Clothes Make the Man or Woman?

 

Does clothes  make the man, or woman?  Of course, we all know it doesn't hurt to look good, to make a solid first impression, but what really counts is what's inside. And what's inside our colorful, logo-laden bottles is soap.

Yes, that's right we make a true soap.  That's it.  Basic soap.  Plain, ole soap.  Just Soap.  That's it, ya'll. Dang good soap with natural glycerin and natural oils.  Funny how we're finding that simple is better, that our great grandmother's soap might have been as good as it gets (visit our website to learn about HOW we make it, sort of a cross between a chef and a malt brewer).

 

Here's how the FDA defines and regulates soap (it's pretty clear that soap doesn't get that much attention because it's so simple).

 

 Soap

February 1979; Updated February 3, 1995
Ordinary soap is solely made up of fats and an alkali. In the past, people made their own soap from animal fats and wood ashes.
Today there are very few true soaps in the traditional sense on the market. You might recognize these soaps as products marketed with characteristics such as "pure." "True" soaps are regulated by the Consumer Protection Agency, not FDA, and do not require ingredient labeling.

Most body cleansers on the market today are actually synthetic detergent products and come under the jurisdiction of FDA.
If a cosmetic claim is made on the label of a "true" soap or cleanser, such as moisturizing or deodorizing, the product must meet all FDA requirements for a cosmetic, and the label must list all ingredients. If a drug claim is made on a cleanser or soap, such as antibacterial, antiperspirant, or anti acne, the product is a drug, and the label must list all active ingredients, as is required for all drug products.

 

 Like many true soaps, our be kind cleansers and WARHORSE cleaners are natural SOAP.   We might call it "cleanser" or "body wash,"  but it's just beautiful, simple soap with no dyes, no synthetic suds, no "fillers."  Just like our favorite dish--simple, natural ingredients make the best dishes (unless it's the prefabricated box of mac and cheese with the powder and bad after taste that I do eat every once in a while).

But, with increasing cultural need to over complicate, over sell, over hype, over compensate, over kill most everything, SOAP has been seen as boring...

Here's our soaps undressed, out of the bottle, up close and being "experienced." 

This batch's main ingredients: soybean and canola, and our sustainable process makes a kick-butt degreaser.

Hand "goop" with pumice and Lemon oil for some customers with dirty jobs.

Hickory, NC provided the main ingredient for this batch.

A happy customer this Friday, with her just delivered mint cleanser.

Glycerin-rich hand scrub in a jelly jar.

Lemon Pudding? Nope, canola, sunflower, sweet amond, and Dead Sea minerals soap--creamy and soft.

 

Variation in color and texture is normal, just like nature.

WARHORSE All Purpose--leaves skin soft and silky. No fumes or itchy skin.

 

Sorry, sorry to bore you, but that's what we do at Be Kind Solutions Inc. --make soaps using natural oils, ingredients that you might find in your food pantry--soybean, canola, sunflower, olive, oils, sweet almond and castor oils, sea salts, maybe some apple cider vinegar. We may add some essential oils like lavender, mint, lemon, citronella, eucalyptus to enhance the benefits of our soaps... yep, that's pretty much it. 

 

Here's a question I get asked about our soaps:

Is your soap antibacterial?

No, not if you mean do we add alcohol or triclosan to make it antibacterial.  In fact,

FDA Panel: No Advantage to Antibacterial Soap Advisory Panel Says Regular Soap and Water Just as Effective in Preventing Illness. 

 

 

That's all folks, just soap, but an experience you may never have tried if you've only had the fake stuff with sulfates, artificial colors, fillers, and synthetics.

P.S.   Be Kind and WARHORSE soaps are sort of like the difference between a box of Hamburger Helper with that powdered packet and a pot of homemade chicken and dumplings.

 

A young man (who recently moved out of his parents' house) trying out his grandmother's chicken and dumpling recipe. 

An Innovative Ride

It's been over 5 years since my former student Elizabeth Russell wowed me and her senior graduation project community judges by drinking a "shot" of the canola-derived biofuel that she made with her Uncle Bob.  Her "shot" lit a spark that has fueled my growing passion for self-reliance and learning.

A desire to learn, the willingness to embrace new ideas, Polk County students and teacher support, and a local set of patrons with a desire to help, has led Be Kind Solutions to its new manufacturing home.  Oh yes, the students are now out of my backyard shop and in our school's biofuel class or coming to the WARHORSE shop--where agriculture meets innovation.

This stainless steel tank is the prettiest thing I own.

My husband can now have his work spaces back, the tractor goes back in the covered bay, and some new-used pumps and a bigger tank will cut down on all the heavy lifting and moving of our WARHORSE soap barrels.

repurposed 550 gallon stainless steel tank

A new, pretty Armstrong 2d 1050 circulation pump

Now, we will make our pet and people products in bigger batches, planning to grow our green production, sales, and educational projects.

