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Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 by Martha the Mouse Detective
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As much as I love farm life, it comes with its hassles. Rodents are always finding their way into places they don’t belong, like the buildings on my parents’ property. I’ll share with you the 3 simple steps I told them so you can quickly and easily rid your farm of rodents too!
My parents recently told me about their rodent-infested barn. This barn is used primarily for storage on their property. They said they’d like to use whatever it was I had had such great success repelling mice and rats with, so I happily told them all about Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent. I wanted to be sure they were using it in the most effective way, so I explained how Fresh Cab works by using a scent that is offensive to rodents. I told my parents it was important to place the pouches in the right areas, specifically, enclosed areas with little to no air flow for the best results.
I strongly recommend following these tips as well to mouse proof your buildings:
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Seal possible entry points: Any hole that goes through from outside to inside and is larger than 1/4 inch (about the size of a pencil eraser) needs to be sealed. Holes and cracks can be sealed by using steel wool or wire mesh, and reinforced by caulking or placing foam insulation on top. Make sure to put a Fresh Cab pouch next to these sealed holes for added protection.
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Protect doors: Oftentimes, mice will sneak in through open doors or cracks underneath and around doors. To prevent this from happening, install high-quality weather stripping at the base of all doors. Limit the use of any doors to these buildings if at all possible. Don't forget that you will still need to place a Fresh Cab pouch near all of the doors for extra protection in rodent prevention.
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Remove attractants: Anything that mice and/or rats are attracted to, such as firewood, bricks, mulch, etc., needs to be stored away from the building of concern. Rodents will find and make a home out of anything. In the winter time, it is safest to keep just enough firewood for the day next to your house or building.
My parents are happy to report that the last mouse seen rummaging through their storage barn was a week ago, and they have not seen the little pest since! As long as you make sure to follow these 3 simple steps, it is easy to rodent-proof your property, and keep them out for good.
-Fight back with a natural rodent repellent and control mice in your building.
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Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2012 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
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By: Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
I recently came across this list of the Top 5 Mice in Pop Culture. I hadn’t thought much about cartoon mice lately, but now that I am, it’s no wonder so many people feel terrible about using snap traps and glue boards when they find themselves faced with mice in their home!
As children we are shown charming, incorrigible, heroic, and out-right silly personalities to go with these little critters. As adults, we find them nesting in our stored items or worse yet, pulling up a seat to our dinner table.
Now that I’m grown, I’ve learned about the dangers of rodents, including but not limited to:
Channeling Mighty Mouse’s heroism, I’ve found an alternative I can feel good about and that is Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent. Fresh Cab won’t harm or kill Mickey or Minnie. I no longer have to worry about finding Jerry’s corpse, plus, it’s safe for pets, so Tom likes it too! And because it is a natural product, I know it won’t be harmful to my health or my children. If Pinky and the Brain are determined to take over the world, they can still try, but they’re not going to be doing it from inside my home anymore.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to set out a few new pouches and watch for a little mouse to beat feet running out of my house like Speedy Gonzales – Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!
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Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by Earth-Kind Employees
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After watching a video of her pumping iron and describing our company slogan “Lean, mean, and all about green!” it was no surprise to hear our CEO, Kari, was gracing the cover of another magazine. We don’t always know what to expect in our office but we are always impressed with what we see. From the days Kari was helping assemble Fresh Cab pouches in her own kitchen to the times she has addressed political committees, she has always been deeply committed to doing her part in improving our world.
Kari always speaks up for the causes she believes in and it is so rewarding to see her words being heard. City Magazine shared Kari’s passion for entrepreneurship and supporting women in business, as well as her dedication to employing developmentally disabled workers, with its over 100,000 readers. She had the opportunity to share the outstanding performance of her company in the past year (reaching $20 million in retail sales!) but focused on her values and vision. The interview also featured a few candid moments, giving everyone a chance to get to know Kari a little better. If you haven’t heard about Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent, Earth-Kind, or Kari Warberg Block yet, this article makes it clear that it won’t be long before you do.
