Just as a friendly reminder, I wanted to mention that liking, commenting, and sharing videos really do play a major role in helping content creators like myself reach a wider audience. Your engagement on UA-cam can have a positive impact and contribute to the growth of the channel. But I totally get that everyone has their own preferences and comfort levels when it comes to social platform engagement. Let's grow together! 🌿
If the lumber is pre 2004 it might not be worth putting a buffer between the soil and the wood. The old treated lumber is green probably with the copper which i thought was used after 2004. Doesn't the chemical preservatives dissipates over time say over 20 years, making it safer?
Thanks! That's part of the new format I try to stick to, which is: Be short, be brief, be fun and be done. Glad you like it, as well as the subject of this video. Happy holidays!
Gratitude from Flagstaff, AZ! While our high mountain, short season climate is pretty opposite yours in Broward County, FL, I have thoroughly enjoyed your videos. I am very familiar with Regen Ag and have been organic gardening for 40+ years, and I have found great pointers and new ideas from your videos. This video on pressure treated wood was informative. My raised beds (with pine boards) will be 4 years old this summer and are still in good shape, though beginning to show some rot - the benefit and downfall of high altitude desert gardening! I may start replacing them with cedar, one at a time over the next few years. Thanks for your informative videos, excellent production quality and very friendly approach. It's a joy to watch. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thank you for the encouragement! I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos! With all of your experience I'm sure I could learn a lot from you as well. The beautiful thing is that we gardeners learn from each as we learn from nature. And every day in the garden has another lesson for each of us to learn. I'm grateful to be able to share what I've learned on this platform. My hope is that at some point I can do this fulltime to bring content to viewers more often. I believe that will happen eventually. You're reply made my day! Thank you, and please keep me updated on whether you go with that cedar.
Thanks so much for your comment and for subscribing to the channel! I'm really glad you liked the production quality and found it valuable. Building up a following on UA-cam can be a journey, so your support really means a lot to me. Just as a reminder, one way you can help me expand my audience is by commenting (as you did), liking, and sharing videos. It actually makes a big difference in showing UA-cam what content deserves more visibility. Thanks for your support, and I hope to hear from you again! 🌿
Great video! Succinct and to the point. I’m just a home gardener not looking to be certified organic so I have used PT GC for my raised beds for many years now (post 2004). When we moved back to AL in 2010 I did a lot of research into this subject and spoke with our local extension office which provided me with additional resources to look into. The end result was that I landed exactly at the same conclusion that your excellent video points out. I did not use a barrier on the inside of the raised beds but instead, I built them in the fall and allowed them to sit out over the winter and filled them with soil in early spring. My thinking was that I would allow the treatment to leach and dissipate over time. The extension office pointed me to research that showed that any leaching happens just a couple of inches from the wood. Even with using PT wood, I need to replace my old beds and build new ones this fall. I will try the plastic liner on the sides facing the soil and see how long it lasts. Thanks again for your video and I appreciate your non-condescending approach to presenting the subject matter.
Actually, I have one time-sensitive, short video about what to do with cold-damaged plants that I hope to have finished this weekend, then the group presentations.
I’m eliminating plastic from my gardeing as possible because plastic leaches. I’ve read some concerning articles about the microplastic pollution in organically produced food. It seems switching from pesticides and herbicides to plastic wasn’t a good solution. Due to my family’s autoimmune health problems we are exceedingly careful about how we grow our food. I appreciate your scientific analysis about treated wood. Is there risk of bio accumulation over time with the copper?
Sorry to hear about the autoimmune disease in your family. According to the Iowa State University Extension program “copper residues found through research in soils of raised beds from treated lumber were 10 to 100 times lower than considered toxic to humans.” www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/toxicity-concerns-about-raised-bed-construction-materials
@@StacksUrbanHarvest thanks 🙏 Interesting article ! I wonder if accumulation occurs over a longer period of time though. I garden in the same spots year after year so I worry about bioaccumulation.
@@meganofasheville1 Bioaccumulation in the soil, or the plants? The plants will die long before it took up too much copper that would be harmful to eat. Here's another report about bioaccumulation in the soil, and that it showed no impact on the soil microbes. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972032951X
I have a ton of treated lumber from old decking I had to remove. Amazingly it's still usable so I repurposed some of it around the property. Unfortunately I can't remember if I got it back in 2003/2004 or right around when the change was taking place. We have some raised beds but I used redwood. Now we are planning another raised bed for another other plant and veggie garden, but had some second thoughts about the pre 2004 lumber, but like you said I will still check the tags that might still be stuck on the ends.
