12-21-2014, 05:43 AM
Orchidland has no soil, other than a few inches of pig mud, but that doesn't mean you can't grow your on food. Our lot was ripped by a previous owner who started a guava farm. (Ripped meaning the first layer of lava is ripped up and the land re-flattened by a bulldozer so tree roots have some place to go and search for nutrients). I don't know how much it costs to rip and roll 3 acres but last figure I heard was around 10k. It's great for growing trees and grasses/weeds for the livestock. We made raised beds for growing vegetables etc however the pestilence here was insurmountable for us, so we trade for or buy many of our vegetables. I have had good luck growing vegetables in containers inside a screened area and plan to expand on that some day. If you are considering any agricultural operation, plan on your land being infested with little fire ants. Even if your lot doesn't have them now, eventually you will.