[Lesley Silvester]

I already used raised beds for vegetables but now I am less mobile, I have decided that I need to have them made to waist height so I can garden from a chair.  I won't use treated wood as I garden organically.  Anybody got suggestions as to what they can be built from?  I will get someone to do the work as I can't.

[lachlanandmarcus]

You might want to consider these to compare prices against getting them made for you.
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/standard-wooden-raised-beds-pid7994.html
There is also a 10% discount if you quote RB10 at checkout.
I have them (or rather the economy range below this - which doesnt have the sort of height you would want whereas this range does) and was pleasantly surprised by the quality
RE the preservative they say "High pressure treated with a non-toxic preservative after consultation with the country's leading organic growing body - mGarden Organic - before selecting treatment"
hope this helps

[doganjo]

I've always made higher raised beds - and smaller, with a shelf at one side so I can perch when weeding.  Pallets are good for this, and they are often free if you can find a source. The smaller ones can be used as they are and the larger ones can be split up and the wood used.  Put a high post in each corner with a frame round the top so you can attach netting to keep out birds.

[sharnaloo]

have you tried putting an ad in the free papers in your area  you may be surprised how many ppl have old wood laying around  or try a local timber yard  they often have 'offcuts' that can be used very cheap often free
or another cheap option maybe to get breeze blocks  a pallet of the cheap ones is around £45.00  as long as you know someone that can cement them together

[Fleecewife]

Breeze blocks are a good idea as you won't suffer from rotting wood.  Leave drainage holes towards the bottom

[clydesdaleclopper]

Have you thought of making hugelkultur beds as these can be made to any height and use up any old rotten logs or brush you have around the place. There is some info here http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/ but if you need to know more just ask 

[Lesley Silvester]

Some great suggestions here and you've all given me food for thought.  I need to do some research into the different methods. 

[deepinthewoods]

tanalised timber is safe for use on organic crops, the preservative is not toxic, and tanalised wood is cheap enough.

[Lesley Silvester]

Today I had a reply to an enquiry I made to Garden Organic and they have said that Tanalith E is a safer way to pressure treat wood.  The original CCA pressure treating contained arsenic and has now been banned.  So it looks like that is the way to go.

Thanks all.

[sabrina]

Just was thinking about this the other day. As we have quite a few pallets no longer used I decided to give them a go.

[Lesley Silvester]

Someone told me that she made raised beds with pallets.  She made a stack of small ones then put four big ones round that, one on each side and joined them.  Lined the bed with heavy duty plastic with holes made in the bottom and fill with soil.  I can't get hold of enough pallets or I'd do that.

[doganjo]

You don't need them that big.  Use four small ones to make a raised bed 1 metre cubed.

[GaddesdenGal]

Old scaffolding boards are good (skips  ). Pallets are such good all rounders.

[Lesley Silvester]

I'm thinking that maybe I'd use pallets to raise the level inside the raised bed, otherwise I've got to find an awful lot of compost.

[Fleecewife]

What about the one ton big bags used for fertiliser, gravel etc?  They use those in Cuba or Africa or somewhere as raised beds.  They don't last forever but can be sat on a pallet for extra height and if you can get used ones would be very cheap.