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Re: Enclosing raised beds

I did hear about the USDA trials of pressure treated wood in Georgia. They
concluded that the substances in pressure treated lumber were so tightly
bound to the wood that they did not enter the soil. Still, my reasons for
growing vegetables do not include research into toxicity. Its hard to get
good data on preservatives. Generally the trials are not conducted by people
who eat the vegetables growing near the boards.

I just use scrap lumber boards and figure, "Oh, well, they'll rot." Some
people buy cedar or redwood, though these woods have natural substances that
inhibit decay (and perhaps plant growth).

I use metal electrical conduit (real cheap) cut into 2' lengths as "nails"
driven into the earth around the perimeter of the boards. They hold the beds
together really well.

If I didn't have such poor drainage on this site I don't think I'd bother to
build them. They are a pain to weed. I'm using a couple of small raised beds
under plastic cloches for early spring lettuce. In the balance of the 1/4
acre garden I remake the raised beds with a tiller annually.
 
Eric 



At 02:06 PM 5/13/97 EST, you wrote:
>OK,  I know this topic has been bandied about before... but I keep 
>coming across differing opinions in gardening books.
>
>The topic:   to use or not to use PT lumber to enclose raised beds
>
>Also:    	 to use or not to use old railroad ties to enclose raised 
>                    beds
>
>I received a new gardening book for Mother's Day (Jeff Ball's 60 
>Minute Vegetalbe Garden) and it reiterates the use of PT and ties for 
>this.
>
>I'm not an OG fanatic, but I am a bit concerned about statments such 
>as "PT and ties leach arsenic into the soil".  Ther are some old 
>(really old) ties on our property (left by previous owners) being 
>used as a knee high retaining wall in which ants abound.  My husband 
>pointed out "That arsenic dosen't seem to be bothering those ants."
>
>Right now, my raised bed is not enclosed (just sloped sides), but I 
>would like to set up a permanent raised bed system in coming years.
>
>So what's the dirt (pun intended) : )  on this topic....anyone??
>
>
>Mary Ellen Broome
>LAN/Database Manager
>Development Services
>Berry College
>Rome, Georgia
>
>
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