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Re: Raised beds

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

In this era of pseudo-science (often funded by the very people who will
benefit from such *new* fear-allaying findings), I wouldn't trust any such
findings unless I was REALLY sure where it came from, how the study was
done, etc. -- all of which is (to me) really more trouble than it's worth.
Because frankly, it doesn't make sense to me that treated wood WOULDN'T
leach into the soil. How much? Who knows -- but if you're doing organic,
and/or if you care about what you're eating, or the soil itself and the
various creatures in and aound it, seems to me you'd rather be safe than
sorry. Or, I should say that's MY preference.

I myself would have loved cedar but instead I am using plain old salvage
wood -- that is, FREE!!!  -- which my son got for me from a local glass
company. The frames were put together rather quickly (read: a little
slapdash), but look fine to me, especially once something is growing in
them. The width of the boards (about 8") is sufficient for most of the beds
and in fact, I had my in-house *carpenter* cut some 8" wide boards in half
lengthwise for 4" high beds for some strawberry beds. (I might try the
linseed oil and turpentine, depending on the cost, for later ones.) The one
downside to this free salvage wood is that you have to pull nails out or saw
ends off -- and that takes a little time and effort. I figure that these
beds will last at least a year or two at least and can be fairly easily, and
cheaply, replaced if I go the same route, or maybe by then I'll be more
willing and able to spring for cedar or redwood.

Patricia
Zone 7b, West Georgia

At 10:34 AM 7/17/99 EDT, you wrote:
>Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
>  When it comes to what kind of wood to use for raised beds, I read in 
>organic circles that I definitely should not use treated wood.  Yet, my ag 
>agents say that recent studies prove the chemicals do not move out of the 
>wood and so there is no reason NOT to use treated wood.  So ... who do I 
>believe?  How long will UNtreated wood last in the garden?  Also, I read  in 
>an og book about using untreated wood and painting it with a mixture of 
>linseed oil (or varnish) and turpentine ( or mineral spirits).  Has anyone 
>done this and, if so, was it worth the trouble?   I've checked into some of 
>the recycled plastic 'lumber' and it's too expensive.  If I use cinder 
>blocks, do I stack them two high?  Must they be mortared together?  Do they 
>eventually get dirty enough so they match the landscape better (I don't want 
>the stark white contrast against our red clay soil!)  It's soon to be fall 
>and I need to be getting my beds fixed and . . .what is it they say. . .  So 
>many questions and so little time!
>
>Thanks for any advice
>Mamie
>
>
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