I don't like the artificial perfume in cat litter, nor the waste produced by cat litter. Even "ecological" garbage is lacking-they smell bad, don't clump, and are expensive. Therefore, I spent several months experimenting with materials used to replace cat litter, and finally I found that straw or pine pellets, which are usually sold as horse mats, work best.

I kept using straw pills until my local Agway stopped carrying them. Now I use pine particles and the effect is the same. These loose particles have many benefits. They are cheap-a 40-pound bag costs $6, and my two cats can last for nearly a month and a half. And they don’t smell unpleasant—if any, they smell a bit woody or grassy. In addition, the liquid will immediately break down the pine balls into sawdust, so it is easy to find and remove urine.

Understand the docile temperament of traditional American guinea pigs, understand their foraging habits, and help protect them by raising breed awareness.

Author and poultry breeder Gail Damerow shares how to protect your flock from predators large and small in your area.

Bake moist, delicious, sweet dessert bread on your stove. Originally published as "You can bake steamed buns on your stove!" in the November/December 1976 "Mother Earth News".

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