8:30am – 9:00am: Carl Masterson – Houston-Galveston Area Council. Regional Program Coordinator for Community and Environmental Planning. Carl will discuss the federal and state regulations in place regarding fertilizer & pesticide run off issues. Also discussed will be how water conservation is now viewed and what legislation may be proposed. What are the potential impacts for the landscape industry?

9:00am – 9:30am: Bill Wyatt – Owner Grace Outdoors, an Organic Landscape Care Company. We live in a simply amazing world. Imagine if you could multiply your effectiveness in lawn care by partnering with nature in instead of trying to control it. During this session Bill will discuss the ins and outs and the whys of using Compost Tea.

9:30am – 10am: Mike Serant – Owner San Jacinto Environmental. For 24 years in Houston, Mike has been an Organic product supplier and advocate of Organic turf management. Mike will give his ideas on how to run successful Organic turf programs in the Houston area.

10am – 12:30pm: Paul Tukey – Author of the Organic Turfgrass Manual, Executive Director of www.safelawns.org and Executive Producer of the nationally acclaimed movie ‘A Chemical Reaction’ and former owner of one of Maine’s largest lawn care company. Paul, an accomplished speaker and noted national Organic turf consultant, will give a comprehensive presentation outlining the Organic approach to managing residential and commercial turfgrass. Paul will explain the science, programs, reasons, economics and the business behind the process while including topics of soil fertility and control of weeds, insects and diseases. Participants will be well prepared to transition their conventional turfgrass business to an Organic one or to be able to develop an Organic turfgrass business from the ground up.

For a complete list of events, go to OBHA website: http://www.ohbaonline.org/

OHBA, a committee of Urban Harvest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the education & improvement of the landscape industry in the metro Houston area

Tempting as it may be to simply consider fleas as horrible insects, the bane of dogs everywhere, poisoning your dog in a vain attempt to wipe fleas out of existence really doesn’t make sense.   Most often a recommendation of their trusted vet,  Americans spend over $500 Billion dollars a year doing just that. 

Of course fleas can make life miserable for your dogs and cats. Your entire home feels like a battleground.  But using toxic flea killing chemicals is not the only way to control fleas and ticks on your pet.  These spot on or squeeze on flea treatments utilize chemicals that are toxic the the brain and nervous system in an effort to “prevent” fleas.  Many reports now indicate the chemicals used in products such as BioSpot, Frontline, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Adams, Zodiac, Defend, Sentry, Sergeant, Hartz,  Promeric, Cutter, and numerous other brands and products are toxic to animals and humans.  The simple fact that these products are registered with the EPA  reflects their toxicity to some degree. Pesticide products that aren’t toxic are FIFRA exempt because they are known to cause little or no risk to humans, animals or the environment.  Fortunately, brands like Wondercide offer non toxic flea treatments for pets and the property where they live!

“Light Bulb Moment” of the Day:
If Ishouldn’ t touch it or get it on my skin, why would I put it on my dog? If it’s supposed to work for a month, how does that happen?   Nothing stays on my skin for 30 days and still works.   Hmmmmm.

Don’t feel bad. They lied to you. They lied to me too, and millions of others who thought they were protecting their loved one(s).  But the answer is simple if you think about it.  The chemicals enter your dog or cats bloodstream and spreads throughout their body. When a flea of tick bites them, it ingests the toxic blood of your pet and dies.  So let’s sum up. Toxic to humans…check.  Toxic to insects…check.  Toxic to your dog and cat…check.

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Join us as we review and discuss more of the 2002 article, “Are Spot on Flea Killers Safe”  by Kathleen Dudley at the Whole Dog Journal.   In part 2 of our series we will discuss Advertising Claims and the chemical effects of  ”easy”.

If my dog goes into the water and then runs around and plays all over the other areas near there, what is the best way to protect him with your natural flea spray? I’m thinking that I need to spray him before he goes into the water and then after when he is dry again?    

ANSWER:

Great question. It isn’t necessary to spray him before he goes into the water for 2 reasons:

• it will wash off
• it is a contact kill solution  (use it once he’s dry(er) for best results)

So, when you are ready to call it a day at the water and load up, spray him down well, focusing on legs, belly, and chest to ensure nothing is coming home with you. EVOLV is 100% non toxic, great for their skin/coat, kills insects on contact, repels mosquito (give a quick mist anytime during the day), and smells a lot better than he will on the ride home! 

Tips: 

• Use the bottom or sides of the bottle to rub him down
• or safely use your hands
• use EVOLV as insect repellent for yourself (as SAFE as  Wondercide Biter Fighter. Deet Free Insect Repellent)

Wondercide EVOLV is made of human food grade ingredients and age defying moisturizers. Sounds silly. Completely true. Spray away and thanks for the question.

Send us your questions at info@wondercide.com!

Docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0207 – Ban tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur in pet products

Dear Administrator Jackson and EPA staff,

 I urge you to cancel the pet uses of the pesticides tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur. Chemical residues from these products left on pet fur can damage the human brain and nervous system and cause cancer. Children are particularly at risk from these pesticides because their neurological and metabolic systems are still developing. They are also more likely than adults to put their hands in their mouths after petting an animal, and so are more likely to ingest the hazardous residues.

New testing by the Natural Resources Defense Council reveals that the EPA’s decision to leave these products on the market may create a significant health risk to pet owners, most notably young children. I am therefore extremely disturbed to learn that the EPA still permits the use of these products on pets. The availability of many safer alternatives for flea and tick control renders the continued use of these pesticides in pet products an unnecessary risk. The EPA must reconsider the safety of these products and remove them from the market.

I urge you to protect the health of our children as well as our pets by immediately ordering the removal of products containing tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur from the market.
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Thanks for sharing with us!  We appreciate your continued support of our effort to provide truly safe, non toxic, vet approved products for your pets flea and tick control.

California politicians Bill Monning (D-Monterrey) and Sen. Mark Leno (D-Sacramento) have introduced the legislation after fears and worries among Santa Cruz and Monterey county residents surfaced in 2007. Aerial spraying began in the counties after fears that California agriculture might be devastated by the invasive light brown apple moth. Read the entire article “Monning pushes feds to release pesticide ingredients”.

As a consumer, I say “better late than never, and I won’t hold my breath”. Pesticide manufacturers should be held as responsible as other manufacturers in the packaging and distribution of their products. It’s frightening to visit the local nursery, Home Depot, or Ace Hardware and find the lack of options as a consumer with respect to natural vs. toxic.  In fact, going to the nursery this weekend, I took a look at the endless “options” there were for fertilizers or “weed & feed” products. Being the conscious consumer that I am, first thing I looked at was the ingredients. Of which only 2% were readily disclosed. What were the other 98%?  The “inerts”.  Ahhhh, how frightening to know that 98% of the product are ingredients that I DON’T KNOW! Not to mention that the 2% active ingredient was Atrazine (of which I had read a news article just days before). Atrazine (the widely used weed killer) has been linked to birth defects and severe health problems in numerous studies.

I am not saying that Atrazine in fact leads to birth defects. Clearly, (well, kind of muddy actually) not enough studies have been conducted to conclude that theory. I am saying, however, that ingredients are important! How on earth can consumers make informed decisions if they don’t know what they are buying. Look at the labels, and know what you (or someone else) are applying in & around your homes, pets, and children.

It’s also interesting to note that EPA exempt pesticides and biopesticides must disclose the full active and inert ingredient list buy percentage weight to be classified as exempt minimum risk pesticides. So, while synthetic pesticide manufacturers can sell you toxic products without disclosing what is in them and what impact it has on you and the environment, non toxic product DO have to disclose the ingredients, leaving them vulnerable to formulator knock offs. Fair playing field? I think not.

The Home & Garden show will showcase numerous exhibitors, green technologies, and new ideas for a more Eco-conscious you! There will even be a Bird of Prey Demonstration given by “Last Chance Forever”. By visiting 12th Annual Austin Spring Home & Garden Showyou can find the schedule of events and show hours, see show features, and receive a free $1.00 off coupon to get into the event!  The Celebrity guest is Jason Cameron from DIY Networks “Man Caves”.

Wondercide is excited to participate in this local Austin event for the 2nd consecutive year as a GoTexan Member. In 2009, Wondercide left the 11th Annual show having sold out of almost every product they brought, leaving them with a warm heart for the folks in Austin. This year they will have t-shirt giveaways, cool canvas totes,  product discounts, FREE shipping coupons, and loads of advice for using green, organic pesticide! Stop by booth #1729 located in the Go TEXAN pavilion to learn about natural flea control, deet free mosquito repellent, and purchase Wondercide products at reduced prices to start your spring off right, pest & worry free.  See you there!

What is a beneficial insect?

Beneficial insects are natural enemies of yard and garden pests. They control the “bad bugs” (ants, aphids, etc.) and are known as biological control to organic gardeners. Examples of “beneficials”, as they are commonly referred to, are lady bugs, butterflies, bees, nematodes, etc. Broad spectrum conventional pesticides not only kill the “bad bugs,” they kill the “good bugs” too. Another reason to promote beneficial insects by using chemical free Wondercide is that insects have developed unquestionable pesticide resistance. Some insects have become so resilient to pesticides that they are now able to metabolize the poison and use it as food. “Although chemical insecticide use in the United States has grown tenfold in both amount and toxicity since 1945, the crop yield lost to insects has nearly doubled during the same period.” - David Pimentel, 1991

How does Wondercide kill some insects, but not Beneficials?