I'll be surprised if those tags are still there, or readable. It possible that by this time the worst of the arsenic has leeched out over the years. Maybe use a barrier? If those tags happen to still be there let me know, especially if you can read them.
I did find a readable tag. Copper Azole and a ground contact. I can make out a UC4A and AWPA. So this would be safer than the pre 2004 treated lumber? And despite the hot dipped galvanized fasters and screws it seemed like it was partially eaten away, by the lumber and rust. @@StacksUrbanHarvest
Basically, for garden boxes, regardless of the new formulas of combinations of ACQ, CA or MCA, as long as it is labeled as category 4A (UC4A) or higher, you're good to use it in a garden box. Then if you're organic use a buffer, like I suggested.
Thank you for getting right to the point!!! All these other videos waste so much of my time. (talking about how cute their dogs are, how messy your hair is, or what food you just ate for lunch.) I don't care at all....just get to the point of what the title of the video is about!!!
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the safest plastics available for garden use. It's resistant to chemicals, doesn't leach harmful substances, and is widely used in food-grade containers. I believe there are HDPE rolls or sheets for lining garden beds. Polypropylene (PP) is another safe plastic option. It's commonly used in food packaging and containers, indicating its safety for use around edible plants. PP liners are durable and resistant to chemicals. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) are also safe choices. They are flexible, durable, and used in various food-grade applications. These materials are less dense than HDPE but still provide a reliable barrier between soil and treated wood.
But if you do use it make sure you get the raw, non-boiled linseed oil. It takes longer to dry, but the boiled is toxic and not recommended for veggie garden beds.
@@StacksUrbanHarvest Well every three years is not that bad. I noticed some sawmills locally that have scrap wood on sale it's actually relatively cheaper. From the looks of it it looks like hardwood from what I've seen.
I think you mean raw linseed oil. Boiled linseed oil is toxic, and not recommended for garden beds. I used linseed oil for years, and I still had to replace the wood every 3 years.
@@StacksUrbanHarvest do you happen to know why organic linseed oil becomes toxic by heating it up? So many people on UA-cam swear by boiled linseed on garden beds then some people say it’s meg toxic.
@@StacksUrbanHarvestI can't believe you said that. I just read the link, and it says the exact opposite. It says both raw and boiled are NON TOXIC. It says the fake boiled oil with plasticizers, hardeners, and heavy metals added is toxic.
@@chadkline4268 Since 2012, I've been advised by the Square Foot Gardening online forum where the consensus is that boiled linseed oil is toxic. Later I'll see what sources they're using.
I use Western Yellow Cedar or Eastern Red Cedar.....nope I never use treated lumber, especially because decades ago as a young carpenter we were warned about the cancerous implications, same applies to using non organics in your garden
Like I said, Cedar is ideal, but most of us can't afford it. If you were a carpenter before 2004, I can sure understand those warnings. That arsenic is so toxic!
In Florida, I want to build an 8x8 shack framed with some Home Depot Weathershield PT 2x4 that has MCA - Micronized Copper Azole. I was planning letting it dry out over a month and then heavily staining and sealing it. It will be skinned with solid color polycarbonate but the inside will be exposed lumber with no sheathing or drywall. The gables will be open with bug screen, but my question is .. SAFE TO SLEEP IN THE SHACK?
Just as a friendly reminder, I wanted to mention that liking, commenting, and sharing videos really do play a major role in helping content creators like myself reach a wider audience.
Your engagement on UA-cam can have a positive impact and contribute to the growth of the channel. But I totally get that everyone has their own preferences and comfort levels when it comes to social platform engagement.
Let's grow together! 🌿
If the lumber is pre 2004 it might not be worth putting a buffer between the soil and the wood. The old treated lumber is green probably with the copper which i thought was used after 2004. Doesn't the chemical preservatives dissipates over time say over 20 years, making it safer?
I love that you are letting your fun side out. Plus this is a subject that most people need to know!
Thanks! That's part of the new format I try to stick to, which is: Be short, be brief, be fun and be done. Glad you like it, as well as the subject of this video. Happy holidays!
Gratitude from Flagstaff, AZ! While our high mountain, short season climate is pretty opposite yours in Broward County, FL, I have thoroughly enjoyed your videos. I am very familiar with Regen Ag and have been organic gardening for 40+ years, and I have found great pointers and new ideas from your videos.
This video on pressure treated wood was informative. My raised beds (with pine boards) will be 4 years old this summer and are still in good shape, though beginning to show some rot - the benefit and downfall of high altitude desert gardening! I may start replacing them with cedar, one at a time over the next few years. Thanks for your informative videos, excellent production quality and very friendly approach. It's a joy to watch.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thank you for the encouragement! I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos! With all of your experience I'm sure I could learn a lot from you as well. The beautiful thing is that we gardeners learn from each as we learn from nature. And every day in the garden has another lesson for each of us to learn. I'm grateful to be able to share what I've learned on this platform.
My hope is that at some point I can do this fulltime to bring content to viewers more often. I believe that will happen eventually. You're reply made my day! Thank you, and please keep me updated on whether you go with that cedar.
I happened upon your channel by accident. I am surprised you only have 2k followers. well produced and solid information. Thank you. I just subbed.
Thanks so much for your comment and for subscribing to the channel! I'm really glad you liked the production quality and found it valuable. Building up a following on UA-cam can be a journey, so your support really means a lot to me.
Just as a reminder, one way you can help me expand my audience is by commenting (as you did), liking, and sharing videos. It actually makes a big difference in showing UA-cam what content deserves more visibility. Thanks for your support, and I hope to hear from you again! 🌿
Well done, David! Entertaining and informative, and great production!
Thank you Scott! Glad you enjoyed it! Happy holidays!
Great video! Succinct and to the point. I’m just a home gardener not looking to be certified organic so I have used PT GC for my raised beds for many years now (post 2004). When we moved back to AL in 2010 I did a lot of research into this subject and spoke with our local extension office which provided me with additional resources to look into. The end result was that I landed exactly at the same conclusion that your excellent video points out. I did not use a barrier on the inside of the raised beds but instead, I built them in the fall and allowed them to sit out over the winter and filled them with soil in early spring. My thinking was that I would allow the treatment to leach and dissipate over time. The extension office pointed me to research that showed that any leaching happens just a couple of inches from the wood.
Even with using PT wood, I need to replace my old beds and build new ones this fall. I will try the plastic liner on the sides facing the soil and see how long it lasts. Thanks again for your video and I appreciate your non-condescending approach to presenting the subject matter.
@@frankcampos1251 I'm glad to see that this video confirms your research! And thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Happy gardening! 🌿
I've been waiting for this one! Thanks for making this.
Learned a lot in a few short minutes- thank you, keep this great info coming!
Glad you learned from this. I sure will! The next video will be from the talk I gave to your group. Happy holidays!
Actually, I have one time-sensitive, short video about what to do with cold-damaged plants that I hope to have finished this weekend, then the group presentations.
I’m eliminating plastic from my gardeing as possible because plastic leaches. I’ve read some concerning articles about the microplastic pollution in organically produced food. It seems switching from pesticides and herbicides to plastic wasn’t a good solution. Due to my family’s autoimmune health problems we are exceedingly careful about how we grow our food. I appreciate your scientific analysis about treated wood. Is there risk of bio accumulation over time with the copper?
Sorry to hear about the autoimmune disease in your family. According to the Iowa State University Extension program “copper residues found through research in soils of raised beds from treated lumber were 10 to 100 times lower than considered toxic to humans.” www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/toxicity-concerns-about-raised-bed-construction-materials
@@StacksUrbanHarvest thanks 🙏 Interesting article ! I wonder if accumulation occurs over a longer period of time though. I garden in the same spots year after year so I worry about bioaccumulation.
@@meganofasheville1 Bioaccumulation in the soil, or the plants? The plants will die long before it took up too much copper that would be harmful to eat.
Here's another report about bioaccumulation in the soil, and that it showed no impact on the soil microbes. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972032951X
I have a ton of treated lumber from old decking I had to remove. Amazingly it's still usable so I repurposed some of it around the property. Unfortunately I can't remember if I got it back in 2003/2004 or right around when the change was taking place. We have some raised beds but I used redwood. Now we are planning another raised bed for another other plant and veggie garden, but had some second thoughts about the pre 2004 lumber, but like you said I will still check the tags that might still be stuck on the ends.
I'll be surprised if those tags are still there, or readable. It possible that by this time the worst of the arsenic has leeched out over the years. Maybe use a barrier? If those tags happen to still be there let me know, especially if you can read them.