Most people are grateful just to have a job, but here at Earth-Kind, we are grateful for so much more. Not only do we have a job, we have a leader to look up to, a gratifying company culture, goals to strive for, and products we truly believe in. Whether she does it while flexing her pipes or with a French manicure, I can’t wait to see what’s next from this model lady!
Read her interview here: http://thecitymag.com/?id=1
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Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
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As winter wears on, I’ve been enjoying our wood burning stove. There’s nothing quite like some warm fuzzy socks, a comfy blanket, and some hot cocoa in front of a fire! I know a lot of people like to cuddle up around a cozy fireplace this time of year. As a matter of fact, 1/3 of Americans’ primary heat sources include wood burning stoves or fireplaces.
 After dealing with this dilemma for years, I am happy to say that we are now able to keep a reasonable supply of wood inside thanks to Fresh Cab. We placed a pouch right by our wood storage in the den, as well as near potential entry points such as doors in our home, and made sure to put 1-2 pouches in each room for good measure, and we have not seen a single mouse in ages!
Some other fire safety and mouse prevention tips to keep in mind are:
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Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
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Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
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Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
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Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
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Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
Please take a moment to rodent proof your home and review these tips on Fireplace and Home Fire Safetyfrom the U.S. Fire Administration and then enjoy a mug of hot cocoa and a cozy fire yourself.
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Posted on Friday, January 27, 2012 by Martha the Mouse Detective
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How can you control mice that are already inside of your home?
Unfortunately, once mice have found their way into your house it is more time consuming to get rid of them than if you are just trying to keep them out. Luckily for you, there are 3 simple steps that you can take now to control rodents that have already made themselves at home. By applying these steps, you will keep them from invading your space in the future, too.
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The first thing to remember is that mice need food, and by that I mean your food. Placing a Fresh Cab pouch in areas where food is stored will prevent the little thieves from feasting on your goods. Make sure that boxed items, such as cereals and pancake mix, are stored in plastic or glass containers. Then you can place pouches in pantries and under sinks, or anywhere around food. Since this is an all-natural product do not worry about Fresh Cab contaminating your edible items.
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Second simple step: remember to protect the areas of your home that provide easy access for the rodents. Keep in mind that rodents are excellent climbers and can fit through holes 1/3 their size. Place a Fresh Cab pouch around vents and holes created for cables. There are many other areas to protect too, like doors, windows, dryer vents, crawl spaces, and drop ceilings. Put yourself in the shoes of a mouse, what would you do for food, water, and warmth?
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Finally, remember that mice rely heavily on their sense of smell because their eye sight is very poor. They create and maintain "scent trails" that they follow each and every time they move around. You can spot these scent trails by locating smear marks and tracks against walls, in corners, and behind appliances and cabinets. You can block these routes by placing a Fresh Cab pouch near the route. The rodents won't be able to smell the scent trail - all they will smell is the woodsy balsam fir scent of Fresh Cab. Remember it is a pleasant smell to you and me, but a scent rodents despise!!
So, with these three simple steps you will eliminate those pesky rodents from your home and you are well on your way to keeping them out. Happy rodent hunting all.
-A single pair of mice can produce 15,000 offspring in one year!
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Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2012 by Kari Block
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I am an optimist, and love futurists that are too.
 My Alma Matter, University Of Mary, recently hosted the traveling scientist series featuring the team leader of the International Space Station. I love going to these lectures because the purpose is to ignite in students the possibilities of how they can take science and technology and apply it in their own lives to improve humanity. Monday night was no different.
Futurist and technological historian, Dr. Jack Bacon, presented a very compelling vision that human thought – which houses the parallel universe
The parallel bang-The growth of creativity,
leadership, and human understanding
( a carbon copy of all we know to paper or silicon) of all the models of the physical universe- is undergoing an explosive new phase of development not unlike the surge that occurred in the Renaissance or the Bronze age.
This time however, it’s taking less than a decade, and it’s on an exponential trajectory that will take humanity to inconceivable new heights. In these few thousand days we’re living through right now , something of astounding significance will be innovated in such fields as: computing, communications, medicine, psychology, politics, transportation, agriculture.