We have "grown" our WARHORSE team as well--my sister Amanda, who knows the products inside and out, is coming on board full time in the near future; Jody Durham, who knows manufacturing and production, has been on the WARHORSE ride for almost a year, and of course, my husband Carl will still be moving vegetable glycerin, natural oils, and soaps around, but with a forklift now.  Learning to drive that forklift is on my To-Do List this week.

My sister Amanda is whipping up a new recipe for hand cleaner with pumice.  Gibbs Welding guys been trying it out with great results.

Jody risks his safety for the perfect photograph while watching a soybean crop harvest in Newton, NC. Jody is a strong force on the WARHORSE and Be Kind team. He brings loads of manufacturing and quality control experience to our new production facility, and we benefit from his creative and artistic experience as well.  Many of the pics you see on our website are from his lens.  All of the pics on our blog and website are authentic and relevant.

We have launched our new pet shampoo and horse shampoo, after several years of customer feedback and veterinarian evaluations. 

Thanks everyone who tested and gave feedback to our new all natural pet and horse shampoo products, especially Red Oak Farms, Bonnie Brae Vet. Hospital, and Univ. of Georgia Vet. School.

My former Polk County High student Jacob Hrobak completed a biofuels graduation project last year.  He also helped Polk establish its bioufels science course by working with Appalachian State and our Polk teachers. Jacob is now an Industrial Engineering student at NC State University. He recently visited the new WARHORSE shop in Landrum.  We hope to offer him and other students internship opportunities in science and engineering.

 Even though it's a new year and a new start for Be Kind and WARHORSE, things won't change that much.  We will still work and learn from our old friends, and collaborate with our new additions to the WARHORSE family--Advantage West, Appalachian State and Catawba Biodiesel and Research EcoComplex, Clemson University Bio Systems, New Earth Fabricators, to name a few. The WARHORSE was born with the help of many. More people and projects are on the journey, and we shall see where this ride takes us.

Thanks everyone.
Tawana Weicker
Be Kind Solutions

All You Need Is Love, Warhorse

So the Beatles knew that LOVE is all we need--even in business?  Here's the song if you've missed it somehow.

So when the is in the angst of which circulation pump to buy on ebay, of waiting on a biofuel grant for our high school, of how to create a job for a loan laden-NC State-agriculture science-graduate, all I need is LOVE?  Of course, it is.

Victor Hwang, co owner of T2VC and author of a book about building innovative ecosystems called The Rainforest, deconstructs that yes, the solid foundation for an innovative business begins with LOVE.  Here's his article that gives evidence-supported logic: Innovative Ecosystems need LOVE

Alienbirth

Well, folks have been asking, "How's it going, trying to start a new business?  Aren't you scared?"

I quip, "So far, so good."  And then I start to falter, "Warhorse Solutions is...is...blossoming...."

Alright, let's be blunt: "blossoming" is the wrong word, like a flower that just blooms when it's ready--all quiet, beautiful, and wonderful.  Actually, my company's jump into the business world is getting...serious, not my high school, backyard little "experiment" anymore. Taking my "Naturally Aggressive" WARHORSE, my other recipes, and my fine-tuned sustainable process to the big-boy- but-not-that-big-market is...not like a blossoming event.

Nope, this feels like an alien birth--foreign, sharp edges, slippery, unexpected complications, AND EXCITING because of the awesome energy that spurred this birth. In order for Be Kind to be a solution, we're going to add other members and resources to our family. Be Kind Solutions is having some birthing pains for sure.  Will it need a surgeon, scalpel, C-section, and an extra pint of blood?   Maybe...maybe not.




Ahh, there's hope with the birthing pains: My Polk County High School fellow teacher and now Summer Time Warhorse Solutions Research and Development Director Kim Mirasola just spent a week energizing science, math, and technology curriculum and told me Warhose has a lot going for it because it was conceived, nurtured, and parented with "The Golden Circle" philosophy. 

Ok, now I'll breathe easier...

Kim Mirasola applies her bio chemistry expertise for Be Kind

What? nobody ever told me about "The Golden Circle" business philosophy...so I GOOGLED it, even watched a youtube video about it.  I feel so much better now. Hey, Be Kind has sprouted in the right garden, from the right birthplace: the WARHORSE was born because two students and local Polk Co. High graduates inspired and helped me, along with my sister, who shared the WARHORSE Cleaner and its story with anyone who wanted a kind cleaning solution. 

Back to the circle:

 

The Why? Why does Warhorse exist? It's necessary to explore and innovate--innovate the way we use resources and the way we share them, particularly with our communities and schools. Let's use and move green energy into new paradigms.  Warhorse is about recycling, re-purposing, and collaboration in a way that is kind to people, pets, planet. 

The How? We (there's a growing team now) use our sustainable, green energy process to make our cleaners and soaps.  In addition to our process and products, Warhorse partners with  our communities, organizations, and schools to share resources and knowledge. Students have inspired us and we work to inspire them. 

The What? Warhorse Solutions has 2 solutions:

• unique, non-toxic, and naturally aggressive WARHORSE cleaners and soaps made from our sustainable process.

Our new label look: Now the WARHORSE label has the energy of the WARHORSE. This is not the clearest pic, but you can see the change.

