like kale and spinach. With stridolo, the leafy greens/shoots are best in a 4-6 week window in late winter-early spring where we live. Once they get further along in development, they have that mildly bitter aftertaste that might be off-putting to anyone looking to eat them as a raw veggie – although cooking helps. However, during that time window, they are one of the most delicious greens out there – we rate them slightly higher even than pea greens.

          Also, as you note, they are a gorgeous landscape and pollinator plant perfect for a front row in any edible landscape or flower garden (and their flowers are quite tasty for humans, too). Next time you have stridolo shoots in-season, also consider trying our simple Italian stracciatella soup w/ stridolo: https://www.tyrantfarms.com/stracciatella-italian-egg-drop-soup-with-stridolo/!

      • Reply
        Ben
        January 15, 2022 at 7:20 pm

        Thanks for the great info on this uncommon plant! Just planted some seeds and can’t wait to see how it tastes

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          January 18, 2022 at 3:24 pm

          Wonderful! Let us know what you think of stridolo once you’ve had a chance to grow it and eat at different points in the season. And don’t forget to enjoy the tasty flowers as the plant matures.

      • Reply
        Andre
        June 8, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        HI! I was wondering if you had any tips or recipes for eating the flower part. Should they be eaten raw and whole and simply used as a garnish?

        Thank you!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          June 9, 2021 at 12:27 pm

          Hi Andre! We’ve only ever eaten stridolo flowers raw, either in the garden, in salads, or as a garnish. One thing we’d recommend is getting to know stridolo flowers a bit more: nibble on them at different stages in development and even different times of day. In our opinion, there’s a certain point when they’re at peak flavor after they’ve opened in the morning and the nectaries are full. However, as long as they’re not old and starting to desiccate, they still have great flavor. There are probably far more creative ways to use stridolo flowers than we’ve done thus far, and if you come up with some good ones, we’d love to hear about it.

          • Reply
            Andre
            June 16, 2021 at 11:34 am

            Thank you for the advice!

      • Reply
        Robyn
        March 5, 2021 at 12:29 am

        Wow! Never heard of this, but eager to try growing it. Where do you recommend getting seeds? Thanks for another informative article, Aaron.

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      Ducks

      Duck winter care tips – from the experts!

      Duck winter care tips - from the experts! thumbnail

      We asked duck parents who live in some of the coldest climates in North America how they care for their ducks in the winter. This article is a summary of their tips and advice for how they get their backyard or small farm ducks through the coldest winter months. 


      We live in Greenville, SC (Zone 7b), so our winters are fairly mild. During the typical winter, our temperatures might dip into the teens a few times, but the daytime temperatures very rarely stay below freezing.

      Frozen precipitation is a similarly rare event. For instance, our single snow storm this winter was a total of 2″ which melted by afternoon. 

      What does this mean for our ducks? Meh.

      Our ducks exploring underneath a potted citrus plant on a cold, wet winter day. Don't let the potted citrus fool you - we live in Zone 7b and our winter temps regularly dip into the 20s and even teens.

      Our ducks exploring underneath a potted citrus plant on a cold, wet winter day, aka “duck weather.” Don’t let the potted citrus fool you – we live in Zone 7b and our winter temps regularly dip into the 20s and even teens.

      Generally, the colder and wetter it is outside, the happier our ducks are. They’re decidedly less enthused by our scorching hot humid summers. (Read: 10 summer care tips for your backyard ducks.)

      Given our relatively mild winters, we decided to reach out to people who raise ducks in REALLY cold climates. How cold?

      Think Canada. Zones 4-5. Basically, conditions similar to Mars. Or an analogy closer to home: conditions so cold they turn Justin Trudeau’s beard hair white.

      We asked these three cold climate duck enthusiasts how they get their ducks through their harsh winters so that other backyard or small farm duck parents (like you) can be better prepared for frigid winters or cold snaps where you live. 

      Keep on reading to find out what tips and advice they have to offer — and get our 6-point winter care tips for ducks summary at the end of this article! 

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      4 Comments

      • Reply
        Bryce
        December 26, 2023 at 12:27 pm

        I live in Zone 5b (Southeastern Wisconsin) with my 6 runner ducks. We built their run underneath our rows of apple and pear trees (it was the only location that would fit in our backyard) so it’s quite hard to have an actual roof for their run. I’ve put up plastic wrap all around their run to block the wind and I have a mix of pine shavings and straw laid down on the run which I’ll cover up/discard of used bedding every few days. My question is does my run need to have a roof on it for them in the winter? So far the winter here has been incredibly mild (~30-40 F) so I haven’t been terribly worried about no roof but January and February are usually quite chilly (20s and below). They do have access to their coop which is always covered and dry as well as a hockey net that I turned into a shelter using leftover plastic wrap (which also has dry bedding). Do you think that would be enough to keep them comfortable or should I look to build some extra structures for more dry locations for them?

