Dear Gardening Team,We have reached a stall with our raised beds and need your vote to move forward.
Please cast your ballot via email by Friday October 12th. To archive our decision making process for Aveson students and community members, responses will be posted as comments under the entry "Cast Your Vote" on www.avesongrows.blogspot.com.
After much research and discussion the Team has identified the following materials for use in the construction of our raised beds – both choices recommended by Organic Gardening. Please identify your material choice via email.
Thank you in advance for your input.
CHOICE A)
Construction Heart Redwood - Rot resistant hardwood; natural material; degrades over time – supplementing the soil and returning to the earth; aesthetically pleasing; harvest results in long term impact on forest ecosystem; lack of demand has made FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified redwood unavailable; next day delivery; $2950 + hardware.
CHOICE B)
Orcaboard – inert thermal-form plastic made from recycled milk jugs. 50 year product guarantee; used in public and commercial settings; can be recycled at the end of its useful life; no known leaching; fits together with tongue and groove design; not as aesthetically pleasing; fossil fuel inputs required for manufacture; identified as Most Environmentally Preferable among plastic lumber products by the Healthy Building Network; 99% post consumer recycled content - baking powder and a coloring agent are added; delivered in 2-3 weeks; $3674.00
For more information about our decision making process we offer you the following resources:
Organic Gardening Review of Raised Bed Materials
The Healthy Building Network Review of Plastic Lumber
Orcaboard
Forest Stewardship Council
