HiloJulie - At any event, you have proven to me that you’re the epitome of living a carbon zero lifestyle, except for the times you don’t. But then that’s OK, because it’s you.
And again, all you contribute is to try and put words in someone's mouth and then attack the little strawman you made as if this means anything. Seems like a sad, silly way to engage with the world, but you do you.
I don't live a "carbon zero" lifestyle and never claimed to. Almost no one in the world can actually do so, but there are enormous differences between an average Kenyan's <0.1ton CO2 annual emission lifestyle and an average American's ~15ton CO2 annual emission lifestyle. This constant resorting to black & white, all or nothing, self-serving equivocations is just more mental gymnastics to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths. But when even uncontacted tribes in the Amazon are crossing paths with loggers in the area, it should be clear that the reality of climate change isn't going to leave anyone untouched.
Much of this thread is just me repeating what science has been saying for 50+ years and, with others, noting that one can lead a simple and fulfilling, yet low-carbon lifestyle, especially here in Puna. Much of the other back and forth appears just to be histrionics - maybe take up a hobby? find community? give your new life some purpose other than attention seeking on PW?
HOTPE - It’s a long story, but here are a few details along the way:...
Thanks for the backstory and details! Are the ponds used for tilapia or other aquaculture? Curious as to how that nutrient source is being regenerated. Also, curious if you stick to a 2 or 3 season cycle or just kinda year round staggering as things grow.
For raised beds, what we've settled out on is after the initial buildout, the next raised bed is made from prying up the lava rock in the area to gain some depth, then use those rocks to ring the bed for height, and then use that space as the compost area to generate the soil via the "lasagna" method. So the bed gets the alternate brown/green layers via branches, paperboard, veggie scraps, egg shells, yard wastes, goat poop, etc for whatever time it takes to fill, and then lightly top with some soil/cinders as desired, a cover crop (more on that in a sec), and some paperboard with grass clippings for mulch and then start the next bed to repeat the process.
Has worked well for us even with thin soils to keep expanding using local sustainable materials at little to no cost and by spreading the effort out over time. While the wheelbarrow workout keeps one from needing a gym membership, treating it as a marathon rather than a sprint is far preferable IMHO!
kalianna - Now youʻre talking my language.
Lots of good stuff there - the powdered milk was new to me. In looking into it, are you using mostly as an soil amendment or to address issues like mildew or blossom end rot?
I'll admit I'm not as caring towards the garden plants are you clearly are. More of a tough love, select for those plants that take to the environment with no special inputs or care. Want those scrappy & feral genetics that tolerate swings in temperature and rainfall (as is becoming more common), and will reseed themselves, invade other beds, try to escape the garden, etc... Doesn't always give the best yields but does help find some strains that are pretty resilient and self sufficient (Kales that last multiple years, bell peppers that reseed and hold their own against bugs & weeds, etc).
The one Hawaii-specific trick we had to learn is planting Kai Choi/Mustard Cabbage as a companion plant or a cover plant to make green mulch to help with nematode control. Not sure if it's acting as a sacrifice plant or chemical deterrent but it definitely helps and seems better suited to our neck of the woods than marigolds. Plus who doesn't love a never ending supply of highly spicy leafy greens, or heavily boiled green mush? (yes, I know it can be made into a beloved local rice garnish, and added to soups, and such - just never found a form of Kai Choi I couldn't say no to :)
Gardening is such a fascinating activity that can be done in a low-to-no carbon manner and improves the health and well-being of oneself, the land on which one lives, and the community in which one participates. Thanks again for sharing what's working for you all!
And again, all you contribute is to try and put words in someone's mouth and then attack the little strawman you made as if this means anything. Seems like a sad, silly way to engage with the world, but you do you.
I don't live a "carbon zero" lifestyle and never claimed to. Almost no one in the world can actually do so, but there are enormous differences between an average Kenyan's <0.1ton CO2 annual emission lifestyle and an average American's ~15ton CO2 annual emission lifestyle. This constant resorting to black & white, all or nothing, self-serving equivocations is just more mental gymnastics to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths. But when even uncontacted tribes in the Amazon are crossing paths with loggers in the area, it should be clear that the reality of climate change isn't going to leave anyone untouched.
Much of this thread is just me repeating what science has been saying for 50+ years and, with others, noting that one can lead a simple and fulfilling, yet low-carbon lifestyle, especially here in Puna. Much of the other back and forth appears just to be histrionics - maybe take up a hobby? find community? give your new life some purpose other than attention seeking on PW?
HOTPE - It’s a long story, but here are a few details along the way:...
Thanks for the backstory and details! Are the ponds used for tilapia or other aquaculture? Curious as to how that nutrient source is being regenerated. Also, curious if you stick to a 2 or 3 season cycle or just kinda year round staggering as things grow.
For raised beds, what we've settled out on is after the initial buildout, the next raised bed is made from prying up the lava rock in the area to gain some depth, then use those rocks to ring the bed for height, and then use that space as the compost area to generate the soil via the "lasagna" method. So the bed gets the alternate brown/green layers via branches, paperboard, veggie scraps, egg shells, yard wastes, goat poop, etc for whatever time it takes to fill, and then lightly top with some soil/cinders as desired, a cover crop (more on that in a sec), and some paperboard with grass clippings for mulch and then start the next bed to repeat the process.
Has worked well for us even with thin soils to keep expanding using local sustainable materials at little to no cost and by spreading the effort out over time. While the wheelbarrow workout keeps one from needing a gym membership, treating it as a marathon rather than a sprint is far preferable IMHO!
kalianna - Now youʻre talking my language.
Lots of good stuff there - the powdered milk was new to me. In looking into it, are you using mostly as an soil amendment or to address issues like mildew or blossom end rot?
I'll admit I'm not as caring towards the garden plants are you clearly are. More of a tough love, select for those plants that take to the environment with no special inputs or care. Want those scrappy & feral genetics that tolerate swings in temperature and rainfall (as is becoming more common), and will reseed themselves, invade other beds, try to escape the garden, etc... Doesn't always give the best yields but does help find some strains that are pretty resilient and self sufficient (Kales that last multiple years, bell peppers that reseed and hold their own against bugs & weeds, etc).
The one Hawaii-specific trick we had to learn is planting Kai Choi/Mustard Cabbage as a companion plant or a cover plant to make green mulch to help with nematode control. Not sure if it's acting as a sacrifice plant or chemical deterrent but it definitely helps and seems better suited to our neck of the woods than marigolds. Plus who doesn't love a never ending supply of highly spicy leafy greens, or heavily boiled green mush? (yes, I know it can be made into a beloved local rice garnish, and added to soups, and such - just never found a form of Kai Choi I couldn't say no to :)
Gardening is such a fascinating activity that can be done in a low-to-no carbon manner and improves the health and well-being of oneself, the land on which one lives, and the community in which one participates. Thanks again for sharing what's working for you all!