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Thank you all for your responses . Really this is so helpful. I did consider lots with soil but for the price of the land and the exquisite location it can't be beat. Even after ripping and amending its still a better value than other places in Hawaii. We were not just looking for low priced land but also the fantastic Communitee of like minded people who love the aina and care about our future . We also don't want to be to close to the city so the location is perfect. We have been farming/homesteading on Molokai for 5 years and love it but each place has its challenges. For us the chemical spray all over the homesteads became difficult to live with because you have to drive through it , eat it ( in the dust) , breath it in massive dust storms constantly from all the monsanto tilling, be covered In the chemical spray that blows all over our homes and school and of coarse last it's contaminated most of the soil on or near homesteads. It has been affecting my children's health so we are forced to move. Sadly many people from Molokai are getting sick but it's never on the news or really made pubic? I have been to Hilo and considered all the challenges ahead of us but with a cheerful and greatfull attitude because it really is paradise. The cost of the ripping and Amendment plus bringing in soil still doesn't sound to bad as long as we pase ourselves.
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to bulldoze half your lot, it will cost 10K. hopefully you get an excellent operator and don't have to do it all over again (happens all the time)
to fence your lot, you are looking at 20K.
to bring in gravel and dirt, it will cost another 5-15K.
I would budget 40K -50K to get all that done, plus the cost of the lot itself.
you will spend a lot of time coordinating all of this stuff to happen. likely at least a year before it's all said and done. i would call that at least $10K worth of your own time.
plus you could run into obstacles - nothing is easy. it likely won't turn out as your envisioning.
plus there are many lots for sale that are already in this condition.
I would seriously look at pre-dozed lots and/or pasture land. there are MANY places that are not in town. orchidland, hawaiian acres, fern acres, kopua farm lots, eden roc, fern forest. north glenwood road, north kulani road, kurtistown. plus every little nook and cranny in between.
look at zillow, best map based real estate tool out there.
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I know it may not come out exsactly how we plan but that's life. I'm ok with changing our plans and utilize the land the best way we can. This forum is awesome and am looking at other option for how we will farm it . Still super excited #128512; but I'm always excited about farming .
Theresa
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i so agree with bluesy.. look for lots that were ripped in the past. they come up all the time. and it puts you way ahead of the game. it doesnt matter if there is a lot of junk jungle growth, come up (as long as not albezia ) you will still be far ahead.
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to bulldoze half your lot, it will cost 10K.
Plus permits!
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If I were you I would look for a lot that has already been ripped. They come up for sale all the time and IF they are more expensive than unripped lots, its not by much (many buyers do not want a ripped lot full of invasives). Many of these lots can grow pasture grass without bringing soil in. The forest that was bulldozed to death will have already mulched away and added some nutrients to the ground. Goats will eat the weeds and trees down and help to make "soil" that grows grass for the sheep to eat. You'll need a lot of paddocks to do it right, both for maintaining the vegetation and breaking the parasite cycle. The worms and other parasites here are relentless on these small (for livestock) 3 acre lots. Even when its done right parasite control will be a big part of your lifestock expense and maintenance. Falling trees and limbs from neighbor lots and pigs will make fence maintenance a never ending chore. You'll want to raise your animals to come when called by offering a grain or other treat daily so when they get out of the fence you'll be able to get them back.
You can get free mulch from the Hilo dump. Even if its only one pickup load at a time when you are running other errands it can go a long way to making your own "soil".
Also remember that square lots require a lot less fencing (and therefore expense) than spaghetti lots, so don't let the initial purchase price be your only consideration.
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quote:
Originally posted by lquade
i have to agree with most responses here. people just hear a price for the dozing and don't factor in costs of hauling in dirt. you live on dirt, you haul in rock, you live on rock (HA) you haul in dirt. i just finished fencing my 3 acres and because of the spaghetti lots, even doing it yourself, fairly expensive. remember that is 90 posts each side! at 10-15 a post. renting the rock drill is 180 and each time we got maybe 30 posts, then the fencing. then the cost of the dr. and physical therapist (LOL), then the hurricane dropping trees from neighbors lots unto the new fence, etc. etc. can be done, just maybe start small see if it is what you want. if you really want pasture, it might be cheaper in the long run to buy pasture land. as far as lime, if you use cinder, plan on lime. and with our rain, i lime quite frequently anyway. bei or garden exchange would be your best bet for 50 pound bags.
Perhaps this is a dumb question...but why would you have to haul in rock if you only have dirt?
quote:
Originally posted by kalakoa
to bulldoze half your lot, it will cost 10K.
Plus permits!
What type of permits do you usually need and how much do they generally cost?
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why would you have to haul in rock if you only have dirt?
Dirt is soft and turns to mud when wet, so you need a thick base of rocks for driving or building.
What type of permits do you usually need and how much do they generally cost?
Grading/grubbing permits are technically required when clearing a acre or more (still an acre? might be less now). Sometimes people clear "a piece at a time" to avoid the requirement. Like all permits, this one is subject to "spot enforcement".
This is in addition to building and other permits.
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Yes. Gwiz
, with deep mud you can't function. I couldn't tell you how many times I helped Pam lamont pull her tractor or truck out of the mud tending to her animals and one time her cow up to its thighs in mud.
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Hawaiian acres is the only pure agricultural zoned subdividision . However ripping a lot with a D9 is costly and removes all Viable soil off the land . Also use UH pasture grasses like low bearing kukuya or pangola grass . Ripping just takes off years of any soil and reduces it to blue Rock . Better to hand clear and use mulches . Let them break down . We remove all weeds tiboceana kosters curse .
It's also the only conservation lots . Keep your fence lines off your neighbors property and don't alter any water ways . County is in big trouble violating conveyents and code and not surveying the road . Don't buy on 8 .
hapahaole
