RE: is pressure-treated lumber ok for building raised beds?
- Subject: RE: [cg] is pressure-treated lumber ok for building raised beds?
- From: "John Verin" j*@pennhort.org
- Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 15:44:20 -0400
- Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
- Thread-index: AcJdugANg+6qhcmIEdaKlQDgKSctRw==
- Thread-topic: [cg] is pressure-treated lumber ok for building raised beds?
Chromated Copper Arsenate is the stuff used to preserve wood. As you know copper turns green when exposed to the elements; thus you see people's decks, etc. with a green hue to them. This is the CCA leaching out of the wood. Arsenate... arsenic... comprendez-vous?
IMHO, not at all safe, especially for food growing. Not even safe to handle. Mike McGrath, when at OG magazine, was part of drawing attention to the hazards it posed children. Playground structures are often made of PT wood, and kids, who often touch their eyes or put hands in mouth were ingesting CCA.
EPA has put a ban on the retail sale of PT wood, I believe starting next year.
IMHO, couldn't pay me to use it.
I use untreated lumber for raised beds, coating it well all over with linseed oil at building time, and additional maintenance coats on the exposed sides each fall. This delays decomposition somewhat. However, when time comes, this wood can be composted.
Happy chemical-free gardening!
Paco John Verin
City Wide Coordinator - Philadelphia Green
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 North 20th Street, 5th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495
Phone: 215-988-8885; Fax 215-988-8810
http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: community_garden-admin@mallorn.com
> [c*@mallorn.com]On Behalf Of Caraway Seed
> Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 1:59 PM
> To: community_garden@mallorn.com
> Subject: [cg] is pressure-treated lumber ok for building raised beds?
>
>
>
> Hello everyone,
> My landlady has some pressure-treated lumber she said I could use for
> building raised beds, but she was worried that it might not
> be safe because
> of chemicals used in its manufacture. If anyone knows about
> the safety of
> using this lumber, I'd appreciate the information.
>
> Thank you,
> Caraway Seed
>
> P.S. Thanks everyone who gave me info. about community
> gardens in Olympia,
> WA and Missouri when I was trying to figure out where I was
> moving. I am
> now living in Olympia, where there are indeed a lot of
> interesting gardening
> things going on!
>
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______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
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