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Soy Guard - A low V.O.C., children & pet safe wood preservative/stain.

Has anyone know of objective research (not web sites of those that sell the product) on this product?

Has anyone actually used this product or a similar product?

Has anyone tried using regular lumbar, tightly wrapped and stapled with pond liner material?

Yep, I'm building raised beds this year and looking for non-toxic, sustainable, renewable materials to use.

Thanks,

Geo,
Not necessarily fitting all your criteria... but we opted for discarded truck tires. We are keeping them out of the waste stream, they are not going to break down any time soon and no substantial toxicity issues that I am aware of. We used a bi-metal saber saw to cut out the top, and a hole saw to make drainage for the bottom. Today I used a pitch fork to break the ground under them, and we will amend this with sand to make a transition zone between the growing mix above and the clay ground below. The tires are around 3 feet in diameter, great for hill corps like squashes and cucumbers, but could be adapted for many crops. Please contact me if you would like a free source referral.

Hi Zenbirder. I like the idea of the tires for individual beds on a slope. I've got some berry plants coming and using them for slope control and food sounds like a good idea.

For the flat area in the new garden area I'm going to stick w/the bordered raised bed as we are going to give sq/ft gardening a try. Row cover hoops are easy to attach and remove as needed. I'm also going to try making a winter cold frame cover using left over greenhouse polycarbinate panels and the automatic greenhouse window openers.

Regarding the tires, do you stack them or simply have one tire be one bed? Other info on how you arrange them or whatever would help. What is your source for these tires?

Thanks, g

We've used the soy-guard successfully for a lot of outdoor wood.
Seems to be holding up well, though the oldest job is only 2 years old. It is south-facing, but the sun doesn't seem to affect it much.
Elizabeth

Has anyone used straw bales for borders for raised beds? I have seen this and kind of like the idea but wonder how well it works.

Kim, I am planning to do some raised beds made from straw bales. As far as I know, it works great. Eventually the deteriorate I suppose, but it is all organic.

I've used this recipe which I had in a gardening book I can't locate at the moment. Found the recipe by searching for USDA non toxic wood treatment at

http://mailman.cloudnet.com/pipermail/c ... 10315.html

My original source touted this recipe to be as good as any commercial product with 20-30 year longevity in the ground and non-toxic.

Growing Fruits & Vegetables Organically
Published by Rodale Press, ISBN 0-87596-586-5

Sadly, it is out of print but used copies are available on the internet
at Amazon.com and you won't be disappointed if you buy a copy.

See page 133.

This was developed by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory:

1 ounce of paraffin wax
1 gallon less 1 2/3 cups of turpentine
1 1/2 cups of boiled linseed oil
(this is refined linseed oil as compared to raw linseed oil)

Melt wax in double boiler.

Put the turpentine in separate container.
Save excess for other uses.
Stir it vigorously while slowing adding melted wax.
Then add linseed oil and mix throughly.

Dip untreated wood in mixture for 3 minutes
(you'll have to increase above formula for that and build a trough)
or brush on heavy coat.

I've also successfully used straight filtered waste vegetable oil for outdoor wood including cold frames. This oil is mostly Soy oil sometimes with a little bit of Canola, Corn, or Peanut oils mixed in, discarded from restaurant fryers. Works great but probably needs to be reapplied every few seasons so probably not the best for wood that will be continually in contact with soil such as in the buried parts of raised beds. I sell the filtered waste vegetable oil for $2.12/gallon!

Asher
Green Energy Now
575.574.7119
agelbart@gmail.com