Safe wood preservatives (Vegatable grower)

[student12]

I have built raised beds for vegatable growing - built from untreated timber, I want to prolong life by treating with a safe / organic ? / veg & fruit friendly preservative. Any ideas on makes / brands / suppliers ?

[Clanad]

Now that the beds have been built, it's going to be difficult if not impossible to treat the lumber effectively. Problem is the outsides can be treated with any number of products, but the insides will be in contact with damp earth and will rot fairly quickly... at least here in the U.S. When dimension lumber is treated comercially, its is soaked in containers so all sides are treated equally... in my opinion...

[nickmo]

An organic linseed oil may suit. Supplier here: http://www.auro.co.uk

As above, verify that the timber used has not been vac. treated before you built the beds asthis will defeat the intent to have no chemicals in touch with the soil. If its standard commercial timber it is likely to have been treated, but if you are certain it is an un-treated wood, expect this to eventually rot if you haven't applied anything to the inner surface.

If you havn'e filled the beds yet, contact Auro about the suitablility of Linseed for the inner face.