Renee Matt

Renee Matt

Renee is an Iowa farmwife with a background as a former kitchen designer. Supporting the family farm with hearty meals has been key to Renee's pantry readiness. She uses her professional IT background and expertise to bring the Pantry Passion website to life. Read more about this farmwife on her about page.

Rat Poison Talk From a Farmwife: My Best Strategy

Farmwife kneeling down among chckens; bottle of poison and rat.

Rat & Mouse Poison: What Works, What Backfires, and What You Should KnowIf you’re staring down a rodent invasion and thinking poison is your silver bullet—hold that thought. This post dives into the gritty truth behind commercial rodenticides, from bait…

How to Get Rid of Rats Without Poison

Girl doing a karate chop; rats flying away as she hitst hem.

Rats may be resourceful survivors, but that doesn’t mean they’re welcome guests in your home or garden. If you’re dealing with a rodent problem and want to learn how to get rid of rats without poison, here are alternatives. You…

FAQs: Best Mouse Traps & Trap Strategy

Tough guy dressed in commando gear planning strategy to trap mice.

If you’ve ever found a trail of tiny droppings in your pantry or heard the midnight scurry of uninvited guests, it’s time to declare war—Pantry Passion style. Setting mouse traps isn’t just about tossing bait and hoping for the best;…

Guide to Mouse & Rat Prevention

Graphic of rat.

Believe it or not, mice problems are what bring many visitors to Pantry Passion. I have collected all articles in this one spot that cover rats and mice. Here are specific articles that address sanitizing and cleaning up after a…

Can Mice Climb? Amazing Stories of Rodent Agility

Mouse perched on top of a plant, a couple nearby horrified.

Mice can absolutely climb—they’re tiny acrobats! They can climb into your bed, walls, and stairs (but we have advice for that scary event!). Mice are excellent climbers, capable of scaling a wide variety of surfaces thanks to their sharp claws,…