        Thank you for your help again,

        Bryce

        • Reply
          Susan von Frank
          December 28, 2023 at 11:47 am

          Hi Bryce! It sounds like your setup is fine from a winter shelter standpoint so long as you don’t have deep snow that persists for weeks on end. As for your duck run’s roof, is it predator-proofed somehow, e.g. will it keep both aerial predators (hawks, owls, etc) and mammals (raccoons, bobcats, etc) out? If not, affixing something like hardware cloth over the top would be advised.

      • Reply
        Melissa
        June 3, 2022 at 8:18 am

        Awesome article, thank you! I live in a mountain valley in northern NH, zone 4 with zone 3 winds, so I found this article very interesting! I have a covered coop and I wrap the coop with plastic and use heated bowls. I use deep straw on the floor, which stays nice and warm. I am having a problem with persistent bumblefoot which started over the winter. I suspect it started from water that spills out of the bowls and then freezes on the straw and becomes sharp. I found the idea of using grit below the water bowls very interesting but I’m concerned this would also be too harsh on their feet when water freezes on top of the grit. I need to figure out a different set up going into next winter so I may try this out. Thank you!

        • Reply
          Aaron von Frank
          June 3, 2022 at 12:37 pm

          Glad these duck winter care tips were helpful, Melissa! Yikes to Zone 3 winds. Our Zone 7b winters are about as cold as we want to experience – ha.

          One idea (that could be implemented different ways) is to place your heated water bowls on top of some sort of DIY elevated grate. That way, spilled water would drop through the grate under the bowls instead of forming ice on the walking areas. No matter what though, ducks are incredibly messy drinkers and eaters, as you no doubt know. So this would only reduce the problem, not eliminate it.

          The first idea that comes to mind is constructing a simple square/rectangular frame made of 4-6″ lumber with 1/2″ wire on top and bowls placed on top of the wire. (Obviously ducks would have to be able to easily reach the water to drink for the system to be feasible.)

          Anyway, if you can, please check back in and let us (and other readers) know what you come up with to protect your ducks’ feet from coop ice during the winter and how it works. Best of luck!

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      Ducks

      10 summer care tips for your backyard ducks

      10 summer care tips for your backyard ducks thumbnail

      Use these ten duck summer care tips as a checklist to make sure your backyard (or small farm) ducks are well cared for during extreme summer heat. 


      We (and our ducks) live in Greenville, South Carolina, a state known for sweltering summers and mild winters. During the summer, we sometimes go for months on end with high temperatures of 90°F or higher. Due to our humid climate, the feel-like is often at or above 100°F. 

      These are not conditions in which you say, “I should put on a down jacket and spend the day outdoors.” However, that’s exactly what our ducks do in the summer.  

      That means we have to take certain precautions in order to make sure our ducks are ready to take on the summer heat and continue thriving. Even if you’re a duck parent who lives in a cooler climate region, you should take the recommendations outlined in this article into consideration. 

      That’s because extreme weather events are becoming more intense and more frequent and Ag Zones continue to shift ever northward as our little blue planet warms. Translation: your average summer temperatures are increasing and there’s an increasing likelihood of extreme heat waves.  

      What’s a duck parent to do? 

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        Ducks

        Raising mixed species poultry together – tips and advice

        Raising mixed species poultry together - tips and advice thumbnail

        Are you considering raising mixed species of poultry together? We reached out to three different, experienced poultry parents who successfully raise different species of poultry in their backyard or on their small farms. This article is a summary of their advice for others who wish to do the same… 


        *Featured image credit: MJ Smith @ Hoof & Feather Farm

        This article is a bit different than most of our other duck/poultry articles because we’re not relying on what we’ve personally learned. We raise ducks, and we’ve come to know a heck of a lot about raising ducks — including how to raise REALLY tame ducks.

        Jackson the Duck and Sebastian the Baby sharing a bed. These are technically mixed species, but this article is about raising different poultry species together.

        Jackson the Duck and Sebastian the Baby sharing a bed. (Read: Is it safe to raise ducks and babies together?) These are technically mixed species, but this article is actually about raising different POULTRY species together.

        Geese, turkeys, chickens, guinea fowl…? While our many years as duck parents would likely give us a good head start of knowledge on raising these other species, we certainly aren’t experts. And when it comes to raising these different species of poultry together, we don’t have a clue. 