The answer is simple. Heat seeking, non beneficial insects are pheromone driven to food, mates, and reproduction. Because insects breathe through their bodies, Wondercide is absorbed directly into the breathing pores causing pheromone interruption. The survival of the insect relates directly to its exposure to the foreign substance. So, it repels insects by scent and kills them on contact. Beneficials, on the other hand, are Sight Driven and are not affected by pheromone interruption. The Aroma of cedar oil does not affect them neurologically or biologically simply because they are not driven by pheromones.

Wondercide’s crew volunteered their time and donated 120 gallons of its revolutionary new product, PETRIFY, to the project. Working in conjunction with Blu Shields Construction, the Wonder-workers participated around the clock to coat the interior and exterior SIP panels, second floor decking and roof with the ONETIME, LIFETIME wood preservative. With the builders facing a week of untimely cold and wet weather, the non-toxic wood penetrant protected the wood and allowed the project to proceed.

After a week of non-stop work and coordination among hundreds of volunteers and project managers, the 6,300 sqft. house was revealed to the Beach family and the Clear Lake community on January 14th. Wondercide is excited to have been a part of the community effort to help a deserving family get back on their feet. Join us and others on March 7th to watch the airing of the show, and see the surprise and appreciation on the Beach family faces!

Friday Morning:
10:47 am  Customer
Hello, I just called and left a message on your “Shipping” customer service line- but I wanted to make another attempt to contact you via email- perhaps a faster way. My order number is: XXXX, Placed 10-16-2009 Amt: $356 + change. The shipping Tracking Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx   Was supposed to be received 10-21-2009 – Did not come. Did not come 10-22-09. Called UPS on 10-23 and they said that because it has not reached me by now it is considered “LOST” and that they cannot initiate an investigation until the “SHIPPER” (that’s you) contacts them and gets the ball rolling. PLEASE- HELP ASAP!! My house is INFESTED with FLEAS… We’re being eaten alive. NO JOKE.

11:11 am  Wondercide
I am checking on this now and will get back with you today. Ups has been horrible lately with lost and damaged packages. If it is lost, we will need to send out another shipment. We have no control once the package is in their hands but apologize for the inconvenience to you. Will be in touch shortly.
Sent from my BlackBerry (while on vacation in Las Vegas)

11:13 am Customer
Thank you so much Stephanie.  I too work for a company where the owner gets directly involved when situations like this arise.  It’s a good sign of a reliable and trust-worthy company.  I appreciate all of your assistance.

11:57 am Wondercide
Not a problem! UPS will have to investigate further.  The package was scanned for delivery on the 21st but wasn’t delivered.  It’s taken a few persuasive calls, but I have negotiated for Saturday Delivery so you can remedy the infestation immediately.  We will refill and reship the package today at our expense. You will get the tracking info via email later today. Thanks for your patience!
Sent from my BlackBerry (while on vacation in Las Vegas)

12:02 pm Customer
Terrific!  Thank you for rushing this!  We are really excited about using your product!  I did some background digging- and all the reviews that I’ve read about Wondercide are very very positive.  You are my last hope- so I’m really excited to blast these little blood suckers!

Sunday Night:
7:53 pm Customer

Stephanie! Your product seems to be working wonderfully! We keep checking the dogs and they are still flea free!!! It’s truly amazing!!  I also appreciate you expediting us a new order when our first one got lost. It arrived nice and early Saturday a.m. which was the day we had been planning to treat the house anyway so our plans did not get ruined!!! Thank you so much!!!

We have ZERO complaints about WONDERCIDE!!!!    Again, thank you so much!!

Monday Morning:
10:37 am  Wondercide
It’s great to hear that you have relief!  I appreciate your feedback and staying in touch through all of this. That being said, would you mind if we share your experience in a blog or on the website?  It really just helps people have confidence in both the product and the online purchase experience if they can read real stories by real customers.

4:08 pm Customer
Absolutely!  Please let me know if you need me to give you any further statements that will help others in their decision of whether or not to use Wondercide.  I stumbled upon your product through some basic “help” searches on google and someone raved about your product.  So I dug deeper.  I have never been so relieved to find that my investment in a product was not a bust.  It was worth EVERY penny.  

Thank you for all your support and communication. It’s very reassuring to a customer that the company is all that other’s say they are when their own CEO stays in direct contact with you and helps you directly.  You could farm me out and you didn’t- so thank you so much.  I’ll be a customer for life!

A. For the friends that come over with pets that may have fleas, that’s a tough one. They either need to be flea free or allow you to spray them down.  Both Evolv and BioDefense are contact kill solutions, meaning that the solution must come in contact with the parasite to kill it. BioDefense has a lengthy residual in roofed structures for common pest insects, but nothing “repels” parasites or has enough residual power to kill on an ongoing basis (even traditional pesticides don’t do that). If fleas are re-introduced into your home, it is likely you will need to spot treat as a follow up. You could also let the dogs play outside, not inside,  and continue to do routine lawn control with EcoTreat which should eliminate the problem all the way around.