Support Local 2.? Just do eat.

[Space Karen]

and good luck getting planning permission to build condensation towers up there

People in africa and around the world use condensation towers to generate water in arid conditions. (even in star wars bruh)

Its a known and proven technology.

I don't know why it would be a big deal. If people want water in arid regions, there are available methods.

Why fuss over it.

I won't fuss about it, but I think you'll find a lot of other people aren't too happy about building stuff on the mountain. It's a big deal to them.

Its a big deal to them.

I couldn't care less.

If people of hawaii want to pursue food independence and sustainability. It makes sense to cultivate cold weather crops in the cold climate. Its a no brainer.

But if people don't want it. That's cool.

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Re: potatoes

When I was taking ag classes at UHH (a long, long time ago), I remember reading about how the potato fields of Ka'u supplied most of the American military in the South Pacific during WWII.  Just as the sugar cane yields were very high in Hawaii in comparison to other growing areas, the rich soil and mild climate allowed for high production and several crops per year.  But then after a rainy period just after the war ended, a fungus ( a phytophthora if memory serves ) turned everything into a rotten mess.  Because there's no freezing temperatures to kill off the fungus, and at that time there were no suitable fungicides, the crop was abandoned after several attempts to replant.  ( I tried a quick google search to find more detail, but was unsuccessful.  I do remember the info was in several pieces in the yearly Territorial statistic documents in the Special Collections Vault at the UHH library. )

To SpaceKaren: in an earlier post, you said you had planted potatoes in containers using potting soil.  Just out of curiosity, how much did they end up costing per pound after factoring in the cost of the pots and soil?

I took 2 small slices from a potato bought at target. Let the cut portions crust over and dry out for a few days. Which some say helps protect against fungal infection. Planted in the top part of a 2 gallon container. No compost. Grass clippings from the lawn mower covering the top, to make it harder for weed spores & seeds to reach soil and grow. So there is less need to be constantly pulling weeds.

Planted april 22, 2022. Harvested july 26, 2022 when vegetation was declining, to see if anything grew in there.

Yielded between 1 to 2 pounds of small potatos. Undersize potatos maybe half of normal size.

Just to see how well potatos grow here with a minimal effort.