elpolloloco! Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Help We have been growing our own veggies for years in a bed surruonded by old reclaimed railway sleepers. I've just seen a gardening program which say's they are dangerous as they leak cresote/tar into the soil. I've never given this a thought Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Not heard that one, I thought they were used quite widely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I think I'd heard that somewhere in the dim and distant past. Didn't pay a lot of attention, I'm afraid, not having any railway sleepers of my own . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I do remember something about that. I seem to recall that the general feeling was that the risk was negligable..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milli Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Yes when I was working at an environmental centre with a market garden this problem was discussed. I'm not sure if the risk is more than negligible, but if you are worried you could always line the raised beds with a plastic lining (not that I am particularly fond of plastic!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I heard about that too. One tip is to make sure that you leave a slight 'border' around the bed, so that the veggies don't come into contact with the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardene5 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hi We have not heard any thing about railway sleepers but surely if you put lining sheets up the sides of the sleepers before the soil goes in this would sort out the problem. Best regards Ian & Valerie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 There was quite a bit about it last year on various gardening forums - and most people decided the risk was negligible and particularly so if lined with plastic. We've got quite a few raised beds with sleeper edgings......I haven't bothered lining them yet as I'd have to move a lot of soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I've heard that too, but always thought it was bad for the plants, rather than the person eating them..... am not sure what this says about my priorities. I would also imagine that railway companies are keen to encourage the story, too, as re-using old sleepers was really popular before this story was around, I think. I'd not worry, or possibly line with plastic and definitely not worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 best thing to line them with is builders blue membrane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 There were railway sleepers in the garden when we moved here. Every hot spell (well, there used to be some hot summers) the tar oozed out. I was forever wiping it off my daughter's legs and fingers. So when we replanned the garden we moved them and now the shed sits on top of them - with gaps underneath for the hedgehogs. When we first did the base the children pretended it was a pirate ship - needless to say that was in the winter and hence no mess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
