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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/14/2006 7:11:02 PM
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I use old tires stacked 2 high and also straw bales. You can plant almost anything in straw bales except root crops.
Vicky
http://www.smallfarmshare.com
Located in Oregon
Vicky
http://www.smallfarmshare.com
Located in Oregon
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/15/2006 9:28:56 PM
Posts: 8,
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| regarding stacked tires, my mom used to do this when I was a kid. however, with more information about chemical breakdowns and leaching into the soil, do you worry about contamination. for example, when I was a kid it was also popular to use old railroad ties for fencing and raised beds, but now we all know that it poisons the soil. any thoughts? PS, I'm also in Oregon!
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 8/16/2007 10:53:35 AM
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Why can't you plant root crops in straw bale raised beds?
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 2/16/2008 2:52:30 AM
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| Might it be something to do with needing soil as that is where the roots develop in?
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 5/9/2008 9:40:27 AM
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| Speaking of raised beds, I am getting ready to tear out the old railroad ties that have made up my beds for the last gazillion years. In anyone's opinion, what is the best material--wood, stone, cinder blocks, Trex, etc.--to use to build new ones?
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 3/11/2008 10:53:30 AM
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| With wood, it just has to be the kind that is rot/weather-resistant--perhaps something native to your area. After that, maybe it's just a matter of how much you want to spend and what you think looks the best. What about that recycled wood/plastic material -- might be the best of both worlds -- plus I've heard you can sometimes "mold" it into interesting shapes? Raised beds are awesome!
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 5/9/2008 9:40:27 AM
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| Thank you! My husband was talking about this new "wood" material that actually has glass incorporated into it to make it last forever. But, it's expensive and hard to find. The closest distributor is an hour and a half away. I've heard though not to expect raised beds to last forever, so wood is a good choice. Cedar or redwood if I can find it.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 4/3/2008 7:45:02 PM
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| I've been gardening with raised beds for more than 15 years. My first beds were on my city lot in Seattle and were of treated cedar beams. They were absolutely beautiful, but I was not aware that the treated wood allowed arsenic to leach into the soil. So those went! Now I live on a small farm and I have many raised beds that are all made from materials I've gathered from around the place. So they are made of wood logs and large rocks. They don't look as beautiful as those I had in Seattle, but they are safe and totally organic Blessings to you 
Susan
Central Washington
http://Seed-Tape.com
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 5/4/2008 5:53:04 PM
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| Normally I use landscape post. I just priced cedar to build some barn doors. WHOO WEE! It would be 300+ dollars per door.
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