• continued collaboration with our local schools and community with a bio systems project on our high school campus--renewable energy, hydroponics, composting, soldier flies (will explain sometime), materials engineering, sunflower project, etc, etc.  Collaboration with Dr. Houser and Dr. Taylor at Appalachian State, David Thornton Bio Systems Guru at Clemson University, and our high school science department has fired up a unique learning opportunity for Polk County School students. More news about these projects coming soon!

 

Now, idealism can be tricky.  Yes, Simon (from the The Golden Circle youtube video), The Why Warhorse exists is the foundation for our process and products.  In fact, the WARHORSE himself embodies our company's character--work ethic, innovation, collaboration--and a naturally aggressive goal to "make safer, value added products, following Green Chemistry Principles." Ok, we're opening up shop for the right reasons.

Regardless of The How and The What, The Why isn't going to change--doesn't matter how big this baby gets.

So now, we have to take care of the other components.  And as Simon mentions, lots of companies die before they reach the age of 3. Will Warhorse the LLC die?  We'll see.

But the WARHORSE won't.  Energy never dies.

This is Noble, our real WARHORSE.  He's a fast learner, gets bored easily, good manners, likes a challenge, and is kind to his friends. 

Noble lives nearby with Lyndsey, one of my former students who has been on this Be Kind ride with me for several years.

Warhorse Moves Into a Gated Community

Can't give away our location...already seen some other squatters besides us...we call it Mosquito Flatts

As soon as we got here, started working...

Proving to Savannah that WARHORSE works and no coughing from fumes inside the truck cab.  It's so easy even a Q-Tip can do it--sorry Geico caveman.

Talk about historic downtown traffic?  That barge is churning along the Savannah River.  Hope we're exporting to China.  Maybe the WARHORSE visits Asia?

These WARHORSEs are working.  Glad they're getting a 20 minute break.

Spooky moon over City Market.  We're hoping to see some Savannah ghosts.  While I was taking this picture I felt a cold spot and like someone tried to push me.  Maybe it was someone from the "Cha Cha Slide" sweaty line dancing that was going on behind me in front of the Gelat-ohhhh store.  Is that an orb on the left bottom corner of this pic?

It's not all hard work. We took 20 minutes off to celebrate the 4th of July.  Even the city was sardinned with over 60,000 people, Kim still had personal space and met some kind Savannah folk. Seriously, polite and friendly people are everywhere down here.  Makes us feel like we're in Polk.

Livin in our gated community and eatin' fine food. Look at this Caprese salad and Kim's mom's homemade Italian spaghetti sauce. In 20 minutes this table will turn back into Kim's bed.

Loki is chillin' after she made a few rounds inside our gated community. We give her 20 minutes and she'll be snoring.

Well, it's been a long day, but relaxin' on my temporary-Savannah-front porch steps makes me feel like I'm back in Polk sitting in my front porch swing. Where's that spooky moon?

A Good Day

Multiplying Green Onions Gone to Seed-Dry the Bulbs Again

 

Starting at 7:15 A.M.after a few cups of coffee made from Open Road Coffee beans.  Need to check on the lower garden. Got to pull some weeds.

Raspberry plants growing.  BTW, get out to PCHS and check out what the Agriculture Science Dept. and students have got in the plant sale.  I just picked up 50 tomato plants, jalapeno pepper plants, and thyme, dill, and parsley as well.  Plants are healthy and VERY REASONABLY PRICED.

Potatoes--Yukon Gold and Irish Red. Wire fences to keep deer out of RattleSnake Greenbeans

Crop Circles or Pickling Cucumber Hills?

Coyote tracks or Eddie the Lab?

Eddie's waits for a ride to Grandma's house for lunch..Takes a cookie to bribe him back into the house.

Grandma's barn with barn art by PCHS student for senior project.

1:00 PM. BarnYard Basketball. Nice goal and net. Better barn art.

Water Buffalo at my father's farm.  Turned out to be pets instead of lean table fare.

This was when the they were younger and kinder...

Water Buffalo staring us down.  An interested visitor and several dogs have learned the hard way that these guys aren't always so friendly.  We don't get too close anymore, unless we're on the John Deere.

This young bull prefers his muzzle scratched by my father.

Another old barn...I worked in this barn 30 years ago when this farm was Cotswold's: Saddlebreds and Arabs. It was old then.

9 day old water buffalo

Looks serious...

2:00 P.M.  More basketball.  Swooshing the net.

The Big Dawg of the Barn Yard, like the WARHORSE, naturally aggressive.

Hiding out under a barn and dusting off...

6:30 PM. Berry Picking at the Russells Berry Patch. Getting the first berries off the vines.  Fertilizer used is "Fish Juice" from Bob's 50 gallon barrel.  Cole supplied the fish carcasses for homemade fertilizer. No pesticides.  They ordered some kind of bug to kill spider mites.  Going to freeze them for smoothies and pies after an ice cream sundae. 2 gallons to my mom for strawberry preserves.

 It's 9:30 P.M. and this post of pics is going up.