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RE: Nicaragua Update 16
We have no bathtubs in Central Aerica, just cold showers and sometimes a Kamikaze shower. There are no water heaters either. We are very primitive where we are. We are near the ocean and have two wells but they are salt water. I have two large water tanks, one 10,000 litres (approx. 2642 gallons) and a second one 2500 litres (approx. 661 gallons) of potable water plus another 200 gallons in the 5-gallon water jugs.
No luck on the radio equipment. Parts or old radios. Rainwater is not a problem at the moment. It is rainy season and it rains every day. Food may be a problem in future. We are feeding a lot of people right now. 21 people so far have taken refuge behind our walls...
I wish I could just hand you a radio! I have asked preppers, for ideas on things you can do. Catch all the rain you can. Sorry about the salt water, I was going to suggest a well. One of the guys suggested using snares, set at night, checked at night. I would wait as long as you can, to keep a low profile, but it is a good idea to add some extra food. Ration the food (I Know you are) and plant every pot you have. Run the salt water through a solar still (a large container of salt waterwith a collector in the center, all covered by a plastic sheet, with a small stone over the collector to direct the drips) The water in the collector will be salt free. I am thankful you have water storage! Keep quiet, so they don't notice you!
I added your link to my post, so you may hear from strange people (besides me, LOL).
I really appreciate all the help and advice. Anything that will get us through. We have every inch of the property covered in gardens, all the pots are full. Next will be hanging baskets made out the bottoms of plastic bottles hung in available spaces. The pond is almost finished and we will be stocking with tilapia. I have a supplier that will deliver.
Glad he can get there, are they big enough to eat? Will he bring anything else? A pond will increase your potable water too. Snares, forage, and fishing at night will extend your food supply. If you make a fish trap, all you need do is toss it in the river, where there is current, and leave. If the find snares, they could have been set six months ago, so it gives them nothing to go on. If you do your foraging by Binoculars, during the day; you can harvest at night when you can't see well, the stuff you found that day.
We are raising rabbits and chickens too. We are about 1 mile from the river and the guys have been setting nets. A few have gone out at night to catch crabs and lobsters. But night activity of the paramilitary has increased. More folks were killed last night in Masaya and Managua.
The tilapia are small, about 4 inches head to tail, the good thing is tilapia grow fast.
Snares will help then, as long as you watch for the bad guys. Boil them after you make them, to remove the people smells. Fish traps are quicker to set, and check, than nets, might be safer. They can be made of reeds or sticks.
Have you thought about aquaponics with the tilapia? A few gravel beds would help speed grow some plants, and keep the pond water sweet. 4 inches is a good starting size on the Tilapia. Can he bring you any other supplies? Is local plant forage possible for you guys?
Rabbits are better than chickens, because they are quiet, and make good fertilizer! But Eggs are nice too, if they don't make too much noise. Eat the loud ones, LOL!
:)I don't know if I will be able to get messages out after Wednesday. The people have decided to show the government they mean business by holding a national strike on Wednesday. The government will retaliate by cutting power, water and communications. That will effectively cut the country off from the world...
I was afraid of that! Look for the radio parts in the junk piles. I wish I could build one for you!
ka5jet @ Yahoo.com or toby @ smithlabs.us; and I can send you better contact information. Too bad you do not have a sat phone! I can get on most any ham frequency. You need to go lower in frequency for long distances. 20 Meters (wavelength) is probably best. My first ham contact was in Lima Peru on 20 meters.
Would snail mail put you at risk?
Even if we loose contact, we will keep you on our prayer list!
We have no snail mail as of last month. The post office and most government offices are closed. Banks are closed as of today. Everything is boarded up. Have you seen photos of war zones? Well, we look like that...not a pretty site. Pretty disheartening.