We were lucky to catch up with Lisa-Jae Eggert and Kammy Wolf recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa-Jae & Kammy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Here are some tick facts:
Over half a million people are diagnosed with tick-borne illnesses each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Lyme disease is the number one vector-borne disease in the U.S.
The CDC announced an almost 60% jump in the number of reported cases of Lyme disease in recent years.
New York State has among the highest reported tick-borne cases in the country.
Kammy (my business partner) and I wish we had known these facts before our families were devastated by tick-borne diseases.
After being misdiagnosed with MS, Lupus, and possible early onset Alzheimer’s, among other illnesses, following numerous tick bites, I developed neurological Lyme disease in my early forties and found myself unable to remember how to tie my shoes or turn on the sink. I was trying to raise two children and my brain and my body were a complete mess and to top it off I had to stop going outside because the use of repellents containing DEET or other nasty chemicals made all of my symptoms worse. My immune system was so fragile these chemicals overwhelmed my system. Hearing loss, Lyme rage, memory loss, brain fog, heart problems, excruciating body pain, and anxiety were just some of my terrifying and life changing Lyme symptoms. Thank god I finally found a doctor that diagnosed me correctly and put me on a long course of IV antibiotics.
Because we live in the Northeast, ticks are commonplace and the likelihood of coming into contact with them throughout the day is extremely high. How can I ever step foot outside again?? How can I let my kids explore the wonders of the outside world safely??
Our community is plagued by tick-borne diseases and we know our experiences are the same as many people across the country. Kammy and I partnered to become two moms on a mission ( nothing can stop two moms on a mission) to help stop the devastating effects of tick borne diseases.
Lisa-Jae & Kammy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I really needed an effective repellent that was free of harsh chemicals, thus TickWise was born. I have a background in biology but I failed chemistry so there was a steep learning curve for me. Lots of trial and error and sleepless nights. For months my kitchen looked like an apothecary or my chem classes that I failed so long ago. Then there was navigating the rules and regulations of the EPA (environmental protection agency) that federally oversees repellents. On top of that registering our repellent in each state’s pesticide bureau, this was a herculean task! Every state has a different set of requirements so you have to go state by state to make sure you are hitting the benchmark required for your label and ingredients. Talk about bureaucracy! But what came out of that process was an amazing product that is extremely effective, DEET-free, paraben free, sodium lauryl sulfate free and smells great! We are also safe for dogs and horses. We are just rolling out a 32 oz size for the horse community, now horse and rider can both use our repellent. Our product is unique in part because so many people are just as concerned understandably about their dog and horses since they too can get Lyme disease (note: our product, or any product that is essential oil based should not be used on cats as cats lack an enzyme to breakdown oils) We are certified women-owned small business, and we are extremely proud of that. We are just two moms that are inspired to help our families and greater community stay safe from ticks and biting insects.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As I touched on above, we are under the auspices of the EPA, they regulate any product that says it kills or repels insects, even natural products like TickWise. When we started back in 2018 we didn’t know anything about government regulations, we just knew that we had created a natural, essential oil based product that worked. Our little business was starting to get a local following and some beginning sales. We were thrilled! We were a new business, just one tick season old, and we were making great strides.
Then the shoe dropped… one September morning I got a threatening letter from the EPA saying you have to stop production and sales of TickWise. Wait, what??? I’m not understanding, there are a bunch of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) links and a phone number if I should have any questions. What is the problem? We were using essential oils, natural ingredients, right?
It turns out that The EPA will only allow certain ingredients into a repellent. What did this mean to 3 Moms Organics and TickWise? I start untangling the government jargon and spend the next 6 months deconstructing and reconstructing a new TickWise.
After going down an excruciating number of rabbit holes, turning all of my kitchen counters into what looked like an apothecary, and going on many tick drags to find ticks to test the new TickWise, we finally find the winning formula that is compliant with all the EPA regulations and the pesticide rules and regulations of each state. Yes, not only did we have to follow the EPA rules but we now had to register our repellent in every state in the nation in order to sell there. Registering for every state took about 1 ½ years as each state had its own interpretation of the EPA pesticide rules.
This whole terrible and exhausting process was the best thing that ever happened to 3 Moms Organics because not only does our formula smell great but it worked 10x’s better than our last formula. I am proud to say that we are now a registered natural pesticide in all 50 states and DC. We have learned so much through this process and became a better company with an excellent product and reputation because of it.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My business partner, Kammy Wolf, has been a good friend for a very long time. We met when we both worked together in the Natural Resources Department of our town. Years later we found ourselves in the same school district with kids the same age and grade. This just bolstered our friendship. She is crazy intelligent, easy to talk to and just an amazing human being, anyone would be extremely lucky to call her a friend. To boot, we also share a passion and extreme love for nature and time outdoors. In 2022, Kammy reached out as she was looking for a career change and wanted general advice, not even thinking about 3 Moms Organics at the time. They say “timing in life is everything,” and Kammy reached out to me just at the very moment my previous business partner was taking a step back from the business to tend to her family’s needs. Kismet!!! Kammy, amazingly, has a master’s degree in entomology and had been using TickWise for years on her family and her dog. Kammy also has an impressive background in sales… it felt like a dream come true for 3 Moms Organics. Kammy became a partner in 2022 and we have only gained more and more traction since. You never know where or when the lows and highs of your business will be but I can honestly say the best things have come out of our hardest challenges.
Contact Info:
- Website: 3momsorganics.com
- Instagram: 3MomOrganics
- Facebook: 3MomsOrganics