yes, what did you decide. I am where the sand blows up from Palm Springs into the higher levels of the desert. We have deep sand and crud for dirt. Takes a lot of compost for any reason. I am using containers (old trunk bottoms, plastic and chip board, deep wire trays) and putting up on top of legs (saw horses, old bath bench, old bench made with headboards and other table legs). I am lining it all with newspaper (and maybe also material), I also have some old drawers that I am gona do something with. I want to get up so I can use good dirt and be away from these pesky gophers and where the dogs will not dig. I also have a large bookcase that I will reinforce and add table legs to put in somethings. Still working this out bot in the yard and on paper. I plan on using some recycle type water in a big barrel to be able to water efficiently. I say recycle water cause if the grandkids play in a big tub or pool...I will use that water to water the garden. Thinking about setting up an outside shower and capture that water, lol. Who knows what will work annd what I will do. But I am gona try it this year. I am also going to try a potato tower.

I know this thread is literally a decade old... but, I was dead set to prove I'm not crazy, and neither are you! I live in Georgia, so southeast US as well. We (apparantly) used untreated lumber to build our two 20'x4' raised beds this year. I planted 9 stalks of peaches n' cream sweet corn at the far end of the first bed. They were doing great! Then, one started curling like it was dehydrated. So, I checked the soil, realized it could be a little more moist, but the roots were pretty close to the top of the soil. I decided it would be best to add a bag of garden soil around the stalks to keep the roots from being exposed when it rains. The next day, I go to check on the corn and that stalk was done for... and two more were showing signs of dehydration by curling. So, I pulled the dead one up and when I did, the stalk easily broke at the new soil line I had just added the day before! I thought it was strange and dug around the base of where the plant was to pull the remainder of the stalk and the roots out, and when I gently pushed the soil that I had just added out of the way, there were TONS of termites... just like your picture! I panicked and checked around the base of the other stalks and lo and behold - termites. So, I dumped the 2 stalks that were not salvageable and weighed the pros and cons of transplanting the stalks to the second bed. Do I risk losing the plants to shock or losing them to termites? So, I shocked the bejeesus out of them (sadly) by completely cleaning their root balls of termites by rinsing them in water (if I had any other choice...). I replanted them in the opposite end of the second bed and hoped the termites wouldn't make it that far before we could harvest... the corn did show signs of shock for about a week, but then perked up and took off! They were doing great! Then, I walked out to the garden one morning and two of the stalks had broken off at the soil line and completely fallen over... checked the soil - termites. So now, both beds are completely infested and I don't think I'll ever be able to grow corn in my garden :( Anyone have any luck planting termite buffet food in containers that they cannot penatrate? Metal garden beds? Heat treating the soil? I'm at such a loss and really disheartened... </3

The Term-a-Rid mulch says it lasts longer than most mulch, but I didn't see any claim of a certain amount of time. It was $4.98 a bag at Wal*Mart, the same price as the cedar mulch I probably should've bought. It kills termites by use of boron, which is supposedly safe to use around pets and children. I should have mentioned that the mulched bed is against the concrete-slab *patio*, not the actual house, and the patio extends about 15 feet out from the house. That doesn't count as the "foundation" does it? Gary, I'm in Breckenridge. I've seen "water bugs" (actually Oriental Cockroaches, according to the link below) everywhere from Villanova, PA, to Abilene, TX, usually in gas station restrooms or the like. They're N-A-S-T-Y. Maybe you're in *deep* West Texas, where it's too dry for them? Or maybe you go to nicer gas stations? Seriously, they were in my dorm in PA (where I woke up with a BIG one tangled into my long hair!) and in clean, expensive houses, too, which is what scares me. These railroad ties are very old and the creosote is no longer visible on most of them. They're rotting and there are LOTS of roly-polies and other creatures. I haven't actually seen any termites; just trying to be cautious. And if I saw a centipede, I'd RUN. The more legs something has, the more creeped out I get, plus I've heard they have one heck of a sting. The creosote brings me to another question: could the chemicals which are used in the railroad ties be unsafe to use near veggies & herbs? Is creosote toxic? Barb, you're my hero--I can handle snakes, mice, etc., but to squash a grub with my bare hands--no way. (((shudder))) This girl does NOT do bugs well. In fact, this whole thread is giving me major heebie-jeebies. While I was looking through bug identification websites a few minutes ago, I thought I felt something on my arm and I almost jumped out of my skin! You're right though; the more I garden, the less freaked out I get by them. Here is a link that might be useful: Oriental Roaches, a.k.a.

Macy, Thanks for the explanation of airplane bungalow as i thought it looked just like Craftsman bungalows all around our area of L.A. except they added the neat "carport" Across the street from church is a Craftsmen houose & it was getting weedy & in such disrepair & windows got broken. Then about 3 mos. ago painting company had trucks on both sides of street, wondered about that as didn't see anything happening(maybe doing inside 1st) but the house started getting redone & I think it will be beautiful, hope he does the yard, too. I love that when I am weeding(I volunteer) the blvd, I can look across & see such a great house, up until now I've always had to drive around the streets in San Fernando to see all those wonderful houses. Enjoyed reading the experiences of all you folks & your old homes turned treasures!