My thought is that the raised beds will be easier to maintain and to
work in. My thought on that is more for the wifes sake since she has
back trouble that acts up from time to time.


Yup. Add some drip irrigation, too. My guess is that shin to knee level
will do her back most good, but I built my mom a raised bed that was about
dining-table height, so she could garden while seated. Very easy to
weed, too.


I was thinking of just using treated 2x8s or so, standard toe nailed
framing with braces in the corners. Also thinking of stapling plastic
sheeting along the inside just to minimize the dirt to wood contact factor.

I'd forgo the plastic and use something like cedar if possible. If not,
2x lumber takes a number of years to rot in my experience.

And don't forget to kill the sod under the raised bed first. Lawn grasses
are downright stubborn about wanting to keep growing. Quackgrass is worse.
g


If you're not going very high, you can just heap up the raised soil
on the ground, no containment needed. Or if you just want to try
the concept, you can get bagged soil and grow through the bag.

Also make life easier where soil prep is concerned, no? That way I can
just dump in bags of good soil and compost as apposed to working with
the brick solid clay around here. ;

Might want to send in for a soil analysis of the bought-in stuff...
commercial compost in my neck of the woods tends to be pretty acid, and
needs considerable sweetening with limestone. Also, clay in moderation
increases the buffer capacity of the soil and makes pH swings during the
growing season much, much easier. Straight compost is way too light
to use.... plants can pull themselves out of the ground, ime.

Cheapest way to buy good soil for raised beds is often from a local
soil and compost dealer that does custom mixes for greenhouses... buy
a truckload and you don't have to pay for the plastic bags.

Kay, with rocky heavy clay soils in Oregon.

)