That "bad stuff" is creasote [a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative] - it also keeps termites out - in addition to railroad ties, it was also used to "cure" wood bricks used in streets in the 18th century - they were soaked in the stuff, then it was allowed to "cure"/dry - I don't know about it being "bled out" but they are safe for use in a raised veggie/hot pepper bed Sharen Rund Bloechl Lockheed Martin Enterprise Information Systems Sunnyvale Data Center sharen.rund.bloechl@lmco.com <mailto:sharen.rund.bloechl@lmco.com> Phone: 408-756-5432 [or] Fax: 408-756-0912 srund@svl.ems.lmco.com <mailto:srund@svl.ems.lmco.com> LMnet: 8-326-5432 Pager: 408-539-5146 web: http://webpager.lmms.lmco.com/perl/mtrocall.cgi <http://webpager.lmms.lmco.com/perl/mtrocall.cgi> [or] Operator Assist: 1-800-725-5079, pin 408-539-5146 ---------- From: John Cramer[SMTP:cramerj@ij.net] Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 10:54 PM To: AutumnRhea@aol.com Cc: lr21@cornell.edu; Chile-Heads@globalgarden.com Subject: Re: [CH] ....Words of Wisdom and raised bed question PT lumber? Why not some old RR ties? Most of the bad stuff has already bled out of them and they last a LONG time. I'm using them. I found them at Home Depot and at a local landscaping supplier. Only about $10 each as well. Also, no joining needed as they're a might heavy. Good luck to all of you. AutumnRhea@aol.com wrote: > hi there Linda~ If you are worried about the arsenic in the treated wood > .... you could line the bed with plastic liner of some sort.... I would like > to have some proof that the treated boards would have enough poisons in them > to warrant this kind of action .......... anyone know how much poisons are > in treated wood and how much would be absorbed by peppers or other veggies to > warrant a fear of using treated boards in raised beds????? Wouldn't the > poisons over time become depleted???? Million $$$$ questions......anyone have > the answers??? You have Raised (no pun intended) my curiousity....... we > don't need deadly peppers being grown!! just hot hot hot~ Debra~