wilkes

A bed 8 by 8 would be hard to harvest in the middle of the bed unless you step in a rctangular or smaller square sized bed ought to more effecient easier to weed too

Here are some images for organic raised beds. The more organic they look the better I like them. https://www.google.c...IgORqQTI94

You really don't need a frame for a raised bed. A raised bed can be as simple as making a mound out of existing top soil using the soil from areas where you will be walking around the bed. Throw in some layers of organic matter like compost and manure then mulch the top.

The EPA made them change the treatment in treated wood for residential use in 2004.The wood is safe to use

Here are some ideas to consider: https://www.google.c...lDVOV68tlQ

they also recommended using chicken wire under the soil to eliminate any rodents coming up under the plants and destroying them. I am looking forward to getting started once this snow ever stops

Thanks, Champ .

The MC sawmill is Roy Triplette lumber - 838-3043 or 957-6532 (cell). The guys from Tarheel are now up 421 beside Dixie Grading & Johnson's Citgo at Builders Choice.

Bushman - is the wood at the Millers Creek sawmill (where is that?) comparable to Lowes? I'd rather spend my money with a local business anyway...hadn't thought about a local sawmill. Tarheel is no longer here and I thought I was kinda stuck with Lowes.

Thanks for your input too. We have some 3-year old compost ready to be used.

I use locust timber from the sawmill in Millers Creek.4 foot x8 foot by12 inches deep .We have 8 of them .I use compost from our grape hulls here at the winery and manure from the horses and sheep .It works great.

Thank you for all the great ideas! I spent a few hours online yesterday, researching how people made their beds (soooo many options). We decided on four 8' X 4' beds and one 8' X 8' bed. We're going to make the beds out of cedar and since the pre-made corners are so expensive, I'm doing it myself. Can't wait to get started!

I currently have 7 raised beds in my back yard and 6 are 8' X 4" and the other is an 8' X 8'. Each is made of 2" X 12" treated boards filled with top soil, peat moss & manure. I tried laying plastic on the bottom & sides but it easily was torn up when I used the tiller or shovel so I have begun to place leaves on the bottom when I build the beds. This has worked very well for me for the past several years. Only problem I have are the maple seeds falling in the garden & I end up pulling out small trees.

We just used plain old untreated boards & they seem to be holding up really well right now. I don't think I'd use composite because they are just glued together wood chips & would probably deteriate pretty fast after they get rained on.

Yes, I have heard also not to use treated wood or railroad crossties. Wonder if you could

use the new composite "wood"? I don't know anything about it, except that you are never

supposed to have any upkeep, except maybe cleaning it occasionally. It's probably toxic too.

Just want too say I LOVE these post, good luck I mean good GROWING, LOL

Hubby got rain barrels at the Town of North Wilkesboro. They were not very expensive.

Have you thought about using Blocks and then putting caps on them???No chemicals to worry about and no wood to rot..They are also cheap tp build and alot of times you can find people trying to get rid of them...

We haven't used an irrigation of any kind other than a plain old garden hose but would love to have a rain barrel to use for watering it with. We put old cardboard & newspapers in the bottom of our raised bed & then covered that with the soil. I also have a compost bin that I put yard scraps, veggie peelings, coffee grounds & eggshells in. That makes a wonderful addition to the soil.

Wow! Thank you all for the advice. I'm now STRONGLY considering making smaller beds.

What fun! I'll even get to try out my new circular saw (even though I'm 44 years old, my dad still gets me a power tool every year...and I haven't had reason to use the circular saw yet)!

I agree with not using treated lumber due to the possibility of pesticides...that's why I thought cedar would be better.

Have you tried an irrigation system?

I would advise against using anything treated. It leaches the poison into the soil you are growing your food in.