About Us

About our Founder

Wally Tharp, founder of Perma-Guard™, spent the last 52 years of his life spreading information on the agricultural use of Diatomaceous Earth around the world, lauding it's use as both an anti-caking agent, an animal feed and as a natural insecticide.

In the early days, he traveled thousands of miles across the country visiting farms and homes towing a trailer loaded with Diatomaceous Earth and spraying equipment. He felt the average homeowner or farmer could protect their home and property without endangering the health of their family, their livelihood or contaminating the earth. No special experience or fancy equipment was required.

Wally was an avid gardener and “health-fooder”, initiating the first food and health group meetings in the city of Albuquerque.

He was the consummate salesman and blessed with the ability to make a friend wherever he happened to be. He and the Perma-Guard™ company, with the invaluable help of his business partner, Merv Haney, have made the product known around the world.

Wally passed away at age 89 leaving Merv to don the public persona of ”Mr. Perma-Guard”. Merv has continued to spread the word about Diatomaceous Earth and is instrumental in the creation of new Perma-Guard products designed to help crop and garden production.

Merv has now appointed his son, Mchael Haney, as President. He continues Perma-Guard's legacy as a proponent of accessible and sustainable farming.