        Thankfully, we know people who do just that — and do it well. Each person has different species of poultry, different setups, and a ton of knowledge to share with you…    

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        4 Comments

        • Reply
          Cassandra
          April 24, 2025 at 12:40 pm

          To begin, I just want to thank you for your wonderful duck articles!! I will soon be a first time duck owner, my new little babies coming next week. That said, I have read lots of articles on raising ducks, with yours being the most informative and realistic.
          I just wanted to mention something that has helped us to keep the unwanted visitors away. As far as preventing issues with predators, when I first started raising chickens, I was very nervous about predators. We live in the middle of nowhere Montana and we have quite a variety of critters running around our property. Luckily, we have not had any issues. Someone told me I need a radio to help keep them away. So I have an old school little alarm clock radio I keep in my coop, playing music 24/7. The constant noise I think has definitely helped to deter the predators. I think my chickens might actually enjoy it as well 🙂
          Thank you again for all of the wonderful information!

          • Reply
            Aaron von Frank
            April 25, 2025 at 11:15 am

            Thanks for your kind words, Cassandra! Interesting tip about the radio. Is there any indication that the constant noise increases stress on your birds or inhibits their ability to sleep – or have they gotten used to it? Best wishes with your new ducks!

        • Reply
          Judy Marek
          August 13, 2023 at 1:39 pm

          I would like to ask a question. I have 10 hens, 4 guineas think all are male, 4 geese and 4 ducks. All raised together, my hens are starting to lay and we have already had to raise their boxes because the geese could put their heads in. Now the guineas are running up and down the area in front of the chickens nesting boxes. How do I fix this? I have searched for ideas and have found none. Thank you for your time!

          • Reply
            Aaron von Frank
            August 14, 2023 at 2:34 pm

            Hi Judy! Just to make sure I understand: are all four poultry species sharing the same coop/run? If so, would it be possible to either: a) create a separate partitioned area for your guineas inside your existing setup, or b) create an entirely different area for your guineas to live? If you have four male guineas housed with your female chickens, the male guineas are likely going to start taking a strong interest in your hens and mating them. At a 1:1 ratio, that could lead to injuries and other problems. Yes, guineas will mate chickens. Oddly, they’re closely related enough that even though they’re different species, they can actually produce hybrid-species offspring.

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        Recipes

        Recipe: Purple kale pesto with Meyer lemons 

        Recipe: Purple kale pesto with Meyer lemons  thumbnail

        Purple kale pesto is a delicious, beautifully colored cool season alternative to basil-based summer pesto. Find out how to make your own purple kale pesto! 


        Pesto is a staple food in our house. In the summer, our favorite is the classic basil pesto that we make with ‘Cardinal’ basil, the most robust, open-pollinated Genovese-style basil variety we’ve ever grown. (Whether ‘Cardinal’ would perform as well in other soils and climates, we can’t say.)  

        We usually have the foresight to freeze plenty of summer pesto for a smattering of meals throughout the ~8 months when basil isn’t available fresh from our gardens. After all, basil isn’t fond of cool weather, owing to its tropical origins. (Genovese basil likely originated in what’s modern-day India.) 

        However, we also make plenty of garden-fresh pesto when the weather is downright frigid. They’re just not basil-based pestos… 

        Purple kale pesto with Meyer lemons - a winter favorite in our home.

        Purple kale pesto with Meyer lemons – a winter favorite in our home.

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          Recipes

          How to store Japanese persimmons (with recipes!)

          How to store Japanese persimmons (with recipes!) thumbnail

          We grow two cultivars of Japanese/Asian persimmons which provide us with an abundance of ripe fruit from fall through winter. One of the wonderful things about Japanese persimmons is they store really well for a long period of time.

          How long do Japanese persimmons store? Months to years, depending on how you store them…  

          Three ways to store Japanese persimmons 

          If you want to get really bad storage advice for Japanese persimmons, simply ask the internet. The search results that pop up first (as of the publication date of this article) will tell you that Japanese persimmons will only store for anywhere from a few days to a week. 

          Huh? This is why you don’t hire someone to write articles for you — or at least not someone who has apparently never grown, used, or stored Japanese persimmons.  

          If someone asks us “how do you store Japanese persimmons and how long do they last?,” the answer is it depends on:

          a) what variety of Japanese persimmon you have on hand;

          b) how you define “ripe”; and

          c) what you’re planning to do with your persimmons. 

          A cross section of a non-astringent Japanese persimmon that's been stored at room temperature for two months. The fruit has lost a high percentage of its moisture content and is quite soft... and absolutely delicious.

          A cross section of a non-astringent Ichi-Ki-Kei-Jiro Japanese persimmon that’s been stored at room temperature for two months. The fruit has lost a high percentage of its moisture content and is quite soft… and absolutely delicious.

