On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:37:44 -0500, Jeana wrote:

Someone is telling me they're going to start a raised bed veggie garden
with a load of compost. Not digging it in, just planting in compost.
When I said, get a soil test first, and you need to dig the compost in
etc..., he said I was wrong. I don't mind being wrong, but am I missing
something here with what he's doing?

As anyone who's maintained (or rather, not maintained) a 'cold'
compost pile, plants *love* it and will take root or germinate in
compost in profusion. However, 'compost' usually refers to partially
decomposed organic matter that will continue to decay and disappear.
Without any soil, your friend will have sunken gardens rather than
raised beds.