I want to hire someone to build a 4 x 8 ft. vegetable growing box that is tall enough for me to stand and garden. Obviously, this will need to be strongly built and capable of holding lots of soil...and hopefully...gorgeous vegetables. Any recommendations for someone I could hire to do this? Please don't tell me it's easy to build myself, because I have zero woodworking skills.
ARTEMISIA
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2011-01-04 01:56 PM |
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We bought kits for 4x8 boxes on-line. The pieces all came pre-cut and were very easy to put together. Google "raised garden beds" to find lots of choices. We stapled 1/4" mesh wire hardware cloth onto the bottom to keep gophers out. What we didn't reckon on was tree roots growing up into the soil mix and out-competing the vegetables after only a couple of years. So, if you have trees nearby, I would recommend laying down weed cloth under the box to at least slow them down.
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COMMENT 133268
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2011-01-04 02:31 PM |
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Be sure not to use pressure treated wood. They are filled with cancer causing agents.
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COMMENT 133276
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2011-01-04 02:54 PM |
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That is an outrageously false statement. Pressure Treated lumber in our area is an ACQ treatment. Acq is a non-leaching, arsenic and chromium free product. Be careful when buying the wood, sawdust is known to be a cancer causing.
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COMMENT 133319
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2011-01-04 04:04 PM |
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I was not being sarcastic. Beginning Dec 18th, the state of California has labeled sawdust a cancer causing product and you will find warning signs anywhere there is sawdust.
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COMMENT 133329
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2011-01-04 04:17 PM |
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I wondered about the wood being treated too. No point in growing your own vegetables and have them filled with chemicals. I have heard cedar works well for garden boxes. I think redwood is likely to be treated.
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COMMENT 133331
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2011-01-04 04:24 PM |
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You should look into a method called Square Foot Gardening.
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COMMENT 133333
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2011-01-04 04:31 PM |
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redwood is not treated. It has a naturally occurring acid that bugs do not like. Cedar has some of the same properties, but not as much as redwood. If you are buying redwood for the acidic properties, make sure you buy "heart", which is all red, little sap wood. The white sap wood does not have the acids. ONCE AGAIN... wood treated with ACQ is safe for gardens!
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COMMENT 133339P
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2011-01-04 04:44 PM |
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Try this link for local help: link
The key is to build the garden planter strong enough to equal the fact that it will be taller than usual, so you can stand while gardening. That is not easy.
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COMMENT 133341
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2011-01-04 04:48 PM |
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There's something ironic and sad about cutting down Redwoods or other trees so you can make boxes to grow a few measly veggies in your backyard especially when we have such great Farmer's Markets here. What is thought to be low impact and eco is actually more detrimental to our fragile Earth. The trees weep.
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COMMENT 133368
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2011-01-04 06:31 PM |
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Take a look at Earth Boxes. (Google is your friend) While they don't have legs it would be quite simple to build or buy a stand/table to set them on. I've known several people who have used them with lots of success.
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COMMENT 133398P
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2011-01-04 09:45 PM |
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Honestly, I am not that handy but I could build a garden box. My husband built some for me 5 years ago. The only materials he used were 4x4 posts and 2x4x8' lumber and a nail gun. I think you get the idea... 8' boards cut in half for the ends and left long for the sides so you end up with a 8x4 box...just cut the 4x4 posts to what height you want. Mine are 4 boards high. Be sure to nail a sheet of metal screen with about 1/2" holes to prevent gophers from eating the roots!
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COMMENT 133399P
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2011-01-04 09:57 PM |
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What part of town do you live in? Is the site where you want your garden against a house or wall? Does it get full sun? Are there nearby large trees? My husband and I have built numerous raised gardens, and I would be willing to discuss this with you. I've also got a couple sample ones you could see, to decide what height you really want. Ditto on a discussion of what to build it out of. Done right, you've love it, use it, and enjoy it. Done wrong, and well... it's a waste of time, money, and resources. We're overworked already, so I'm not sure we can do it, but I can offer a bit of helpful advice. Email your contact info to kathy@edhat.com (a friend) if you want me to email or call you. I'd rather not make this offer to everyone, so am going to stay anonymous in this posting.
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COMMENT 133427
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2011-01-05 07:08 AM |
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I am a licensed general contractor, avid gardener, and after reading through this ridiculously sarcastic thread, would be happy to build this for you.
incognito email is:
bananapatch62@gmail.com
I have plenty of references and will only ask that you take care of materials.
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COMMENT 133523
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2011-01-05 09:34 AM |
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Sawdust is cancerous only if you breathe it in.
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COMMENT 133526
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2011-01-05 09:48 AM |
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TBEBB: Well put. You are the good samaritan. Thanks for putting an end to the mindless blather about poison wood.
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AQUAHOLIC
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2011-01-05 10:02 AM |
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Nice TBEBB! You are a very kind person indeed.
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COMMENT 133546
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2011-01-05 10:31 AM |
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I don't think it was mindless blather. I think some people do not know much about the properties of wood and I was hoping to educate them a bit.
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COMMENT 133552
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2011-01-05 10:43 AM |
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Chris Hulbert, expert gardener as well as carpenter, $20/hour, cell 760.8600, highly recommend, we use him all the time.
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COMMENT 133656
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2011-01-05 01:51 PM |
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contact Erich Small... landscape designer, does raised veggie gardens 805-717-6268
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