I did find a readable tag. Copper Azole and a ground contact. I can make out a UC4A and AWPA. So this would be safer than the pre 2004 treated lumber? And despite the hot dipped galvanized fasters and screws it seemed like it was partially eaten away, by the lumber and rust. @@StacksUrbanHarvest
@@laurencek.1580 That's great news! You must have bought that after they made the change. Happy gardening!
Thank you for the information …. And ESPECIALLY Thank you for the “Y MCA”
Glad you enjoyed that! 😂
Well...that was confusing. Was waiting for waiting for Abbot and Costello to do their "who's on first" baseball routine ;-)😉
Basically, for garden boxes, regardless of the new formulas of combinations of ACQ, CA or MCA, as long as it is labeled as category 4A (UC4A) or higher, you're good to use it in a garden box. Then if you're organic use a buffer, like I suggested.
@@StacksUrbanHarvest Thank you for replying, and for having a sense of humor, which is increasingly rare these days!
@@OriginalAstroTard Laughter and gardening are the two best therapies in this crazy world. Right? :)
Thank you sir!
Thanks for watching! Happy gardening! 💚🌿
Thank you for getting right to the point!!! All these other videos waste so much of my time. (talking about how cute their dogs are, how messy your hair is, or what food you just ate for lunch.) I don't care at all....just get to the point of what the title of the video is about!!!
Exactly! I'm glad you liked my "get to the point" format. Happy gardening! 🌿
What kind of non-toxic plastic would you recommend for a buffer against pressure treated wood?
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the safest plastics available for garden use. It's resistant to chemicals, doesn't leach harmful substances, and is widely used in food-grade containers. I believe there are HDPE rolls or sheets for lining garden beds.
Polypropylene (PP) is another safe plastic option. It's commonly used in food packaging and containers, indicating its safety for use around edible plants. PP liners are durable and resistant to chemicals.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) are also safe choices. They are flexible, durable, and used in various food-grade applications. These materials are less dense than HDPE but still provide a reliable barrier between soil and treated wood.
Is this considered talking to yourself? 😂 kidding! Love the content! New subscriber 👍
LOL! TY
What about just using untreated wood and treat it with Linseed oil?
That's what I was using, and it didn't extend the life of the wood by much. I was still replacing the wood every 3 years.
But if you do use it make sure you get the raw, non-boiled linseed oil. It takes longer to dry, but the boiled is toxic and not recommended for veggie garden beds.
@@StacksUrbanHarvest Well every three years is not that bad. I noticed some sawmills locally that have scrap wood on sale it's actually relatively cheaper. From the looks of it it looks like hardwood from what I've seen.
Great idea !
Why not use boiled linseed oil on non treated wood like pine?
I think you mean raw linseed oil. Boiled linseed oil is toxic, and not recommended for garden beds. I used linseed oil for years, and I still had to replace the wood every 3 years.
@@StacksUrbanHarvest do you happen to know why organic linseed oil becomes toxic by heating it up? So many people on UA-cam swear by boiled linseed on garden beds then some people say it’s meg toxic.
@@Paarthurnaxdova Organic or not, linseed oil becomes toxic when boiled. gimmethegoodstuff.org/is-linseed-oil-toxic/
@@StacksUrbanHarvestI can't believe you said that. I just read the link, and it says the exact opposite. It says both raw and boiled are NON TOXIC. It says the fake boiled oil with plasticizers, hardeners, and heavy metals added is toxic.
@@chadkline4268 Since 2012, I've been advised by the Square Foot Gardening online forum where the consensus is that boiled linseed oil is toxic. Later I'll see what sources they're using.
I use Western Yellow Cedar or Eastern Red Cedar.....nope I never use treated lumber, especially because decades ago as a young carpenter we were warned about the cancerous implications, same applies to using non organics in your garden
Like I said, Cedar is ideal, but most of us can't afford it. If you were a carpenter before 2004, I can sure understand those warnings. That arsenic is so toxic!
Lol theres no escape, free from arsenic but not free from microplastic 😂😂
That's a good argument to use my hügelkultur method.
In Florida, I want to build an 8x8 shack framed with some Home Depot Weathershield PT 2x4 that has MCA - Micronized Copper Azole. I was planning letting it dry out over a month and then heavily staining and sealing it. It will be skinned with solid color polycarbonate but the inside will be exposed lumber with no sheathing or drywall. The gables will be open with bug screen, but my question is .. SAFE TO SLEEP IN THE SHACK?
Thanks for the question! As long as it's well-ventilated and you take precautions, it should be safe. Happy building!