So, what does all this mean to society? What will it mean to the different cultures and religions of the world?
One impact Jack shared was a photo expose´ of a kindergarten room in Rwanda. Each student was equipped with a bright green computer (between the size of an iPad and a laptop) that had an antenna for making calls, watching TV, computing. It was loaded with every book that student will need for their education. What was ironic, is that these children were the benefactor of several corporations who came together to develop this technology, without worrying about patents & profits. It was for humanity.
Jack also shared a great illustration on sustainability initiatives around the world. I particularity love this subject and found it interesting that thesustainability trend is GROWING exponentially. That means it’s in people’s hearts, and brains all around the world. My definition of sustainability was very similar to Jack’s. Not surprising since he’s a Malcolm Baldridge award winner. (In the manufacturing industry this is the highly coveted award for superior process and business excellence)
Here is how I think of sustainability:
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More efficient. Inputs and outputs are considered and all waste is removed. Waste that customers (or taxpayers) shouldn’t have to pay for.
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Economically viable. for the long term because the supply chain grows along with it, and one party does not control the lion’s share of the flow of resources. It’s split more evenly, sustainably. No one gets more than the actual value they provide.
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Ecologically sound. The ingredients or components are renewable. The total footprint makes sense from a carbon standpoint. ( see how carbon footprint is defined: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint)
As a futurist, Jack’s picture of the health of our planet was was very optimistic. He strongly feels that we as a species have grown in consciousness enough to stop the ecological destruction of our planet, however, the economy has not caught up with enough affordable and effective ‘green’ options for us to purchase. Naturally, I agree and this is why I started Earth-Kind.
To read more on my vision for a more sustainable planet, watch for a post in two weeks that links to my article in the only sustainable focused Int’l Scientific Journal: Center for Better Life. www.centerforabetterlife.com
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Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Martha the Mouse Detective
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Have you ever wondered what a compost bin is, or why people use them?
A compost bin is a bin that can be made or bought, you can also start your compost pile on the bare earth if you'd like. Compost bins hold organic materials derived from plant and animal matter. Not only is everything inside of the bin all-natural, the bin itself is organic. Compost bins are beneficial for the environment and you, providing all-natural fertilization for your soil, recycling for your kitchen and yard waste, and reducing landfill waste.
Some of the most common materials people put into their bins are: fruit and vegetable/table scraps, eggshells, leaves, grass clippings, garden plants and weeds, straw and hay, paper, cardboard, corn cobs, dryer lint, and animal manure. You can see it is a never ending list... But, just remember that you can't put anything and everything into your compost bin. Make sure the material that is being mixed in is organic, and chemical and disease free.
For example, you can throw garden plants and weeds in your compost but some plants carry disease, and some weeds may have already gone to seed, which means that they will continue to sprout up more of them in your bin. Manure could carry disease as well. With paper you want to make sure that it is not glossy paper and does not contain colored inks. Just double check to make sure that whatever you add to your bin is all natural and hasn't been exposed to any disease or chemical.
Having and using a compost bin is easy, as long as you are dedicated and stick to it. There are a few guidelines that you should follow, other than what you should put into your bin. When starting a compost bin, you should put down a layer of something dry, like straw, then you can add something wet, like fruit table scraps. You should mix this pile every few days so that air can circulate, if you don't, the process of composting will take a little longer, 6 months to a year. Add water every few days to keep your pile damp as well, and in 1-4 months you will be ready to go.
One downfall of compost bins is that they will attract rodents. Rodents are attracted to many things that compost bins hold, from the food matter to the straw or hay that they can nest in. Make sure to keep your compost at least 100 feet from you house so that the rodents don't find their way into your home.
Place Fresh Cab pouches along any entry points into your house, doors, foundation cracks, pet doors, etc. Another plus side to this all-natural rodent repellent is that you can pour the contents of your used pouches into your compost, as it is earth-friendly.
-Turn over an old leaf, start your own compost bin.
