I bought some of the AC2 pressure treated wood (4x4 landscape timbers) to make a raised bed for strawberrys. The guy at the lumber yard told me that its approved for use around livestock and plants but I am still leary about using it for the task at hand since i know the type of PT lumber that contained arsenic leached and caused heath concerns. Guess I'm just wondering if its safe for the plants is it safe for those who eat the plants?

 

I wouldn't hesitate using the AC2 treated lumber.
It does not contain any arsenic.

fred

 

OK I guess i just need some reassurance as I don't trust most of the guys knowledge where I got the timbers.
thanks for the reply

 

What is AC2 pressure-treated lumber and where do you get it? What we see at Lowe's etc is mostly (I think) the old and dangerous stuff. How can you tell which is which?

I went to Lowe's for some landscaping timbers the other day and they were so green and wet with the treatment that my hands started burning after picking one up. That was all they had so didn't buy any.

 

morning glory 2,

AC2 is the voluntary treatment that some manufacturers are starting to use. All PT lumber will be AC2 in a year or two, mandated by the EPA.

If your local store doesn't carry AC2, and you want it, ask for it.
It probably won't help with the big box stores, but they'll eventually get with the program.
Check around at all your other local lumber yards.

fred

 

I got it at Menards, a midwest big box type store. The AC2 is the only type of PT lumber they carry. I'm not sure but I thought the Lowes and HD here carried it also but I may be wrong and that doesn't mean that they carry it out east.

 

I guess it boils down to availability and pricing.
Here in VA I looked last week at Lowes and HD and they are not carrying the AC2 yet. I believe there may be an 'arsenic' plant not too far away.

Good for Menards!!!

fred

 

I have been aware of the concerns about using toxic substances in our wood, back when the folks who were sounding the warning, were dismissed as nuts. Still are if you believe the EPA.

Using any of the substatutes, don't sound like Mothers Milk either. We chose to not use PT wood ever, & so doing a search on the so called safer choice to PT, never crossed my mind.

http://www.state.me.us/dep/iob/iob_158.htm

http://www.ecoproducts.com/Building_...pplies/acq.htm

http://www.1800lawinfo.com/practice/...Treated%20Wood

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/elcosh/docs...6/d000366.html

I still will not use any of the new PT wood due to the Copper in this new safer, PT wood. I would still sugest you line the soil area with a liner. Copper is used as a Fungicide & by Earth Friendly Farmers also. However we don't grow Tomatoe's there again for 3 years, untill the Copper has leached away.

We did 2 Strawberry towers using the plastic from an above ground Swimming pool to make the rings. A guy was moving & said take it down, & it's yours. It's been 3 years now, & holding up well. We water the whole patch from a small sprinkeler piped up the center & out the top.

I know that a lot of people use Wood in outdoor Gardens, but with a little searching you can find alternitives. Wood burns & we like a clean Garden but some plastics can be recyled & used for projects.
One thing I learned was just how toxic the RR Ties & Telephone poles, are to all living things & how far the toxics, will travel in water ect.

Our small Farm is in the danger zone, the South East. I guess when every decision we make has, how & when will it decompose. Old habits die hard, but as our Business card says "Healing the Earth one square foot at a time" we farm like the old camping saying, don't leave the Woods worse than you found them. We want to leave the soil healthy & clean when we leave.

After all we are all just renting the land anyway. The true owner made it from scratch, let's see better soil building than that.

We find ways to keep the wood we do use, from laying on the ground. Of course untreated wood will not last as long as PT, but I can replace the bad wood with good wood. Then feel good about burning the old untreated wood, for more Potash.

I think you are doing the right thing, by not taking anyones word untill you really search it over well.

I read an EPA letter that claimed that PT Lumber was no threat to safety. I wonder how manny remember the EPA saying that the Chemical vapors released by new Carpet. Then in less than a Month had all carpeting removed from their new Office Buildings.

I guess it's different when the EPA had to put up with all the Headaches & sore throats. Do you remember the EPA doing that? I do & many other OKed Pesticides they gave the green light to that were later banned.

This new Copperized PT lacks the Arsenic but leaches Copper so that's a problem in it's self for use around plants.