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          4 Comments

          • Reply
            Kathie
            December 13, 2023 at 4:10 pm

            Is it possible that the FUYU CAN be too wrotten to eat? If so, how do I know?
            Tbank you so much for all of this information!

            • Reply
              Aaron von Frank
              December 14, 2023 at 1:43 pm

              Hi Kathie! Yes, it’s definitely possible that a Fuyu persimmon can go from overripe to rotten. Easiest way to tell is if it has off smells – if you leave them too long, they’ll start to ferment and eventually just get funky. If in doubt, cut into the skin and scoop out a little of the pulp. If it passes the smell test, take a little taste and let your taste buds inform you. Good luck!

          • Reply
            FurBaby Fresh
            February 10, 2021 at 12:33 am

            The persimmon article was excellent .
            However, the obscene amount of advertisements was horrible.
            Makes me want to unsubscribe.
            I understand the need for advertising .
            But that amount is unpleasant

            • Reply
              Aaron von Frank
              February 10, 2021 at 1:11 pm

              Hi Jay! First, glad you liked the article. Also, definitely appreciate and understand your irritation with the advertising on our website. Frankly, we’re not quite sure what to do there. First and foremost, we want people to have a great experience on our site which means providing quality information and an overall great user experience. We have to balance that goal with also being able to pay ourselves and pay for the technology that makes it all work. Due to your feedback, we’re going to look into whether we can throttle back the ads with our ad network and hope things still work out financially.

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          Recipes

          Recipe: Persimmon oat crumble (gluten-free)

          Recipe: Persimmon oat crumble (gluten-free) thumbnail

          Find out how to turn your soft, ripe Japanese persimmons into a delicious breakfast or dessert with our gluten-free persimmon oat crumble! 


          It was a bitter sweet day at Tyrant Farms… we said goodbye to the last of the Japanese persimmons we picked from our trees in 2020. 

          Very ripe Japanese persimmons perfect for baking.

          Very ripe Japanese persimmons, perfect for baking.

          After a couple months of room temperature storage, our Japanese persimmons were wrinkly, soft, and intensely flavorful. Combined with their low moisture content, this condition makes them perfect for using in baked goods. That’s why this gluten-free persimmon oat crumble recipe was born. 

          For the record, we eat plenty of gluten; we’re fortunate not to have averse reactions to the stuff. However, there’s no reason to use wheat-based flours in this recipe, so it’s gluten-free.

          And for those folks searching for a delicious gluten-free recipe to make with very ripe Japanese persimmons, we hope this one will do the trick! 

          Tyrant Farms' gluten-free persimmon oat crumble drizzled with backyard honey and served with a side of yogurt.

          Tyrant Farms’ gluten-free persimmon oat crumble drizzled with backyard honey and served with a side of yogurt.

           

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          2 Comments

          • Reply
            Christine
            November 17, 2021 at 12:08 am

            I’ve made this a handful of times now and it’s always such a hit! I’m always looking for gluten-free ways to use up ripe persimmons and this recipe is a keeper. I’ve frozen some persimmon puree so I hope to be able to make it all winter long.

            • Reply
              Aaron von Frank
              November 17, 2021 at 12:27 pm

              Thanks, Christine! Glad you enjoyed the gluten-free persimmon oat crumble. 🙂

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          Recipes

          Recipe: Spiced persimmon breakfast bread

          Recipe: Spiced persimmon breakfast bread thumbnail

          Find out how to turn your squishy-ripe Japanese/Asian persimmons into a moist and decadent spiced persimmon breakfast bread!


          After a couple months of room temperature storage, the non-astringent Japanese persimmons we picked from our trees eight weeks ago are now soft and shriveled, having lost a significant percentage of their moisture. 

          Does that mean they’re no longer good? Quite the opposite…

          Japanese persimmons stored at room temperature for two months taste great and are perfect for baked goods.

          Japanese persimmons stored at room temperature for two months taste great and are perfect for baked goods.

          Do you make the best banana bread with firm, bright yellow bananas or squishy bananas that are way past where you’d eat them fresh? Well, the same principle applies to Japanese persimmons. 

          They might not look beautiful, but the flavor of these over-ripe Japanese persimmons is far more complex and concentrated than it was when the fruit was picked crisp but ripe. At this stage of ripeness, they’re also ideal for baked goods such as breakfast breads.

          And that’s one of the secrets to making this spiced persimmon breakfast bread: use REALLY ripe persimmons that have been sitting for 6-8 weeks after harvest. 

          Spiced persimmon bread garnished with slices of ripe persimmons and a dusting of powdered sugar.

          Spiced persimmon bread garnished with slices of ripe persimmons and a dusting of powdered sugar.

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