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Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 by Kari Block
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I recently read this and had to pass it on to my student friends, as it is a most certain recipe for success in life & business.
Kari
Excerpted from Albert E. N. Gray’s The Common Denominator of Success, 1940
The Common Denominator of Success
Several years ago, I was brought face to face with the very disturbing realization that I was trying to direct the efforts of a large number of men who were trying to achieve success, without knowing myself what the secret of success really was. And so I set out on a voyage of discovery. In short, I was searching for the common denominator of success. And because that is exactly what I was looking for, that is exactly what I found.
The common denominator of success – the secret of every person who has ever been successful – lies in the fact that he or she formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do. It’s just as true as it sounds and it’s just as simple as it seems.
Perhaps you have wondered why it is that your most successful peers seem to like to do the things that you don’t like to do. They don’t. And I think this is the most encouraging statement I have ever offered to anyone.
But if they don’t like to do these things, then whey do they do them? Because by doing the things they don’t like to do, they can accomplish the things that they want to accomplish. Successful people are influenced by the desire for pleasing results. Failures are influenced by the desire for pleasing methods and are inclined to be satisfied with such results as can be obtained by doing things they like to do.
Why are successful people able to do the things they don’t like to do while failures are not? Because successful people have a purpose strong enough to make them form the habit of doing things they don’t like to do in order to accomplish the purpose they want to accomplish.
That is why behind every success there must be a purpose. Your purpose must be practical and not visionary. But in making your purpose practical, be careful not to make it logical. Make it a purpose of the emotional type. Remember needs are logical while wants are emotional. If your purpose is in terms of wants, then your wants will keep pushing you long after your needs are satisfied.
If it’s a big purpose, you will be big in its accomplishment. If it’s an unselfish purpose, you will be unselfish in accomplishing it. And if it’s an honest purpose, you will be honest in the accomplishment of it. Don’t ever forget that you will never succeed beyond the purpose to which you are willing to surrender. Furthermore, your surrender will not be complete until you have formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2012 by Martha the Mouse Detective
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I recently recommended Fresh Cab rodent repellent to one of my good friends who had a mouse infestation in her garage. She had heard of it before but just didn't get around to fixing the problem until she found a mouse nest under the hood of her most prized possession, a 1966 Chevy Chevelle! That would make anybody jump on their rodent problem in a quick manner!
The other day she called me to say that she didn't think the repellent was working. She told me that it didn't have a very strong smell, and she still saw mice running around the garage. Plus, she was still finding droppings in the car. I reassured her that she had just set the product out a couple days ago and to give it time. I also gave her some tips on where to place Fresh Cab, like in and around the infested area/s and all the openings that mice could use to get in and out of the garage.
I pointed out to her that one box of Fresh Cab, which contains 4 pouches, covers 32 square feet of floor space alone, so she would need to use more than one box for a large garage. She asked if I would stop over to make sure that she had enough pouches and had placed them in the right places. I agreed to make the visit.
When I opened the side door to the garage, I waited for the familiar, refreshing and outdoorsy smell of Fresh Cab to hit me, but it didn't. In fact, I couldn't smell it at all. I noticed right away that my friend had not taken the plastic wrap off the individual pouches. It is important that the outer plastic is removed right before you place the pouch for the product to work. That way the smell will be strong and offensive to the rodents you are trying to get rid of. If you don't remove the outer plastic around the pouches the smell will be very weak and since this product works because of its natural smell, it is an important step to remove the wrap, exposing the pouch.
My friend and I still enjoy a good laugh about this, but you can bet she will not forget this step again!
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Becky Smith / Director of Client Education
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As you may know, Earth-Kind is a woman owned business. Our flagship product from which our business was born- Fresh Cab® -was invented by Kari, our CEO & founder. So naturally, we have a special place in our hearts for ALL girls who want to make a difference on this planet with their inventions!
