<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>Hi, all,</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks a lot for the responses. I will talk to Esvin, the field officer to think about your proposals. </div><div><br></div><div>I 've personally had the same issues in other countries when growing mushrooms. Rats are quite extraordinary beings, very very clever. We tried many things but none really worked too well.</div><div><br></div><div>Today I researched DIY techniques and I came across this one:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><h3 style=""><span style="">Plaster of Paris (or Yeso, in Guatemala), Cornmeal and Milk</span></h3><ol class="steps_list_2" style=""><li style=""><div class="step_num" style=""><b class="whb" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Mix a 1/4 pound (113 g) of plaster of Paris with 1/4 pound (113 g) of cornmeal in a large bowl</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></div><ul style=""><li style="">Plaster of Paris can be bought at most craft stores and hardware stores. It is a dry powder made of gypsum that, when mixed with a liquid, thickens and eventually hardens.<div class="clearall" style=""></div></li></ul><div class="clearall" style=""></div></li><li style=""><div class="step_num" style=""><b class="whb" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Add 1–2 cups (0</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.2 L to 0.47 L) of milk.</span></div><ul style=""><li style="">You can add more milk if clumps of the cornmeal or plaster of Paris are still dry.<div class="clearall" style=""></div></li></ul><div class="clearall" style=""></div></li><li style=""><div class="step_num" style=""><b class="whb" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Use your hands to knead the mixture into dough</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></div><div class="clearall" style=""></div></li><li style=""><div class="step_num" style=""><b class="whb" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Break off 1–2 inch (2</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.54 to 5.08 cm) chunks of the dough and roll into balls.</span></div><div class="clearall" style=""></div></li><li style=""><div class="step_num" style=""><b class="whb" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Place the balls behind the fridge, inside cupboards, under the stove, or anywhere else the rats might be hiding</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></div></li></ol><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Saludos,</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><em><strong><span style="color: #333333;">Gustavo A. Molina</span></strong></em></div><div><em><span style="color: #888888;">Project Coordinator<br>Environment, Climate Change Agriculture and Eco-leña<br>tel. 2332-3659 / cel: 5717-2240<br><a href="mailto:ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org">ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</a></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://www.fundacionprogresarguatemala.org">www.fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</a> </span><br> </em></div><div><br><br></div>
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-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: RE: Problems with rats eatign briquettes<br>
From: "Leland Hite" <<a href="mailto:lee.hite@fuse.net">lee.hite@fuse.net</a>><br>
Date: Tue, August 06, 2013 12:14 pm<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org">ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</a>><br>
Cc: "'Molina Gustavo'" <<a href="mailto:gustavo.molina.desarrollo@gmail.com">gustavo.molina.desarrollo@gmail.com</a>>, "'Richard<br>
Stanley'" <<a href="mailto:rstanley@legacyfound.org">rstanley@legacyfound.org</a>>, "'Guinto Joshua'"<br>
<<a href="mailto:jed.building.bridges@gmail.com">jed.building.bridges@gmail.com</a>>, "'Kaji Sanu'" <<a href="mailto:fost@ntc.net.np">fost@ntc.net.np</a>>,<br>
"'Marietha Zaujia'" <<a href="mailto:marietazaujia@yahoo.com">marietazaujia@yahoo.com</a>>, "'Adair Kevin'"<br>
<<a href="mailto:kevadair@aol.com">kevadair@aol.com</a>>, "'Venter Kobus'" <<a href="mailto:ventfory@iafrica.com">ventfory@iafrica.com</a>>, "'Nora<br>
Feldmar'" <<a href="mailto:nouuri@gmail.com">nouuri@gmail.com</a>>, "'Wesdijk Marcel'"<br>
<<a href="mailto:marcel@mwanawaleza.org">marcel@mwanawaleza.org</a>>, "'Lee Hite'" <<a href="mailto:leland.hite@gmail.com">leland.hite@gmail.com</a>>, "'Kavita<br>
Mary and Francis'" <<a href="mailto:fmkavita@yahoo.com">fmkavita@yahoo.com</a>>, "'Ochieng James'"<br>
<<a href="mailto:aheudit@gmail.com">aheudit@gmail.com</a>>, "'George Gambia'" <<a href="mailto:icecool@qanet.gm">icecool@qanet.gm</a>>, "'Stoves and<br>
biofuels network'" <<a href="mailto:Stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org">Stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>>, "Zan Smith"<br>
<<a href="mailto:smith.zan@gmail.com">smith.zan@gmail.com</a>><br>
<br>
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</style><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Gustavo,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In addition to all of Richards’s good suggestion I asked a friend of mine (Zan). He suggested </span><span style="color:black">dusting with various herbs, spices or ground peppers. Hot red peppers are used to deter squirrels from eating birdseed; maybe it would work for rats? Good luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black">Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black">Lee Hite<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><a target="_blank" href="http://home.fuse.net/engineering/">http://home.fuse.net/engineering/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">From:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> Richard Stanley [<a href="mailto:rstanley@legacyfound.org">mailto:rstanley@legacyfound.org</a><span class="GramE">] <br><b>Sent</b></span><b>:</b> Tuesday, August 06, 2013 11:27 AM<br><b>To:</b> Guinto Joshua; Kaji Sanu; Marietha Zaujia; Adair Kevin; Venter Kobus; Nora Feldmar; Wesdijk Marcel; Lee Hite; Kavita Mary and Francis; Ochieng James; George Gambia; Stoves and biofuels network<br><b>Cc:</b> Molina Gustavo<br><b>Subject:</b> Fwd: Problems with rats eatign briquettes<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Hi all, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">My own suggestions are put wire wool in the briquettes a small amount, as I know the rats will not try to get through that if, used to plug a hole in the hidden corners of the house. other suggestion hanging them on a wire ( as we saw in Huehe / Sta Eulalia or changing the blend to something rats do not like to eat, which is either neutral or still combustible and in either case does not emit noxious smoke or gasses at elevated temperature. These are just my ideas.I have not ever tested them myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">So for anybody with similar experience, what was/is your solution? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Please send to Gustavo <span class="GramE">Molina ccyd</span> below directly and ccy to the rest of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Richard Stanley<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="GramE"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">www</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">,<a target="_blank" href="http://legacyfound.org"><span style="color:black">legacyfound.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">=============<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-outline-level:1"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">From: </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"Gustavo Molina" <<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org"><span style="color:black">ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Date: </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">August 5, 2013 8:45:24 AM PDT<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">To: </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"Richard Stanley" <<a target="_blank" href="mailto:rstanley@legacyfound.org"><span style="color:black">rstanley@legacyfound.org</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Subject: Problems</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Dear Richard,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">We are having some problems here. Rats are eating our eco-leñas. We are figuring what to do. Rats are always so tricky to handle. Have you heard of clever solutions <span class="GramE">world wide</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Saludos,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Gustavo A. Molina</span></i></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Project Coordinator</span></i></span><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><br><span class="apple-style-span">Environment, Climate Change Agriculture and Eco-leña</span><br><span class="GramE"><span class="apple-style-span">tel</span></span><span class="apple-style-span">. 2332-3659 / cel: 5717-2240</span><br><span class="apple-style-span"><a target="_blank" href="mailto:ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org"><span style="color:black">ambiente@fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</span></a></span></span></i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fundacionprogresarguatemala.org/"><span style="color:black">www.fundacionprogresarguatemala.org</span></a> </span></i></span><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><br><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div></div></div>
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