Raised beds for n00bs
 

Thanks to all who replied to my previous question. Clearly, I've got
some work to do. :)

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring. As
for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but something
nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of formaldehyde from PT?

Also, the question of what they get filled with is kind of important and
I've been unable to find anything resembling a consensus. My current
thought is 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 aged horse manure as a start.

What else should I be looking at?



--
The word "urgent" is the moral of the story "The boy who cried wolf". As
a general rule I don't believe it until a manager comes to me almost in
tears. I like to catch them in a cup and drink them later.
-- Matt Holiab, in the Monastery

Raised beds for n00bs
 

g'day cipher,

we use a lot of spent mushroom compost from the mushroom farm.

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/straw_bale_garden.htm

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/builds.htm



On Sat, 01 Jan 2011 10:12:34 -0500, Cipher
wrote:
snipped
--

Matthew 25:13 KJV
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither
the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh"

Mark 13:33 "Take ye heed, watch and pray:
for ye know not when the time is".

len

With peace and brightest of blessings,

"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/

Raised beds for n00bs
 

In article ,
Cipher wrote:

Thanks to all who replied to my previous question. Clearly, I've got
some work to do. :)

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring. As
for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but something
nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of formaldehyde from PT?

Also, the question of what they get filled with is kind of important and
I've been unable to find anything resembling a consensus. My current
thought is 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 aged horse manure as a start.

What else should I be looking at?

Way too much manure. Use about 29 lbs. of horse manure per 100 square
(13 kg/9.3 M), plus 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) brown vegetative material (leaves,
stems, ect). Otherwise you will leak nutrients like chemical fertilizers
do, and consume your organic material too quickly.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyE5wjc4XOw
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/j...acks_1-5-09.ph
p

Raised beds for n00bs
 

"Cipher" wrote

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring. As
for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but something
nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of formaldehyde from
PT?

PT not good. Your memory is right. It has various chemicals in it that are
carcinogenic and leach to the soil in direct contact.

What a neighbor did as he wanted the looks of wood, was outer frame in PT
(for it's last) and inner frame with cement blocks. He ran black plastic
under the cinder blocks then staple gunned to the wood on the inner side.
Seems ok to me!

Raised beds for n00bs
 

"cshenk" wrote:
"Cipher" wrote

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring. As
for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but something
nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of formaldehyde from PT?

PT not good. Your memory is right. It has various chemicals in it that
are carcinogenic and leach to the soil in direct contact.

What a neighbor did as he wanted the looks of wood, was outer frame in PT
(for it's last) and inner frame with cement blocks. He ran black plastic
under the cinder blocks then staple gunned to the wood on the inner side. Seems ok to me!

I use composite deck boards. I cut them for four and six feet lengths. I
hope they last for eternity. The boards are thinner and a more flexible.
Why I cut them short.
They come in 5 1/4 and ten inch heights.
--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)

Raised beds for n00bs
 

Cipher wrote:
Thanks to all who replied to my previous question. Clearly, I've got
some work to do. :)

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring.
As for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but
something nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of
formaldehyde from PT?

What is "PT"? If it is treated timber it depends on what it is treated
with.

Also, the question of what they get filled with is kind of important
and I've been unable to find anything resembling a consensus. My
current thought is 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 aged horse manure as a start.

What else should I be looking at?

What is the nature of the topsoil that you have access to? What do you want
to grow in it? Half horse manure is rather a lot.

David

Raised beds for n00bs
 

check out this site for raised bed information. They have a great composted
that takes 7 years to make. It has pictures of beds and shows how good the
plants look. I seen this my self.

"Cipher" wrote in message ...

Thanks to all who replied to my previous question. Clearly, I've got
some work to do. :)

I've settled on a pair of 2ftx8ftx2ft high boxes to start the spring. As
for the wood, I'm considering PT for the rot resistance but something
nagging in the back of my mind remembers outgassing of formaldehyde from PT?

Also, the question of what they get filled with is kind of important and
I've been unable to find anything resembling a consensus. My current
thought is 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 aged horse manure as a start.

What else should I be looking at?



--
The word "urgent" is the moral of the story "The boy who cried wolf". As
a general rule I don't believe it until a manager comes to me almost in
tears. I like to catch them in a cup and drink them later.
-- Matt Holiab, in the Monastery