At the library: How to make catnip

By Jade Gilchrist-Brock

I think it is fair to say that throughout this whole quarantine, we've all had to find many different and new ways to keep ourselves occupied and feeling somewhat productive. For example, my brother and father have taken up fishing. I, on the other hand, have taken up a slightly less conventional activity: making catnip. In the past summers, I have dabbled in making catnip to donate to Washington's animal shelter, PAWS & More. This year, however I have dived fully into the process of making containers full of it.

Making catnip is actually quite a simple but time consuming process. First you have to collect some catnip leaves or stalks. Three years ago my mother and I planted two small catnip plants in our garden for our neighborhood cat, Oliver. I expected the plant to die off in the winter and not return, but that was not the case.

Catnip is a shockingly strong and resistant plant. My once little plants have almost tripled in size. Anyways, once you have chopped off some leaves or stalks there are two methods you can use to dry the plant. You can either use a food dehydrator to dry out the leaves quickly. Generally this only takes about three hours to dry, depending on your dehydrator.

Another way to dry your catnip is by taking full stalks and hanging them up in a dry place. This does take quite a few days though. I personally prefer using the food dehydrator method because of how much quicker it is. After your cat nip is fully dry (you'll know it's dry when it easily crumbles) then all you have to do is crumble it up and put it in a container. Within a few weeks your catnip plant will be all grown back, and you will get to do the process all over again!

If you are thinking of trying a new hobby or activity, check out the WPL catalog at www.washington.lib.ia.us. Type in your new interest as a subject and you will be surprised all the resources that we have to help you pursue it!