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Well after reading this thread I'm still gonna look at Fern Forest, but now I got my eyes on smaller lots at lower elevations.
Gonna check out 12,000 sq/ft in Green Sand (South Point). Yeah I know, find out about the VOG situation there. A couple online comments indicated it's in a little favorable area where sea breezes keep the VOG away. We shall see. You guys in lower Puna deal with VOG often? How about up at Fern Forest? I mean Fern Forest is CLOSE to the crater.
Thinking, really thinking, about getting a pair of adjoining lots in Nanawale (that'd be 16,000 sq/ft at 115 x 126 feet, I think).
I have this image in my head of one of these smaller lots surrounded by 8' chain link fencing, with Passionfruit filling in the whole fence.
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quote:
Originally posted by dobanion
...I'm leaning towards the uplands in Fern Forest, seeing as how I like being "out there" and wanting to build a small cabin instead of a 1000+ sq ft up to code house.
Thanks for any feedback.
My feedback is simply based upon your intent/desire to circumvent building codes. There are too many of those already in Puna.
Nanawale has been actively going after illegal structures for the last year or so, with success.
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there are so many "subdivions" in puna with larger lots and/or acreage that i would consider before moving down south (IMO). there's definitely a serious drought situation in those parts.
vog in fern forest: a rarity given the proximity to the plume. it all depends on which way the winds are blowing. lava zone 3.
i've found that clarkhawaii.com is the most user friendly site when researching properties/real estate. again, imo.
"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
w. james
"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
w. james
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Yes IF we went Nanawale, we were planning on going the permit route. Hopefully not if we go Fern Forest.
Anyone grow tropical corn/maize, or winged beans? Maybe the two together (beans vining up the corn)?
I'm kinda zooming in on high elevation forest farming, a lot like the guy from "sensible sustainability," I think his name is Jay. The crops would be:
Sweet potatoes (just ate some purples from Kauai, wife and I loved em)
Taro, upland style
Taro, wetland style (if I make a pond). I do like poi.
Tropical maize planted with winged beans
Bananas
Plantains
Papaya
Avacado
Guava. Maybe it will fruit, maybe not.
Pineapple
Oranges (haven't picked a variety yet)
The previously mentioned Apple that works.
I'll plant the highest altitude breadfruit variety I can find, and hope for the best.
If I got one of the small lots, I'm thinking I'll have to clear it completely and use every spot of it. With 3 acres in Fern Forest, I can just clear out garden spaces here and there, and leave most of the trees alone (except Albizia, which has gotta come down).
Jay Fitz, yes. He used to post here more often. He's super ingenious, highly intelligent, hard-working, can't say enough praise for Jay (I've met him). The only thing to know before setting out to emulate Jay is that he can work harder and longer and dirtier than most guys you will ever meet. If I could get 10% done in my day of what Jay gets done, I would be happy. As for hiring any help on this island, I've never seen anyone with Jay's work ethic, truly. By which I mean, maybe you will be a one man wonder and tame the land yourself, but it can be hard to get good help here.
Punaweb is a great resource for sharing names of people who do good work.