+- Punaweb Forum (http://punaweb.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Punaweb Forums (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Punatalk (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=10)
+--- Thread: Fern Forest Farming (/showthread.php?tid=10260)
Pages:
1
2
Fern Forest Farming - Futureresident - 05-16-2012
Hey everyone!
My name is Jon and my family is planning a move to Puna. We've been looking at various areas online (we're still on the mainland) and trying to get a feel for what things are like in some of the neighborhoods so that we have a better idea of where to look for property.
We would like a small amount of acreage (3 acres or so) to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle and produce as much of our own food and energy and other necessities as possible. That of course assumes a pretty extensive garden!
The Fern Forest area has caught our eye due to the low cost and 3 acre lots. The fact that its "off the beaten path" doesn't bother us however I was wondering what the soil conditions are like there. Pictures indicate that its very heavily forested so I assume some amount of clearing would be necessary, but is the soil usable underneath or is it rock that native species have just adapted to survive on?
Any thoughts and/or tips concerning this or any other aspect of moving to Puna for sustainability is very very appreciated!!
Thanks!
RE: Fern Forest Farming - DanielP - 05-16-2012
It's on a young (600yrs.) lava flow. 3-4" of "Pig Mud" soil.
COME AND RENT FIRST
RE: Fern Forest Farming - Radiopeg - 05-16-2012
Try using the search function and see what you pull up from this site. Many have gone before you. There are a ton of informative stories and bits of information. You will have a dickens of a time growing any row crops up there in Fern Forest. Dirt?, nah, root mats over lava for the most part. Or just mostly lava. It is too young to have developed good dirt.
But, good luck. We have only been here a year, but spent three years reading and thinking and reading some more, and then on to physical visits. For us, also, jobs were not an issue. Kids school was not an issue. Medical? We were willing to fuss with that. Other areas with good dirt will be more expensive. I pleasure garden, keeping a good selection of edibles started, in case the boats don't keep coming
Peace and long life
RE: Fern Forest Farming - missydog1 - 05-16-2012
The forests are not necessarily "native" species. Many species have established themselves on the land with very little soil. When it comes to planting on rock, there's a whole style of gardening to be learned. You won't be able to just dig a planting hole or plow or rototill as you would elsewhere.
Also, don't underestimate the tremendous task of keeping down unwanted plants. It is easy to grow things here, but keeping from growing a lot of weeds and invasives is tough, especially without using poison. The pests here can be overwhelming too.
There is land with deep soil, even in Puna, but in limited areas.
There is deep soil where I live, on the slopes of Mauna Kea, but the land is not cheap.
There are easier places to farm, for sure. You can do it, but you will have a lot to learn. Renting is a great way to start.
Growing fruit here is easy. Growing all the vegetables you know without a green house is harder. It was ten times or fifty times easier for me to handle the veggie garden in California. You wouldn't think so, but it was.
RE: Fern Forest Farming - Carey - 05-16-2012
Most of Puna is lava flow from Kilauea, although there are some areas of Puna - on the slope of Mauna Loa- that do have deep soils, mostly now in pasture land when you look at on-line pictures.
Most farms in Puna have the acreage 'ripped' with a D9 tractor with blade & hook. This chomps up the trees & the lava.
Be aware that 1. Fern forest has a reputation... for some very "interesting" lifestyles.... it is not unheard of having your plants, and anything else nailed downed or not, "borrowed", esp. if you leave your property...
2. there are people & organizations in Volcano that would rather folks did not rip their entire lot (many have done whole lot ripping with many plans, then never return for various reasons, leaving the native forest trashed & an opened up habitat for more invasive plants to enter and breaking up the native bird habitats) link:
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/hawaii/newsroom/the-nature-conservancy-in-hawaii-kpuka-mosaic-provides-stepping-stones.xml
3. the upper elevations have different plants that do well, so if you have your heart set on growing particular plants, make sure that they will do OK at that elevation....
RE: Fern Forest Farming - missydog1 - 05-16-2012
PS. If you want to learn lots more about growing stuff here, go to the Gardening forum instead of Punatalk (see tree of forums above). This is the right forum for talking about the general move, but the real conversations between gardeners are mostly over there.
RE: Fern Forest Farming - PaulW - 05-16-2012
Some of these people are in Fern Forest:
http://sensiblesimplicity.lefora.com/forum/category/sustainable-living/
RE: Fern Forest Farming - nana valley - 05-16-2012
Heed Daniel's suggestion: R E N T ! ! ! ! first before buying. Get to know the local farmers and join the Big Island Self Sufficiency Yahoo group. They can help you with great information.
RE: Fern Forest Farming - Futureresident - 05-17-2012
Thanks so much to everyone!! I really appreciate everyone's knowledge and suggestions!
It looks like it would probably be a better idea to lower the acreage we are looking for to 1 acre (to afford it) and go with somewhere that is older with better soil.
I agree with the people in Volcano about ripping. It was something that I absolutely hated the idea of and would have only cleared a small area for a home, however looking in other areas will hopefully offer additional options.
I will definitely join those other forums too. I've been searching through this and the sensible simplicity one for the last month or so trying to find answers without posting another redundant thread but ended up with questions I couldn't answer. I hadn't found the Yahoo group so I'll look that one up!!
Another question or two... how common is it for people in Puna (as a whole) to be completely off-grid? I know there has been a bit of controversy over some of the geothermal- provided grid power (mainly that the PGV is operating irresponsibly) and I would like to avoid feeding into that if possible. However, it doesn't seem like there is enough wind or sun to go that route so I assume people there use alternatives (gasifiers, biodiesel, small geothermal, etc..). Any thoughts appreciated!
Another thing I've been wondering about.. with all the rain I assume dirt and gravel roads would get quite muddy and require a 4X4, however, I've also thought maybe the lava rock would be porous enough to absorb the moisture and avoid large mud buildup..
Thanks again to everyone for your time!!
RE: Fern Forest Farming - dayna - 05-17-2012
We have 3 acres in fern forest vacation estates, closer to Volcano than down the hill. We are at 2800 feet. Our neck of the woods is quite tame. We bought before we moved. In fact we wont' be there till the 29th of this month. We're not sure that's where we are going to live short term (the commute to work will hurt) but long term we know that's where we'll be.
We have some areas with 6 inch soil but not much, so most of our planting we did was building up.
I plan on growing a lot of our own food as well. One thing the winery did uphill from us was put holes into the lava creating "pots" for the plants to grow in. It's something I'm lookin into for growing.
Dayna
www.JasonAndBlue.com
My artwork