We believe that nurturing girls and women is important, and something we wanted to share with you. (Don't worry guys-you are important too!) Here are some stats about the female gender that may surprise you:
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A girl’s self-esteem peaks at age 9
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Only 2% of women describe themselves as beautiful
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27% of single mothers with custody of their children live in poverty
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Less than 7% of national philanthropic dollars are for woman and girls.
It’s clear from the above statistics that it wouldn’t hurt to highlight the value of our girls more. We can become better at nurturing their self-esteem at a younger age. And it surely wouldn’t hurt to validate their innate beauty and intelligence more often. It’s never too early, nor too late, to see our girls for what they are really worth, and encourage them to do the same so that they might know their potential without looking to the world for approval.
Let’s look at some of the most famous women who have forever changed the way our world works:
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Anyone who's ever driven in a rain or snow storm can attest to the dire importance of windshield wipers. What a lot of people don't know is that windshield wipers were invented by a woman. Inventor Mary Anderson received a patent for her car-window cleaning device in 1903. http://www.women-inventors.com/Mary-Anderson.asp
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Barbara Askins' invented a better way of enhancing film. Her invention involved the use of radioactive materials to enhance negatives, which, as it turned out, could also be used to enhance images even after the pictures had been developed. After patenting the invention in 1978 (U.S. patent No. 4,101,780), Askins' method was put to use by NASA with great success. In fact, Askins invention was so successful that it was adopted outside of the agency for a variety of other uses, including improving the clarity of x-rays and restoring old photographs. For her invention of a new way of developing film, Askins was honored as the National Inventor of the Year in 1978. http://www.women-inventors.com/Barbara-Askins.asp
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Imagine a building material that is indestructible, fire-proof and non-toxic. Sounds like something you'd find in a work of science fiction, but actually it's a very-real invention called Geobond®, designed by female inventor Patricia Billings. Patty Billings, a sculptor, initially sought to create a cement additive to prevent her sculptures from shattering in the 1970s. After years of experimenting, she finally achieved her goal of making an indestructible plaster. Soon after, she discovered the material was also amazingly resistant to heat – which opened the door to a larger number of applications. Because the Geobond® invention is non-toxic as well as indestructible and fire-proof, it is the world's first workable replacement for asbestos. http://www.women-inventors.com/Patricia-Billings.asp
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As electric typewriters came into widespread use after World War II, Bette Nesmith Graham and countless other secretaries let out a collective groan. The new machines did make typing easier, but their carbon-film ribbons made it impossible to correct mistakes neatly with a pencil eraser. As a result of this predicament, Graham ended up inventing one of the most widely used office products of the 20th century, Liquid Paper http://www.women-inventors.com/Bette-Nesmith-Graham.asp
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Stephanie Kwolek, One of the first women research chemists, she first gained national recognition in 1960 for her work with long molecule chains at low temperatures. In 1971, Kwolek's further analysis culminated in an important discovery of a liquid crystalline polymer solution. Its exceptional strength and stiffness led to the invention of Kevlar®, a synthetic material that is five times as strong as steel. http://www.women-inventors.com/Stephanie-Kwolek.asp
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In the mid-1980s, a twelve-year old girl developed an invention that greatly helped people who have difficulty communicating. Rachel Zimmerman of Ontario, Canada created a software program using Blissymbols: symbols that enable non-speaking people, such as those with severe physical disabilities like cerebral palsy, to communicate. http://www.women-inventors.com/Rachel-Zimmerman.asp
These are just a few women who have made HUGE impacts on our lives and the world. Imagine something as minor as wanting to correct typos in print, and how this has become such a staple to life. Even in the modern age of computers, I still use liquid paper to correct mistakes on hand-written documents.
Someday I am sure we will see my boss, Kari Block on a website for famous inventors. She has already done so much with her invention Fresh Cab, the 1st and only Fed. EPA registered rodent repellent for indoor/enclosed space use. I know the future holds many more innovations from her.
Take care of your girls and encourage them – you never know what the future holds or how they may become the next woman to invent a life-changing product!
Thanks to the website http://www.women-inventors.com/for all of the great information and reference materials.
-Becky Smith / Director of Client Education
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