Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
"A cat in gloves catches no mice." This old proverb gave me a giggle at first glance, but it turns out to be pretty sound advice. Taken literally, a cat in gloves probably wouldn't catch any mice. The sentiment behind this statement usually means you have to go after what you want, sometimes a bit more directly than you have in the past.
Applying this to a rodent infestation, asking the mice nicely to leave is probably not going to be very effective. Cleaning up any nests you find, clearing away clutter, and sealing up potential food sources may be more effective, but if mice have already decided they like where they are, these steps alone might not even be straightforward enough to send them running.
Using a poison or traps might seem like your only option at this point, but that would actually be counterintuitive. These types of mouse control contain baits that attract rodents to them. When you mean to say "GET OUT!" you'll actually be sending them the message, "C'mon over and have a snack." After they take the bait, you are left with clean-up duty.
The best way to NOT catch mice, and get rid of them for good is to use Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent. Repelling rats and mice is safe and easy. No toxic chemicals are needed to get rid of rats and mice. Dangerous traps are unnecessary too. Fresh Cab is made from natural ingredients (essentials oils and plant fibers) and uses the fresh scent of balsam fir which is offensive to rodents. All you need to do is place Fresh Cab pouches in rodent prone areas such as under the kitchen sink, near dryer vents, and by any gaps or cracks in a building's foundation. For preventative use in non-infested areas, place 1 pouch for every 125 sq. feet, scent lasts up to 90 days. For use in currently infested areas, increase use to 1 pouch per 8 sq. feet of floor space and replace every 30 days.
Posted on Friday, May 17, 2013 by Becky Smith, Earth-Kind Digital Marketing Specialist
Finding mice in an RV can be a very frustrating experience. Working at Earth-Kind and knowing that simply putting pouches of Fresh Cab® rodent repellent in the camper will protect it from such damage makes my saga even more frustrating.
After shopping for months for the right deal and right camper for our family I found a 5th wheel about 2 hours away from my home. We made the trip and found the camper in fairly good condition. I did notice it was freshly cleaned and there was an abundance of new dryer sheets spread throughout the camper.
Knowing this camper had spent the winter in a building on a farm and knowing what I do about mice, I figured there was a good chance mice had been here before.
Clue #1: The counters were just freshly scrubbed and actually still wet when we looked at the camper.
Clue #2: The 100’s of fresh dryer sheets spread everywhere.
Many people think dryer sheets will repel mice; it has been my experience that they simply make great nesting material and are not a deterrent at all.
So even with those two big clues, we purchased the camper. We had driven quite a ways and the rest of the camper looked great. Upon returning home I was so excited to start decorating, buying rugs and bedding and replacing the flooring. I even picked up fabric to make new curtains and really make it our own. After just one day of it sitting in the driveway I opening the camper door with such excitement to start decorating….then I saw them…HUNDREDS of rodent droppings on the counters and in the cabinets!
After running out and forbidding anyone from going into what I now referred to as the “danger zone”, I set my plan in motion. Although I was totally grossed out and wanted to return my new weekend home, I knew I could solve this problem. Also, being the Digital Marketing Specialist for a company that makes Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent I also knew that I could make my painful story into great content for work.
So I grabbed a camera and made a video of the process. I hope this video helps those who tragically find themselves in the same position I was in and also serves as a reminder to the importance of protecting campers from rodent damage.
Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
Believe it or not, rodents are similar to us in many ways. We've seen charming chipmunks, rascally rats, and well-meaning mice in movies, cartoons, and children's books, but the human-like qualities given to these fictional characters may not be that far from reality.
Science has appreciated rat’s biological similarity to humans for many years, and that is just one of the reasons they are used in scientific study. Moving beyond physical comparisons, studies have shown that rodents experience empathy- aiding their fellow rats escaping from cages and sharing their food. Empathy is not the only human emotion demonstrated by these little critters. Dr. Jaak Panskepp found that when tickled, rats actually giggle!
Rats may not be considered "cute" by the majority of people, but it is difficult to deny the joy of being tickled and the ensuing laughter, no matter what species. Considering the emotional life of rodents can make it very difficult to use forms of mouse control that cause pain, suffering, and even death for these cute creatures.
Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent is guaranteed to keep rats and mice away without harming them. Like the name implies, Fresh Cab repels rodents by using the scent of balsam fir. Rodents rely on their sense of smell to help them navigate and detect danger. The scent of Fresh Cab has been specially formulated to overwhelm their sense of smell, causing them to flee the area. Unlike traps or poisons, which get rid of rats and mice by oftentimes lethal means, Fresh Cab sends rodents running on their own, so you never have to see or touch them. You are spared the cruel reality of disposing of an animal caught on a glue tray or in a snap trap. You will never smell the stink of a rotting carcass after an animal has died from eating rodent poison. You don't have to worry about your pets or children coming across any of these dangerous items either. Fresh Cab is completely safe for people and pets.
The more we learn about the emotions exhibited by rodents, the truer this statement made by Fresh Cab inventor Kari Block rings, "Mice deserve a home too, just not in my home!"
Posted on Monday, May 13, 2013 by Dan Johnson, Earth-Kind Bean Counter
Being an employee at Earth-Kind for the past 2 years has been a great experience. The learning curve has been incredible, to say the least. All of us are encouraged to constantly improve ourselves, our lives, and the company. We all continuously strive to provide great effective, safe and Earth-friendly products and the best in customer service. We also strive to continuously learn and improve.
Upon starting at Earth-Kind, the first thing I learned was the product line. I wish I had known about Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent when I was still farming with my dad. It brings one of those “palm to the forehead” moments to think that we were trying to keep mice at bay with dryer sheets or poisons for all those years. Had I known about this miracle product, it would have surely been in every truck, tractor, combine and storage area on the farm.
We had our annual rituals at the farm. In the fall, everything was prepared for winter storage. Oil was changed, radiators and air filters were cleaned, cabs vacuumed, and we heeded the advice that dryer sheets would keep mice out. Well, every spring and summer when equipment was freed from the confines of the shops, the story was the same: mouse droppings, chewed wires, chewed seat cushions & headliners, and the stink of mice. Naturally, all I would see were signs that the vermin had visited, not the critters themselves. That is, until I was about 200 yards into the field, turning the first soil of the season or harvesting the first grain. THAT, without fail, is when a stowaway mouse decides it’s time to bail out of the headliner and land on me, then scurry & jump all over me in an attempt to escape. Now, I may be a “tough guy” biker, but unexpectedly having one of these vile creatures surprise me like that did rattle me. Of course, I usually would have 20+ feet of cultivator or combine header to pay attention to, so swatting at a mouse or trying to open a door to kick it out could lead to an equipment disaster quickly. Aside from the stink, the diseases they carry, the damaged seats, headliners, wire harnesses, etc. there is also this hazard of startled distraction leading to a potential catastrophe. (Our own Farmer in Charge, Kari, had such an incident inspire her to invent Fresh Cab!)
I’m proud to work for the company that brings this terrific product to the market, especially knowing that it is so beneficial for so many people in so many applications. Dad retired from farming several years ago, and I opted to “retire” with him. Now we only have one tractor left to protect from mice, but it is actually protected, because it gets Fresh Cab. We rent space in our shops to people to store their classic cars, boats and RV’s in the winter. Knowing it’s an uphill battle to keep mice completely out of the shops, I make sure they have Fresh Cab to protect their property while it’s in our care. Not one of them in the past two years has retrieved property to find mouse damage. Had I known back then what I know now, I wouldn’t have had to reupholster seats or jump out of them when I got startled by a panicked mouse. But I am happy to know those days are behind me!
Posted on Friday, May 10, 2013 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
Motherhood is a special thing. Speaking as a mother of four, there is nothing quite like it. One tiny person can change your entire existence. Four children will turn your world, and your house, upside down! Now I'm no mathematician, but considering a mouse can have her first litter at just 6 weeks old, and another litter approximately every month after that, and each litter averages 6-8 babies, I suspect motherhood has a pretty big impact on mice too.
Far be it for me to want to begrudge Mama Mouse any Mother's Day festivities, but I don't want her and her hordes of children partying down in my house! My maternal instincts may be chiming in here, but I can't imagine setting out mouse poison and leaving those sweet little newborn mice orphans, or finding a tiny baby mouse caught in a trap. Even though I don't want to see or think about dying, dead, or trapped mice, I most definitely don't want to see live mice in my home either! What's a woman to do?
