4000ft elelvation HOVE

[kelsoangel]

[] My husband and I found really cheap land covered in trees at 4000ft elevation in the HOVE. I was wondering what I can grow here. Thanks for the input! []

Namaste

[Carey]

That area & elevation is fairly dry, windy & cool. There is slim soil throughout HOVE, but if your lot has a good layer of loose cinder you can grow, and most likely should plan on some sort of irrigation for dry times.

ADDED: with irrigation (and lower VOG), low chill fruits & stone fruits, hardy leaf produce (spinach, Kale like things). Dry climate plants if no irrigation (Uhi - yam was the traditional cultivated plant at that elevation)

The reason I have mentioned irrigation is that the lack of water holding soils & the intermittent nature of precipitation in the HOVE area, along with the high wind profiles means you will not have a consistent soil moisture.

wether or not you have bought & even if you are still looking, AND planning to live on the lot, I would advise anyone that is residing in HOVE, esp upper elevation to view some of the Volcano Awareness Talks videos that HVO offers that cover the Mauna Loa eruptive phases. Why? because these are very fast, high volume flows and HOVE is right on the SW Rift zone.... The 1950 flow is one that you really should understand (fast onset, occurring late night, the rift ripped open over miles, and the outflow was productive & fast... Rift to ocean in under 3 hours... Be aware and prepared for this if you live that close to the SW rift.

Videos of the talks & eruptive events can be found here:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

And HVO Geologist Frank Trusdall is giving an excellent Volcano Talk tonight up at HVNP Visitors Center 7pm tonight, if you can make it.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Mauna Loa 1984 eruptive event that was headed to Hilo.

[Hotzcatz]

You've got a few things to consider when trying to grow things on that HOVE lot. Sheer elevation is one, a lot of things won't grow at higher elevations or if they do grow, they won't fruit. Vog is another, that side gets vog and that affects some plants more than others. Lack of water is a huge problem. HOVE gets, what, ten inches of rain a year? Lack of soil is usually a problem, too. It's hard to hold nutrients in lava rock.

Covered in trees? What sort of trees? Maybe you should grow trees?

Is this residential landscaping or are you planning some sort of commercial growing operation? If it's a commercial operation, then proximity to markets and or processing areas might be something to look into.

What are the neighbors growing?

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"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson

[Cagary]

quote:

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Originally posted by kelsoangel

[] My husband and I found really cheap land covered in trees at 4000ft elevation in the HOVE. I was wondering what I can grow here. Thanks for the input! []

Namaste

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Not to be too snarky, but there is probably a very good reason why the land is so cheap. BEWARE.

-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".

[kelsoangel]

We are thinking that a much lower elevation will be better, we live by Mount St. Helens and Johnsons ridge observatory is at that elevation so probably not my smartest idea! Thank for the input! :-D

Namaste

[oink]

On the other hand the upper elevations of HOVE can have fantastic, if stark, views and the night sky can be beyond belief. I would like a lot for camper parking. I don't think I would want to permanently reside there. I would like a lot at the very top bordering Fed land.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[kaialoha]

Aloha,

What a GREAT idea, oink!! It's a fairly obvious idea, BUT, until I read your post, I never thought it!!!

On clear nights the stars MUST BE INCREDIBLE ~ ~ ~

Maybe I'll pick up a 'lot' and set it up for an all-nighter ~ ~ ~

~ Aloha ~

~ NAMASKARAM ~

KaneHawai'i

[DanielP]

The price of land is the worst place to save money on the cost of your residence.

[Derrick Barnicoat]

I don't know how mature the trees are but if they have been around dropping sticks and leaves, for a decent amount of time, there could be at least some nutrient rich soil. Often trees mean more soil but even if there isn't allot, trees can provide good soil.

[PaulW]

Wouldn't the vog block out the stars?