Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos - Gardening (house, landscaping, transfer)

[Helzie]

Hello,

We will be moving shortly to a house on a lava flow. It already has a sprinkler system installed. I would like to attempt to grow my own food so I was wondering if anyone could help me on local places for getting free/cheap soil or compost (plan on doing my own as well) and what types of things other people have grown and some tips. I have farmed organically in Minnesota, so am not completely in the dark, but the land and dryness might be a challenge.

Thank you

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I suggest talking with the people at the nursery in Ocean View. They've been helpful to us in the past. Also, there's a lady in Ocean View who is something akin to a master gardener -- she's been written up in the Ka'u Calendar.

Gardening in the Ranchos is WAY different from Minnesota. Some stuff grows really well in lava, but you also have the wind and the bugs to deal with. My husband and I joke about driving up the Hamakua coast and loading up the pick-up with all that nice dirt we see there.

[hotzcatz]

I tried giving dirt away and they said it was too far to drive from Ocean View! Oh wellos!

Several of the transfer stations give away mulch. You can let that sit in a big pile and it will become compost fast enough. Pile up any green or brown stuff you can find and it will become compost pretty quick. See if you can find mac nut husks, those are great for compost.

A lot of stuff will grow in pure cinder if it has a water source occasionally. Papaya might work, especially if you have some drip irrigation nearby. Passionfruit is another grows well in cinder sort of thing. Also citrus trees, if you have the irrigation already.

[Alohikea]

I know people that can grow plumerias right in the volcanic rock-well maybe a bucket with lava rocks inside but they still grow. Although not an edible, a Hawaiian garden without a plumeria isn't a true garden. JMHO-I love plumies and grow gads of them here in Wa state.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Hotcatz, we were thinking of starting a compost pile, but are afraid of attracting rats. My brother said he already saw one rat hanging out in our ground cover. YUCK. Do you have your compost pile in a container?

p.s., do you still have dirt to give away?

[Vaedrem]

I live in Ocean view and I've never seen rats around my compost pile. You can even sprinkle some cinder on top of it to make sure everything is properly buried and not attracting any animals. Unfortunately, I have no idea about free mulch or compost or soil. 'We' made ours slowly over many years to have the good raised beds we do now. Papayas, avocados, and citrus are good ideas. We have consistent good luck with growing tomatoes, green beans, leafy greens, and turnips but we are in the northern part of HOVE. Plumeria, agave, aloe, and cactus will grow directly in the lava, and are good for landscaping.

[hotzcatz]

If you make your compost pile out of yard waste, it won't attract rats. Compost the food waste in a rat proof bin until it has broken down enough that rats won't be attracted to it and then put that in with the rest of the compost. Or just get a cat or two, they like rats.

I just put yard rubbish into a big pile and let it become dirt without a lot of effort on my part. Many folks work harder at making compost.

PM me to ask about extra dirt, Dreaming of Hawaii.