Raised Bed Materials

[Sandra Hughins]

Does anyone know if old weathered 2x4's loose their toxic chemicals so that they are safe to use in the construction of raised beds?  I would like to recycle some that have been stacked outside for years and before that where an outside deck.

[Ayn]

I looked into this last year and was told that any chemicals that were used would be out of the wood (and then into your soil...) within 2 years. You may want to look a little further into, that was for new wood LAST year, but they had also told me that they had to stop using certain chemicals that had used in the past, so it may also depend on how old your wood is and when they changed what chemicals they could use to treat the wood...

[Sandra Hughins]

Thank you!  I don't know when the original deck was built so it may be safer to shelf this idea, but it would make me feel better to get the stack gone and use it in some way instead of it ending up in the landfill:(

[Ayn]

Oh, I agree with you 100%! I *think* they started not using some of the real bad stuff in 2000, I am just not sure, you might be able to call your local wood people and ask though.  

[Patty Cason]

Personally, I would stay away from it. Why risk it? However, maybe the lumber yard might know more. My question is...how do they know the chemicals leave within X amount of years? Since your growing in your own backyard, keep it as clean as possible! I would put it out for "big junk" day and someone would come take it before the city junk truck even has a chance to pick it up. Or you could post it as free on Craigs list and someone will be very happy and you will be very healthy! Win, Win. 

[Sandra Hughins]

You are right Patty....I'm not going to risk it.  Thanks!

[Linda Ann]

I have to mention something here that is ironic.  My fathers grandmother had a garden that she used old railroad ties for like 30 - 40 years.   She lived to be 99 1/2, that said, her diet consisted mostly of the items in her garden, what she could not eat fresh she canned.  So, it is like weighing, eating produce with chemicals rather than no produce at all, or could it be in our genes?  I also seem to think she had items growing in an old tractor tire.!!!

I have the new pressure treated lumber from my raised beds for certain items.  I also add earth worms every year to an organic soil.  I guess give the options of standard treated lumber, plastic timbers or plastic containers, I went with the new AQC.  Another option might be cinder blocks or bricks.

[Sandra Hughins]

Thank you Adam for the information.  Since my two grandsons live with me, and they touch everything, I'm not going to use any pressure treated wood in my yard. 

[Linda Ann]

LOL, you can grow some rice in it as that seems to capture arsenic in the ground!   I wonder maybe we need to co plant to make are gardens cleaner.....kind like having a bottom feeder in your fish tank!

[Shirlene Jones]

Hello everyone, I am new to this group and new to organic gardening.  I have chosen cinder blocks and plan to plant marigolds is some of the holes.  I also have some containers and really look forward to sinking my teeth into a fresh tomato and some cucumbers.  I just can't wait.

Shirlene

[Susan Marcotte]

recently saw someones raised bed garden and they used straw bales. Just a thought.

[Shirlene Jones]

How interesting.  Did you by any chance ask any questions about how it was working for them?

[Susan Marcotte]

 There is a lot of info and videos regarding straw bale gardens available on YouTube