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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have been researching “raised garden beds” and found that many groups were purporting CEDAR. Said that it will last 40 years. (By then I won’t care! And it is organic!) So I have just constructed some 23-1/2” tall cedar beds ) (2 – 2x12’s) lined with ˝” gopher wire (and I have to get down into the beds and stitch the wire seams together to prevent the gophers from climbing up between the seams, so they tell me) . These 2’x4’x8’ beds were going for about $400 EACH. Well, I got all the wood, bolts, wire, etc. for about less than 1/3 that. Now, of course, I have to get them filled with good organic compost, which hopefully will come next week, in time to plant my summer vegetable garden. I’m also planting asparagus - a 15-20 year crop on the back side. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Does concrete (i.e., concrete blocks) have a chemical reaction with garden dirt - that could affect the true “organic” state of the garden for vegetables?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Happy gardening!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kathy Cochran<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>San Andreas, California<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> greenbuilding-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Clarke Olsen<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:40 PM<br><b>To:</b> Green Building<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Greenbuilding] best lumber for raised vegetable beds<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>I've terraced my hillside garden with 4" (x8" x16") concrete blocks. <br>I don't glue/mortar them together, but stack them<br>as usual with short lengths of wood (1"x1" locust) or rebar through <br>the core voids. Less work, durable, flexible, and<br>definitely re-useable.<br><br>Clarke Olsen<br>373 route 203<br>Spencertown, NY 12165<br>USA<br>518-392-4640<br>colsen@fairpoint.net<br><br><br><br><br>On Apr 12, 2011, at 9:16 PM, Kat wrote:<br><br>> I just watched this discussion happen with another group. Try <br>> straw bales or CMU blocks instead?<br>><br>> -Kat<br>><br>> candtcampbell@juno.com wrote:<br>>> What type of wood, treated or otherwise, would y'all expect to <br>>> last longest in ground contact when used to make raised vegetable <br>>> garden beds? Or would y'all say recycled plastic lumber is better <br>>> for that application?<br>>><br>>> Thanks very much.<br>>><br>>> Tim<br>>><br>>><br>><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Greenbuilding mailing list<br>> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address<br>> Greenbuilding@bioenergylists.org<br>><br>> to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page<br>> <a href="http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/">http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/</a><br>> greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Greenbuilding mailing list<br>to Send a Message to the list, use the email address<br>Greenbuilding@bioenergylists.org<br><br>to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page<br><a href="http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org">http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:#A0A0A0' align=center></div><p class=avgcert>No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3569 - Release Date: 04/12/11<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>