Homestead Road

This amazing property is turn key. There is an AG building for water catchment and 20,000 gallons of water storage, with water going to each of the paddocks.

Approximately 45 acres of the 55.6-acre parcel was once in sugar cane and, when they purchased it in 2008, had been idle for more than 25 years, except for some parts planted to one 3-year cycle of papayas (in the 1990s). It was essentially abandoned agricultural land that had been severely degraded by both sugar and papaya. The property owners cleared large invasive non-native trees, including several albizia more than 6 feet in diameter. The trees were cut and felled, rather than grubbed, so as to leave root balls undisturbed in the soil. Tropical grasses and legumes responded well to the clearing and became widespread. In March 2010 a perimeter fence was completed around 45 acres for pasture.

In 2015, with a USDA/NRCS grant, the property owners were able to cross-fence into five paddocks so that they could begin rotational grazing. This regenerative management sequesters carbon; and, it has transformed the pasture into being much more productive and continues to do so; with pasture renovation and, in 2018, the 45 acres further divided into nine paddocks. In 2018 the farm was recognized as Outstanding Cooperator of the Year in the Puna Soil and Water Conservation District.

Outside of the fenced area there are about 8 acres with some native forest, large clumps of bamboo suitable for construction and (shoots) for eating, and remnants of an old commercial flower farm with marketable torch ginger and heliconia.
Scattered across part of the land with the pasture and forest, are about 20 mature avocado trees of seedling origin that were allowed to remain during clearing in 2008 and 2009. The pasture slopes from about 600 feet to 500 feet in elevation.