don duncan

Su Ba: Are you getting much fallout? I lived in Oceanview Estates once and heard the weather changed after I moved to the mainland in '82. Are they getting enough rain? Is the air polluted by ash?

Joel Salatin explains why the best pasture is a broad mix of plants (1-3 dozen). He calls it a "salad bar". This mix is found in an ancient pasture where the ground is grazed as it would have been pre-humanity. All we have to do is observe, record, and learn.

Paul: I got my fist passport in 1966. My freedom is my most precious value, after my life. If I have to "buy" it by paying a fee, or a tax, or hand over my wallet to a common thief, I will. I don't like it and if I could find a way to avoid it, I would. Yes, I admit it. I would shamelessly be a "passport evader", "tax evader", or "robbery evader" or "driver's license evader". But these immoral invasions on my rights I submit to, rather than be imprisoned or killed. This is the world we live in, the majority's choice, not mine. It's possible to live well in this unfree world, with integrity, and hope for change, which I fight for, as a proud voluntarist.

I lived on the big island in 1982 for 3 months. I was granted free access to a one room tree house surrounded forest & large jagged lava. I had no running water or toilet but I had a sink, a propane stove, a big bed, and a small balcony which led up to the roof via a rope latter. It was like living in a boat cabin with french doors & windows overlooking the trees/boulders. On the roof was a trampoline (if you were suicidal or a daredevil). I found some pvc pipe and plumbed it so I could catch rainwater/pump it to my sink from the 55 gallon drums underneath the house. I put up (necessary) mosquito netting around the bed and later covered the open window to keep out the wasps/bees/flying insects. This was in Ocean View Estates where 1 acre lots could be purchased cheap, depending on the terrain.

I left because I was financially ambitious and I didn't know how to make a living there. I was a professional poker player so I returned to Las Vegas. But if you farm wisely you could sell produce and survive.

You should live there for a minimum of ONE year before deciding. Don't commit until then or later. Most of O.V.E. one acre lots (blacktop road/electric) are undeveloped, changing hands for about a half century. Why? Go find out. It's not for everybody, e.g., no seasons, no well water (all catchment). Don't let a dream cause you to make a big mistake, dreams change when confronted with reality.  

Sam: Do you have a signed rental contract/option to purchase? Why else would you put so much time/labor into the land? Alfalfa is a good soil builder if you use "chop/drop". Read: "The One Straw Revolution" or "The Natural Way of Gardening" by Masanobu Fukuoka.

Most important: Will your ground/area support your forest plan? You need to know before you waste time/money. If so, you can't start soon enough (yesterday?). It's the 2nd most sound investment. Is there an aquifer the trees can reach? Ask locals. Look for trees. But know for sure, before hand. I "think" that's all you need. You wouldn't even need that if you had a good well, lived there, and had the energy to build up an artificial support infrastructure. See: Shamus O'Leary's (or Jake Mace's) permaculture forest in Phoenix. Call them for advice, seeds, and saplings.  

Notice I said "energy" not money. It doesn't take a lot of money if you use your imagination. The Groasis Waterboxx can be copied legally (but not sold) for a tenth of the cost. Walls (wind abatement, thermal mass, humidity control) can be built as high as you want (15'?) using adobe (rammed earth). The material is free, the labor is manual & mental. You need to study first, a lot. You can never prepare too much. And the more you study, the richer you become. No one can tax or steal that kind of wealth. And you can take it with you anywhere in the world.