55 gallon barrels for raised garden bed

MontePerez

I'm going to craft a raised garden bed using 55 gallon poly barrels (halved), but I'm worried about the plastic toxins seeping into the soil. Does anyone know a good solution to this, maybe some sort of liner to create a barrier? Thanks!

judsoncarroll4

If they are food grade plastic, you'll probably be alright so long as they are not exposed to direct sun and the soil isn't super acidic... which it wouldn't be. So, I would partially bury them then us a mulch on the top that goes over the edges to keep them shaded and cool.

Merin Porter

This is an interesting idea -- @MontePerez how would you set them up? Fully buried, or above-ground with supports on the sides, or something else I haven't thought of? I have some 55 gallon food-grade barrels that I have transported cross-country because I have dreams of filling them with water and taking advantage of our high altitude and serious sunshine to heat the water during the day and create a bit of a microclimate for warm-weather plants as the barrels release their heat at night during the summer. Still on the "One Day" list, but you know how that goes.... :)

Monek Marie

@MontePerez My friend built his above ground so that they would be waist height. He has used them for at least 5 years and lives in town so the neighborhood did not have any issue with them.

What I liked about his set up is he attached water hose so he could do a self watering program. He really produces a lot of food this way. And he used food grade barrels

@Merin Porter I like you idea of making a microclimate