Work trade for stay in the Puna area?

[BKLZ]

Hello everyone, This is my first post here at Punaweb.
I plan on moving out to the Big Island at some point in October and am curious if anyone knows of any work trade opportunities in the area.
I plan on buying a lot after finding my way around the island for a while and am especially interested in learning all that I can about whatever fruit, veggies, herbs, trees are being grown in the area. As I am very low on funds, It might help me to work trade for a few months while I find my way around and meet like-minded people. I have never been to the Big Island, however I am not new to the Hawaiian islands I lived all over Maui for a while, town and country. I was the caretaker of a couple of properties, worked carpentry, landscaping/labour, gardening, tile setting, etc. I'm really looking forward to having a small lot of land of my own to cultivate and might even pursue small scale 'commercial' farming as well.
So, my budget found the Puna area for me, and as it happens, it seems as though it will barely be a compromise. Even if I struggle for a while, at least Ill be struggling on a good diet. I'm looking for a place to live from the end of October until I either buy a lot or settle in to a job in town somewhere. So if anyone knows of any situations.. I would even consider trading some landscape work in trade for a shack or ohana somewhere. I am open to anything. I would really like to get involved with gardening/farming groups and individuals, legitimate knowledgeable people to learn from, etc. Might be jumping the gun, but putting it out there.
Cheers! JB
Another quick question... Will coconuts grow at 1500ft?
Thanks You will probably be hearing from me again eventually.

[Laughing_girl]

Try craigslist to post an ad. Check out the other work trade ads there.

Or try workaway.info

or wwoof.org

[unknownjulie]

Make sure you read about the "ratlung" stuff prior to arriving and make you sure you thoroughly wash or cook all produce. GL

[bananahead]

there are dozens of eco-villages in Puna area that employ hundreds of wwoofers daily (willing workers on organic farm)
where you can do work trade for a place to stay (thus will be your job), or you can pay rent by the day week for as little as $25/week.... and you will qualify to get EBT of $320/month towards food
ask around at the Island Naturals picnic benches in Pahoa, make your way down to the Kehena Beach Drum Circle on a Sunday afternoon, or go to SPACE Market in Seaview on a Sat morning and ask around for contact info. as many at these places will be wwoofers.... some of the better/cheaper known ones are Cinderland, BellyAcres, Sumland, the Shire, Garden Temple, Wittsend, etc. but there are many many more villages too.
Lower Puna is the wwoofer capital of the world

aloha

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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[bananahead]

the higher/wetter you go the less coconuts will grow, at 1200' they seem to take 4X longer to grow and will die often from rain and Ive never really seen a good nut on a tree above 1200' ..... a place near the shore you will get nuts as soon as 5-7 years old and they grow fast. they like it dry, salty, and sandy, unlike any place above 1500' in Puna.

I do have about 20 coconut trees on my property in Hawaiian Acres (1200'), but they havent even got off the ground yet in 6 years now and some still have the seed attached at bottom still... while my mothers at 100' elevation in HPP are 10'+ tall with big full size trunks in these same 6 years....

******************************************************************
save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[unknownjulie]

EBT cards are "foodstamps" and I dont think this should be part of anyone's "plan" for moving here. Have some money saved up, and work at being self sufficient.

[David M]

I agree Julie
Have a neighbor who has had wwoofers for years, takes very good care of them, even providing a car solely for their use. This past year or so the wwoofers that had been to Puna prior to his place, showed up with an EBT card and were quick to educate others. Last we talked, he and other neighbors were no longer pleased and investigating other sources.

ETA: Lest anyone misread to assume I am against, EBT, welfare, etc as an emergency, safety net type, definitely NOT the case. That said, I am totally against use of these programs as part of lifestyle choices.

David

Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com

[Rene Siracusa]

I'm at 1200 also (Ka'ohe Homesteads) and have had the same experience as bananahead. Slow growth, no production. So coconuts are one of the things I trade for. That's why the ahupua'a system worked/s so well.

[unknownjulie]

I havent even had a lot of luck with samoan coconuts in upper Orchidland. They sprout, but they are s-l-o-w.