Warhorse Solutions--Out in the Light

Warhorse is sometimes misunderstood, and it's quite understandable.  We've been so busy--moving on, scaling up, researching, collaborating, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning--we haven't really shown everyone what we're up to.  Before we share...

Here's what Warhorse doesn't do:

• We don't sell "burnt motor oil"--our products are refined from leftover vegetable oils that may have been grown in WNC, may have been used by a local restaurant, a Red Cross fundraiser, a plant-based biofuel producer (like Patriot Biofuels who makes canola and soybean fuel for the military or a nationally known research facility like the EcoComplex in Hickory, NC).  NO PETROLEUM is used in our products.
• We don't use grease to clean. Warhorse makes true soaps with some innovative secrets.  We're patented and protecting our unique process. We don't make synthetic detergents, but use a thousand year old process called saponification (the conversion of natural oils to soap molecules).  Before WWII, most of the cleaners we used were soaps, but the war effort needed the precious natural glycerin to make nitro glycerin and natural soaps disappeared and cheaper-to-make substitutes like detergents with synthetic foam boosters were born.  After the war, most manufacturers kept making detergents--sort of like that packet of "seasonings and other artificial ingredients" that you might use to make the quick box of hamburger helper.  It eats, but homemade might be tastier and healthier...
• No, we don't make nitro glycerin. We use natural vegetable glycerin and other natural oils in our formulas, which are certified lab tested and evaluated by local veterinarians and ones at Univ. of Georgia vet school as well.  5 years of Research & Development. See our website's Testify
• And no, we haven't moved to Georgia. Warhorse went to Savannah and lived in an  RV trailer for about 4 months, doing some Research & Development. Now, we have our own technology and shop, thanks to a local patroness who helped us find a building with a loading dock and some open space. Our new soap microbrewery is in Landrum.
• AND no I didn't leave teaching because I was sick of teenagers.  In fact, Warhorse has hired the skill and talent of many Polk High graduates. This company and our chemistry was born from a Polk Co. High classroom and student.  This interview with Polk native and my former English student is the beginning. We've continued to hire and and collaborate with Polk graduates. They're creative, innovative, and motivated--Warhorses on the move.

Actions speak louder than words, so take a gander at the pics, and I'm sure you'll still be a little confused.  Pics are the journey as it has developed...

I took a leave of absence from my English classroom last year. My temporary lab and home in the  Savannah industrial section--Research & Development Diggs.  We called it Mosquito Flatts.  By the way, it's for sale now since I'm back HOME. Let me know if you're interested.

My husband Carl helps me get the camper and stuff to Savannah.  He now makes our biofuels for our own cars and trucks. I make natural cleaners from leftover vegetable oils.

Polk High biology and biofuels teacher heads to Savannah with me to help with research.  Thanks Kim Mirasola.  Kim, along with other PCHS science teachers, helped bring some advanced chemistry and math to Polk students. They're up and out of those desks, moving around and exploring sustainability.

Get back home and see the family. Then back to Savannah. Glad that's over and now Warhorse has its own shop and lab.

Clemson professor helps PCHS AP Chem teacher Mr. Zalevski teach the Biofuels science course now offered at the high school.  We're a state model and other high schools want similar injections of real world research and chemistry in their schools as well. Why wait for grad school? Our students are ready now! Catawba County is planning to have this chemistry at their 3 high schools soon.

With local help, I found a building and the Warhorse team starts setting up. I shopped at a soap tank graveyard and brought one home.

Roof leaks at the Warhorse shop and Weicker Const sets me up to repair them.  I'm so glamorous.

Philip Culbreth's expertise with mechanical and electrical projects worked well with the green industry engineers from New Earth Fabricators and with the LAARS hyrondic boiler engineers to install and pass inspections before startup. It helps that Phil has a innovative mind, as our engineering was custom designed.

Motor that helps the hot water move through our stainless steel tanks.  My Xmas present to Warhorse.

The Warhorse Shop getting there, with soap tanks that sequester clients' products.  Biltmore Estates has visited us, and maybe Warhorse gets their soon-to-be-harvested canola oil that will become their biofuel and then their cleaning products.

Jody Durham helps with Warhorse's journey and appears to be risking his life to photograph the Catawba combine harvesting soybeans that were crushed for biofuels and then delivered to the Warhorse shop.

Warhorse works with Appalachian State and Catawba EcoComplex Research Facility to advance our research, and to buy their unique canola glyerin for Warhorse's Harvest Gold line of products, coming soon.  Director Barry Edwards, Jack Chandler, and Jeremy Ferrel have visited the Warhorse facility as well. EcoComplex PhD candidate Jeremy Ferrell is on Warhorse's Advisory Board.

Natural cleaners and cleansers--from the field to communities--no sulfates, phosphates, dyes.

Former Polk High grads work and visit Warhorse shop.  Flynn, on right, is on Tarheel summer break and headed to jungles of Peru for mission work, taking along Be Kind soaps--easily biodegradable in the jungle river where he will bathe...

Ok, there's a good look at what we have been doing.  The Warhorse is on a fun, scary ride.  He's gotten out of his backyard and galloping on out into bigger green pastures, and sometimes a slower pace in some dark woods, dodging fallen brush and rocky slopes.  We'll see how far he gets...