Fortunately, there's an easy answer to this tricky predicament. Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent gets rid of mice without killing them - guaranteed. Moms have many reasons to love Fresh Cab. Aside from getting rid of mice effectively and humanely, Fresh Cab is so safe you could eat it. It even doubles as an air freshener, bringing the clean, woodsy scent of outdoors inside the home. Digging deeper, Fresh Cab was invented by a woman in rural North Dakota, so it can serve as an inspiring story for any mother wishing to encourage her own daughter. Plus, it's made in America, so you can support your country and local businesses when you choose to get rid of mice naturally. Talk about a win-win solution!
Happy Mother's Day from everyone at Team Earth-Kind, you've earned it!
Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 by Martha the Mouse Detective
Martha and the 3 RVs
Camping season is upon us! This is an awesome time for our family because we LIVE for the outdoors. I guess I should say that I live for camping, my husband lives for fishing. My kids, however, live for anything that doesn't involve school!
Shopping around for our first family RV left me feeling a little like Goldilocks from the story with the 3 bears. We looked at so many campers, trying to find one that was just right. Looking at used campers offered substantial savings, but also raised some red flags. The first one was too smelly, the second one was covered in dryer sheets, the third one was too messy!
Things that caught my attention were:
The smell of moth balls. Often used as a pest repellent, this may indicate a previous rodent infestation. Not only that, but moth balls don't smell too pleasant and can pose serious health risks. The scent can also stay in the RV for a long time.
Dryer sheets everywhere. People use dryer sheets to ward off rodents as well. This could be another sign that rodents have been present in the RV.
Mouse feces. If you ever find rodent excrement in anything that you plan on buying, you better think twice. This can lead to expensive, time consuming, and unwanted work for you.
I was beginning to think we'd never find the right one when I came across a camper with a pouch of Fresh Cab rodent repellent under the sink. Not surprising, the camper that was protected with Fresh Cab didn't have a single sign of rodent activity! Fresh Cab is used by many RV owners in preparation to prevent rodents from coming around, and with my experience I am going to take that as a good sign that that specific camper has not had a single mouse prance through it.
Other red flags to look for when it comes to rodent issues are:
Smells - The smell of a dead rodent is a very particular kind of smell that lingers. One of the worst places to have a dead mouse is in the heating duct.
Rub marks - Found along floors and the walls next to them, these are caused by the grease in rodent hair and serve as signposts marking a trail for them to follow.
Nests - Found under couches, seats, sinks, closets, dressers, or under the hood of a vehicle.
Chewed through wire and/or other materials - Look for chew marks on bedding or mattresses, and garments that may be in closets or dressers. Check wires under the hood and in the dash to make sure that they have not been chewed through.
Making sure an RV is in good repair is just as important as making sure it has enough space and the amenities you and your family need. I am happy to report that after two long weekends carting around the family to look at RV’s, we found one that is just right!
Posted on Monday, May 06, 2013 by Martha the Mouse Detective
As a self-made "mouse detective," my friends, family and even complete strangers frequently come to me with their rodent problems. The most common questions I hear from them are how and where to use Fresh Cab. Thinking like a mouse makes it easy to know where to put Fresh Cab:
Near entryways. Any entry that leads into your house, garage, sheds, vehicles, etc..., needs to be protected by Fresh Cab. Place a pouch near the openings, making sure not to block the entrance, so the mice have an easy escape route. Once that has been done and the mice have left, seal and block off all holes for entrance so that rodents will not return.
Around food items. Cupboards that contain boxed or bagged food that mice can chew through will not be safe with mice around! Fresh Cab should be placed near the opening to the food storage area to keep them from going in.
Next to bird seed/pet food/animal feed. Rodents love bird seed or pet food and will happily chew through bags or boxes to get to it. Keeping the food in an air-tight plastic container will keep them out. Place a pouch of Fresh Cab outside of the container for extra security.
In vehicles. Leaving sunflower seeds open in your vehicle is an invitation too tempting for a rodent to ignore. The seeds can be used for eating or nesting material. Treats like peanuts, seeds, candy, or any commonly left behind snack will entice a mouse or rat to find its way into your vehicle.
Places frequented by the rodents. Your drawers, closets, or under and inside furniture are all places that rodents will try to hide or nest in. By placing a Fresh Cab pouch in these places mice will not want to invade these areas.
All the people that I have helped with rodent problems love Fresh Cab! They love that it smells so good and that their guests confuse it for an air freshener. They are comforted by the fact that it is all-natural, EPA approved, and safe to use around their children and pets.
