Rustle the Leaf

“Rustle the Leaf”™ is an environmental comic strip that was published from November, 2004 through July, 2007 by Citra Solv, LLC. The Rustle strips are available online and are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

The Cast of Characters

• “Rustle,” the leaf of a Basswood tree, the title character and its most prominent personality.

• “Rooty,” Rustle’s comedic sidekick, an angry, wise-cracking acorn sprout.

• “Dandy,” a persecuted, paranoid Dandelion seed.

• “Paige,” a knowledgeable water drop.

Rustle’s History

Rustle the Leaf was proposed as a comic project to Steve and Melissa Zeitler, founders/owners of Citra-Solv, LLC, a manufacturer of natural, eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products. Dave Ponce, a Central Indiana-based marketing consultant, provided consulting and creative services to the Zeitlers, and believed their philosophy of sustainable lifestyle practices would resonate with a larger audience if presented in an engaging, humorous, noncommercial, less politically-charged context.

The strip’s characters were created in late 2002 and early 2003 by Ponce and digital illustrator Corey Wilkinson. Then in 2004, Dan Wright, a seasoned comic strip creator, assumed control of illustration.

Within 12 months of its launch in 2004, organizations of every shape, size and political stripe were publishing the “Rustle the Leaf,” strips online, and were requesting permission to use the strip in nonprofit newsletters, in educational presentations, in sales meetings and more.

The weekly comic was featured on over 70 Sierra Club Chapter and Group web sites, on the home pages of the U.S. and Canada Green Party web sites, on several college and university web sites, and on hundreds of environmental, natural products and science web sites around the world. For two years, the strip was the weekly comic feature on the web site for Orion, a publication called “America’s finest environmental magazine” by The Boston Globe.

Perhaps the most impressive and proudest aspects of the “Rustle” initiative are the Teaching Resources. In 2004, thousands of free, colorful, eight page activity books with environmentally-themed activities were distributed to natural products stores across the country.

“Our goal is to keep children, their parents and their teachers interested in environmental issues,” said Zeitler, “We believe that every little activity, every comic strip punch line, every coloring page can help establish a life-long awareness for environmentally responsible behaviors.”

Monthly lesson plans are still available online – at no charge to educators. New lesson plans are scheduled to be released in 2010.

Rustle Today

The “Rustle the Leaf” web site continues to generate thousands of hits and visits each month. A comic viewer is available, and visitors can read all strips published between November 2004 and July 2007. All lesson plans are still available for download, as is the digital version of “Rustle the Leaf’s Earth Day Book.”

There are numerous “Rustle” projects and free downloads available, including E cards, wallpaper, coloring pages, games, activity pages, posters, book downloads, links to environmental education resources and more.

“Rustle” also has his own page on Facebook, and is increasing his visibility on the web through various social media outlets.

About Citra Solv, LLC

Citra Solv has built its reputation for excellence on the unrivaled quality of its products. They use naturally derived, biodegradable, non-toxic, renewable resources including natural essential oils and plant-based surfactants. Citra Solv has proudly been independently owned and operated by Melissa and Steve Zeitler for 22 years. Citra Solv proudly supports vegan events, Earth Day events and environmental causes and organizations such as EMA, Audubon Society, Earth Day Network, The United Methodist Women’s Green Team, Global Green, US and Canada Green Party, Orien Publication & PETA.

Citra Solv products qualify as sustainable for the use of plant based ingredients and recyclable packaging, and Citra Solv is a fully integrated “green” company, obtaining their power from wind resources.

For more information, visit www.citra-solv.com.

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