Thanks Downriver, The beds are 5 x 8 and they are lined with material from a pond liner for the purpose of minimizing the amount of arsenic that may, or maynot leach into the soil. I'm at work so I don't have the link to post about the treated lumber. I'll post it later. Supposedly if left in contact with the soil the arsenic can leach 3 to 6 inches into the soil making that soil permanantly unuseable for growing. What, if any amount winds up in the plant and subsequently our bodies is speculative. Basically it is up to the grower to decide if there is risk or not. The risk drops off drastically as the lumber is aged or even pre washed or left in the rain.
The plumbing is an experiment in bottom feeding and or watering of nutrients and fertilizers. I do not have the resivors yet that will do this. The idea is to fill the resivoir with water and mix up the ferts and pop the valve to gravity feed. The volume nescessary for complete coverage will effect wheather I purchase or fabricate my own tanks.
The beds (2) are filled with last years soil from approx 115 #5 pots and ammended with homegrown compost. The third bed will require new dirt hauled in which I will need with the quantity of pots I have to fill this year. I like to mix my own a bit. I do not have exact measuments but I use Sunshine grow mix and assorted composts available. I still have not checked the local coops for Promix as It is not local for me.
Cheers Mike
The plumbing is an experiment in bottom feeding and or watering of nutrients and fertilizers. I do not have the resivors yet that will do this. The idea is to fill the resivoir with water and mix up the ferts and pop the valve to gravity feed. The volume nescessary for complete coverage will effect wheather I purchase or fabricate my own tanks.
![March2011016.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi975.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae237%2Fmarsrats%2FMarch2011016.jpg&hash=067af1fee2518cf25d0cfe7a6cd9813e)
The beds (2) are filled with last years soil from approx 115 #5 pots and ammended with homegrown compost. The third bed will require new dirt hauled in which I will need with the quantity of pots I have to fill this year. I like to mix my own a bit. I do not have exact measuments but I use Sunshine grow mix and assorted composts available. I still have not checked the local coops for Promix as It is not local for me.
![Mayplantsetc016.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi975.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae237%2Fmarsrats%2FMayplantsetc016.jpg&hash=51917823df125e51ff704e45d1b62ab2)
Cheers Mike