11-21-2005, 08:39 PM
The Big Island's Green Development Council would like people to consider these points when they buy raw land and begin to develop:
There's a rumor going around that
lava land is useless, that the only
way to "make use" of such land is
to bulldoze it flat and rip the rock
beneath it. As a result of this rumor,
Hawai'i Island's native ecosystem
is being lost at an alarming rate...
In fact, there are compelling arguments
for minimizing the changes you make to
the natural landscape, and we'd like you
to hear them.
#1: If it isn’t broke…don’t fix it.
Hawai'i's native ecosystem evolved over several millennia. In the process, hardy grasses, trees and shrubs that were well suited for the climate and soil conditions were selected. Trust Mother Nature. These plants will continue to grow well with a minimum of fuss and expense. Clearing your land of native foliage introduces a host of noxious weeds that may take years of hard labor and/or serious chemical treatments to get rid of.
#2: Creating a landscape “from scratch”
is more costly than you think
The high cost of bulldozing and ripping the land is just the beginning. The barren ground must
be covered with many truckloads of gravel or
cinder, and then, soil. These amendments are
expensive and can cause other costly problems.
Cinders can introduce ant colonies and soil may
be infested with millipedes. Establishing a new
landscape is an investment in plant materials, labor and fertilizers, and new plants may harbor
coqui frogs. In addition to taking on these risks
and expenses, destroying mature landscaping
diminishes the value of your property.
#3: There are many effective techniques
for adding plants to the existing land-
scape that do not require bulldozing.
Countless generations of people have farmed in Hawai'i without denuding the land. There are numerous less invasive, less costly, methods for enhancing the existing landscape. Composting green waste saves precious space in our land-fills and allows you to build soil. The county currently has ample stock of FREE mulch, as much as you want. Cracks and depressions in the lava can be used to establish roots and mounding soil around the base of plants ensures continued healthy growth.
#4: Hawai'i is blessed with abundance.
Many people come to Hawai'i and buy land
with the dream of growing exotic tropical
plants. Often, they make irreversible changes to the existing landscape in pursuit of this dream only to get tired of it later. Consider this: Hawai'i has an abundance of fruits and flowers and sharing this abundance is a special part of our island culture. Supporting the farmers' market is fun and, in the long run, you will probably come out ahead if you go there instead.
Chairman, Punaweb Committee, MSPA
There's a rumor going around that
lava land is useless, that the only
way to "make use" of such land is
to bulldoze it flat and rip the rock
beneath it. As a result of this rumor,
Hawai'i Island's native ecosystem
is being lost at an alarming rate...
In fact, there are compelling arguments
for minimizing the changes you make to
the natural landscape, and we'd like you
to hear them.
#1: If it isn’t broke…don’t fix it.
Hawai'i's native ecosystem evolved over several millennia. In the process, hardy grasses, trees and shrubs that were well suited for the climate and soil conditions were selected. Trust Mother Nature. These plants will continue to grow well with a minimum of fuss and expense. Clearing your land of native foliage introduces a host of noxious weeds that may take years of hard labor and/or serious chemical treatments to get rid of.
#2: Creating a landscape “from scratch”
is more costly than you think
The high cost of bulldozing and ripping the land is just the beginning. The barren ground must
be covered with many truckloads of gravel or
cinder, and then, soil. These amendments are
expensive and can cause other costly problems.
Cinders can introduce ant colonies and soil may
be infested with millipedes. Establishing a new
landscape is an investment in plant materials, labor and fertilizers, and new plants may harbor
coqui frogs. In addition to taking on these risks
and expenses, destroying mature landscaping
diminishes the value of your property.
#3: There are many effective techniques
for adding plants to the existing land-
scape that do not require bulldozing.
Countless generations of people have farmed in Hawai'i without denuding the land. There are numerous less invasive, less costly, methods for enhancing the existing landscape. Composting green waste saves precious space in our land-fills and allows you to build soil. The county currently has ample stock of FREE mulch, as much as you want. Cracks and depressions in the lava can be used to establish roots and mounding soil around the base of plants ensures continued healthy growth.
#4: Hawai'i is blessed with abundance.
Many people come to Hawai'i and buy land
with the dream of growing exotic tropical
plants. Often, they make irreversible changes to the existing landscape in pursuit of this dream only to get tired of it later. Consider this: Hawai'i has an abundance of fruits and flowers and sharing this abundance is a special part of our island culture. Supporting the farmers' market is fun and, in the long run, you will probably come out ahead if you go there instead.
Chairman, Punaweb Committee, MSPA
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator