Railway sleepers for raised beds?

[zazen999]

Ditto - what a great friend!

[country-girl]

A great friend,yes! When friends offer things like this im sure sometimes they dont realise what a difference they make to your lives. My husband has just put in for voluntary redundancy to pursue a different way of life. He is 38 and worked very hard from leaving school. He missed out on a lot of family time with his children when they were younger. At 38 you may think he/we is/are mad but we have planned to change our lives,to become more self sufficient and live what we would call "better lives" for a long time now. So here we are making steps towards that life and friends are helping us along the way. We are very lucky.

[Pumpkin Becki]

That's an amazing and couragous step to take. I wish you every success.

PB xx

[Snadger]

A great friend,yes! When friends offer things like this im sure sometimes they dont realise what a difference they make to your lives. My husband has just put in for voluntary redundancy to pursue a different way of life. He is 38 and worked very hard from leaving school. He missed out on a lot of family time with his children when they were younger. At 38 you may think he/we is/are mad but we have planned to change our lives,to become more self sufficient and live what we would call "better lives" for a long time now. So here we are making steps towards that life and friends are helping us along the way. We are very lucky.

You'll have to post a few piccies when you get your beds made so we can all drool over our keyboards!

[Pies]

Id not use used railway sleepers full stop,the treatments are carcinogenic more info read here

Deadly railway sleepers ? Myths about railway sleepers

New railway sleepers are fine but you lose alot of growing space due to the thickness

[country-girl]

Thanks PB. I try not to talk about it too much as it makes me nervous. (but the excitement outweighs the nerves).

Snadger. I certainly will. I have the camera at the ready. It maybe greenhouse piccys first though as i have just become the proud owner of a (secondhand,but perfect in my eyes) 6 x 10ft greenhouse. So today im quite giddy!
I just have to arrange transportation to get the sleepers home and the jobs a good en! I love it when a plan comes together!!!!

And thank you Pies. I will check that link out. Im not so concerned about the space they take up.Maybe i will be in a few years time when i get the hang of growing veg and have a little faith in myself. I may then realise that they do take up a valuable part of my garden.

But for now im off to Wilkos for some tatties...

[Jimmy]

Make mine from recycle pallets.
Pallets consist of planks about 3 foot long by 6 inch wide. Plus length of timber similar to 3"x2" timber.
So I cut the timer into pointed stakes about 2 foot long and nail a couple of the planks on.
Thus I end up with lots of what might be call "little fences".
Dig the fence/stakes into the ground , don't hammer them in.
Treat the timber and they will last quite a few years. As the deteriate they are easy and cheap to replace.
Dismatling the pallets is a bit fiddly but if you are good you will also get free nails to reassemble your little fences.
Jimmy

[Pumpy]

Railway sleepers are also very heavy. I moved a load through a very small flat once. Tight corners and the owner collected china, we were very nervous.

[country-girl]

Make mine from recycle pallets.
Pallets consist of planks about 3 foot long by 6 inch wide. Plus length of timber similar to 3"x2" timber.
So I cut the timer into pointed stakes about 2 foot long and nail a couple of the planks on.
Thus I end up with lots of what might be call "little fences".
Dig the fence/stakes into the ground , don't hammer them in.
Treat the timber and they will last quite a few years. As the deteriate they are easy and cheap to replace.
Dismatling the pallets is a bit fiddly but if you are good you will also get free nails to reassemble your little fences.
Jimmy

Great idea. I imagine they are quite decorative looking raised beds.

and thanks for the advice pumpy. I suppose its a good job i have a big strong strapping hubby to do the work for me! He can be a little clumsy though. Maybe we ought to move the caravan first!

[Jimmy]

I will try for a pictue at weekend but the Veg plot is in a complete state at the moment.
I am starting to get the stirrings inside me to get out and garden.
Jimmy