Rich, I built my first bed in spring 2003 of plain 2-by-8 construction lumber (spruce-pine-fir) from Home Depot. I didn't coat or seal it with anything. It's going on its third year now, and will last at least another year and probably a few more, from the looks of it. My current *guess* is that it will last five to seven years total. I'm in the northern Virginia area (hot, humid summer, pretty wet winter and spring).

I built two more beds in the fall 2004 with the same lumber, but applied boiled linseed oil to it. I don't think it will make a big difference; I just happened to have it around and was curious. Given that my plain untreated, uncoated bed is holding out so well, I'm not sure it was worth the effort. Too soon to tell if it will make much difference. I'd think hard before I used any other coating or sealer because I'd worry about the chemicals in it.

By the way, Rich, where did you get black locust 6x6 posts? That sounds great -- black locust is supposed to be very decay resistant, isn't it? Wish I could get some!

Dazzlemewithcolor, I would assume most cedar (as bought) is *not* treated with anything, since it's pretty decay-resistant naturally. (That's why it's popular for outdoor use.) I'm not saying it couldn't be, but I've never heard of pressure-treated cedar.

--Riff.