Building a Business from Nature: Kari W. Block’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Earth-Kind, headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, in the USA, was founded in 1993 by Kari Warberg Block (Kari). Kari’s entrepreneurial journey started when she began selling potpourris and organic produce on her farm. She then went into manufacturing, selling a totally agriculture-based rodent repellant – Fresh Cab – that provided a non-messy, environmentally friendly solution to the rodent menace that plagues farms and homes the world over. In the process she also invested in the community by employing handicapped people and supporting family farms.

Kari began in a small way, working out of her home and involving her children and neighbors. But, by 2013, the business had grown tremendously and had a cumulative sale of US$40 million and annual revenue of US$ 5 million. In recognition of her achievement in running an environmentally and socially responsible business, Kari received awards and recognitions from several reputed organizations. Kari proved that a woman could be soft, caring, kind, and capable of helping humanity and still be a strong person.