Comments on: Appropriate Materials for Building Raised Beds http://www.raisedbedgardeningtips.com Fri, 20 May 2011 19:30:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: lars http://www.raisedbedgardeningtips.com/appropriate-materials-for-building-raised-beds/comment-page-1#comment-43 lars Tue, 04 May 2010 11:51:52 +0000 http://raisedbedgardeningtips.com/?page_id=37#comment-43 @Lorraine, Yes, I agree with you in theory. My parents also grew a vegetable garden with railroad ties for many years with no ill effects. But in general, if you are starting your garden and you have a choice of materials, it's easier to just avoid railroad ties rather than trying to figure out if they are old or new. So that's why I recommend not using them at all. @Lorraine,

Yes, I agree with you in theory. My parents also grew a vegetable garden with railroad ties for many years with no ill effects.

But in general, if you are starting your garden and you have a choice of materials, it’s easier to just avoid railroad ties rather than trying to figure out if they are old or new. So that’s why I recommend not using them at all.

]]> By: Lorraine http://www.raisedbedgardeningtips.com/appropriate-materials-for-building-raised-beds/comment-page-1#comment-42 Lorraine Sat, 01 May 2010 17:47:42 +0000 http://raisedbedgardeningtips.com/?page_id=37#comment-42 I had 16 raised vegetable bed on my farm in southern Indiana---all made of used cross ties. All the veggies grew fine, and nobody got sick. I think the key is OLD, not new. The basic bed used 5 ties (one cut in half for the ends) for 16x 4. That, plus my mighty Mantis tiller, kept me going for more than 10 years. I had 16 raised vegetable bed on my farm in southern Indiana—all made of used cross ties. All the veggies grew fine, and nobody got sick. I think the key is OLD, not new. The basic bed used 5 ties (one cut in half for the ends) for 16x 4. That, plus my mighty Mantis tiller, kept me going for more than 10 years.

]]> By: lars http://www.raisedbedgardeningtips.com/appropriate-materials-for-building-raised-beds/comment-page-1#comment-39 lars Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:01:44 +0000 http://raisedbedgardeningtips.com/?page_id=37#comment-39 @jim wight-waltman, Yes, I would think what you described would be sufficient. These days they don't pressure treat wood with arsenic based products anymore. And frankly, the amount of leeching that the wood might do is probably not a huge deal. My parents used to have a raised bed garden with railroad ties, which is definitely on the AVOID list. The plants still grew, and no one got sick. I'm pretty casual about that kind of thing. But if someone is worried about it even slightly, it's better to just take a few extra steps like you did, so that you can garden without having to worry about it. @jim wight-waltman,

Yes, I would think what you described would be sufficient.

These days they don’t pressure treat wood with arsenic based products anymore. And frankly, the amount of leeching that the wood might do is probably not a huge deal.

My parents used to have a raised bed garden with railroad ties, which is definitely on the AVOID list. The plants still grew, and no one got sick.

I’m pretty casual about that kind of thing. But if someone is worried about it even slightly, it’s better to just take a few extra steps like you did, so that you can garden without having to worry about it.

]]> By: jim wight-waltman http://www.raisedbedgardeningtips.com/appropriate-materials-for-building-raised-beds/comment-page-1#comment-35 jim wight-waltman Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:06:47 +0000 http://raisedbedgardeningtips.com/?page_id=37#comment-35 I have been growing in a raised bed constructed from pressure treated 2x6 lumber. Before filling the bed with soil, I lined the inside face of the lumber with 8" of aluminum flashing (with the extra 2" going down below the lumber, into the soil), thereby keeping the growing soil from coming into contact with the lumber. Is this sufficient to protect the crops from any chemical that would leach from the pressure treated wood? (the lumber was purchased 2-3 years ago and the bed was constructed from this wood last spring). I'm about to add additional beds this spring using the same method and materials - any comments or suggestions? Thanks, Jim I have been growing in a raised bed constructed from pressure treated 2×6 lumber. Before filling the bed with soil, I lined the inside face of the lumber with 8″ of aluminum flashing (with the extra 2″ going down below the lumber, into the soil), thereby keeping the growing soil from coming into contact with the lumber. Is this sufficient to protect the crops from any chemical that would leach from the pressure treated wood? (the lumber was purchased 2-3 years ago and the bed was constructed from this wood last spring).

I’m about to add additional beds this spring using the same method and materials – any comments or suggestions?

Thanks, Jim

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