My son in Puna uses a raised bed made with 16" by 8" by 8" concrete construction tiles and a mix of one part potting soil to one part cinders. He also amends it with the tree debris from his chopper. Home depot has the potting soil in large bags and the mix drains well and grows just about anything.

Aloha Puna Nancy,

The Hilo landfill has tons (literally) of chipped green waste available for folks who want to use it in their gardens. It may have weed seeds and cocqui frogs in it, however, so it might be best to put it in black plastic garbage bags and let it sit in the sun for several weeks to "cook" the unwanted seeds and frogs. That will also help the composting action.

It could either be composted into dirt, used as mulch or used as an underlayer to whatever topsoil you buy. I don't think they charge for it, so it should be within your budget.

A hui hou,
Cathy

Thanks Cindy....guess what? We went to the Hilo landfill to take a look and you are right..we will start getting that compost and making raised beds with it and I think I can grow right in it.