DEAR HELOISE: There’s an old recipe that my great grandfather used to use in his garden, and it made everything grow quickly and in abundance. It was lost for a long time, but we found the recipe in an old book that he once owned. I used it for the first time this past year, and my vegetable garden has never looked healthier or given me such a large yield of tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. It’s very simple and cost less than $2 to make.

Get 1 packet of baking yeast. Mix it into a large bucket of very warm water. Stir well. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and stir. Let it sit for 2 hours. Add 1 gallon of additional water and 1 capful of cider vinegar. Then water your garden!

• Nancy H., in Council Bluffs, Iowa

DEAR HELOISE: This letter is in response to the the lady who discouraged people to bring in stray cats. I can’t tell you the number of stray cats that I’ve brought into my home and my heart, and they’ve become wonderful pets. I never had a problem with any of them; I took them to the vet myself to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

If animal control comes out and takes the cat away, it has a 99% chance of being euthanized. Very few adult cats are adopted at animal shelters. Most of these cats are extremely loving, and I was so happy that I gave them a home. I have many friends who’ve adopted strays and given them love for many years. They gave the animal a chance to have a loving home.

• Sheila P., via email

Sheila, as an advocate for animal welfare and a member of the Feral Cat Coalition, I’ve taken feral cats and lost dogs into my home. Sometimes the results weren’t what I hoped for, but most times, it was wonderful.

I believe everyone needs to get their pets neutered and spayed, as well as push for stricter laws for animal abusers and people who abandon their pets. The overpopulation of cats and dogs is due to people — not the animals themselves.

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: Most humane societies are so overwhelmed right now that they don’t even respond to “cat calls” for stray cats, nor do they “spay them or provide shots” to ferals or strays unless they’re adopted first.

We’re better off trapping them, or if they’re friendly, we can put them in a carrier, get them spayed/neutered ourselves, and make sure that they’re healthy and safe. We can find homes for them, or with a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program, we can make sure that they aren’t contributing to the massive overpopulation problem in this country. This is from someone who has been doing a TNR program for decades.

• Vicki P., via email