I love it too because it gives me more motivation to keep spreading the word and helping the never-ending rodent challenged population.
Posted on Friday, May 03, 2013 by Dan Johnson, Earth-Kind Bean Counter
Last fall our family had a gathering in October to help move my niece’s household into a storage unit for temporary storage while awaiting the closing on her new home. Knowing that storage areas are not exactly airtight or rodent-proof, I opted to take along a few pouches of Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent to keep rodents from squeezing under the door and having a heyday wrecking her belongings. Fall is the most prevalent time for them to seek shelter from the inevitable winter weather that is coming.
I am a proud employee at Earth-Kind and know that Fresh Cab is a time, money, and even life saver to many people, helping them avoid damage and disease associated with rodents. I generally take exception when someone says something negative about this wonderful product. This day, however was a bit different.
As I was grabbing some pouches and removing them from the outer plastic wrap and distributing them within the storage unit, my nephew looks at me and says, “Oh, I HATE the smell of that stuff!” Figuring he was just being a joker because he knows I work for Earth-Kind, I laughed. Then he said, “No, seriously. I don’t care for that smell at all. But it must work, because nearly every darn tractor or combine that comes in for work at the shop has at least a couple of pouches of that stinky stuff in the cab!” Apparently, balsam fir just isn’t his thing.
As a mechanic at a local farm equipment dealership, he sees a lot of high-dollar equipment come in with damage from rodents. While he says he doesn’t personally care for the aroma, he acknowledged that it must work well, because he doesn’t see chewed up seats, headliners and wires in the machines that arrive with Fresh Cab protecting them. He agrees that if you’re going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a tractor or combine, it is indeed worth a few more dollars to keep the destructive critters out.
Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2013 by Rita Stadler, Earth-Kind Retail Outreach Coordinator
Remember 6 months ago, when the calendar indicated winter was coming but you were still sporting a summer tan? Those memories may seem distant after all the cold and snow winter brought, but if you're getting your RV ready and gearing up for summer fun, you could find yourself facing a reminder of what you did or didn't do last fall.
Did you properly pack up your RV? Did you safely store summer items? How thoroughly did you clean out your camper? Our friends Guy and Dan of Team Fitzgerald made a helpful video last fall showing how to keep mice out of an RV before storing it for winter, and were kind enough to share with us how the RV they used in that video fared during the deep freeze.
Watch this video as Guy explains how much trouble mice can be in a motorhome and what it's like to open up an RV that's been protected by Fresh Cab. He'll show you where mice might be if they had nested in the camper over the winter months, and where he put Fresh Cab pouches to keep mice out. Guy also reminds us of the importance of using Fresh Cab year round so mice don't move into a camper that is parked for a few weeks between trips. If you've ever had problems with mice, or think you might, Guy Fitzgerald knows, "Fresh Cab is your answer!"
Posted on Monday, April 29, 2013 by Kari Warberg Block
Planning and planting seeds for my 2 acre garden was one of my favorite things to do on the farm. Seed catalogs started showing up in January, at the height of blizzard season in North Dakota. I'd make a cup of coffee and pour through each one until the pages were worn and nearly all dog-eared.
I picked short season varieties that would do well in zone 3 & 4, and stagger out the ripe window so I always had the freshest, tastiest produce for my family and farmers market customers. Tomatoes were a particular passion. Most everyone loves fresh locally grown garden tomatoes, especially the heirloom varieties. It's not always easy getting the seeds, and the growing days called for February seeding if they'd be ready to pick by July.
One year, I had about 200 plants started in my 8 x 12 lean-to. They were all in the 4 leaf stage and ready to transplant. I eagerly transplanted them, recalling the great care that had been taken to get them to this stage.
The next morning, I made some coffee and ventured out the 50 yards to tend to my seedlings and adjust the heat as needed. I walked in and EVERY last tomato plant was eaten down to within 1/4 of its roots. Rogue mice had made their way into my greenhouse!
A month of TLC was gone. Worse yet, this recent rodent assault didn't leave me enough time to replant tomatoes that would be ready to sell by July. This master gardener was furious.
Of course, this was before Fresh Cab® and was just one of the MANY rodent run-ins on the farm that drove me to invent a repellent that worked and was safe to use around my kids, pets, and tomato transplants!
Martha and the 3 RVs 
