Non Toxic Wood Treatment to Protect Your Raised Beds Instead of Paint or Stain 

Thanks for sharing this awesome product. i have tried to find something that treat wood without any harm for my vegetable raised bed and I almost give up until saw this video. Thank you so much!!!

Thanks, John. I bought some of this and have not tried it yet. Everything you say makes complete sense. It is a nontoxic mineral product vs chemicals. I give this idea a thumbs UP. Thanks and great idea on submerging the wood.

Oh, I completely understand and respect that. I was just going on the premiss that I think most people want something that is functional and at the cheapest price. Of course no one wants it to look like a dump site, but I think the function and look can be accomplished with cheaper wood. We aren't building a deck that we want to last for 20 years, we're building a garden. I think that's where most people get caught up.

E. Fudd hey John i might know something that might work. beekeepers treat raw wood surfaces on the beebox-cages with a mixture of boiled linseed oil and melted beeswax which applied while the wax is still warm. hope this application in comparison is both up to the task and cost effective

There's a Japanese technique of wood preservation called shou sugi ban. It's done by charring the wood with fire. From what I've read it protects wood from rot and pests for 80-100 years!

"I feel like they're fairly safe, they're just some powdered up stuff"....ARE YOU LISTENING TO YOURSELF????!!!!!!

I always bring up the same thing. I just used what was cheap at the time (douglas fir) and it has lasted me years as-is and looks fine.

You are absolutely right! Folks with serious health conditions need to avoid harmful chemicals at all cost. However, I do want to point out that pressure treated woods these days do not use the same chemicals that they used to. For example, arsenic is no longer used. Also, most of us have no idea what chemicals farmers are using for their fertilizers and insecticides, so pressure treated still may be a safer option than buying from a farmer.

"I feel they are fairly safe". Seriously?? Anything that holds up to docks could contain heavy metals, which are, after-all minerals, right? Any company that refuses to disclose the ingredients is not to be trusted for use in an organic garden, IMHO.

I am building some beds now and was on the fence about this product. Your timing couldn't have been better for this video. Thank you.

I bought a small box of this on eBay for about $15. None of the other online retailers will ship it to California. Used it to treat 4 raised beds. 2.5' x 6' each. I still have maybe 3/4 gallon left already mixed if anyone near Rancho Cucamonga, CA wants it. I broke down a large paper towel cardboard box, formed it into the shape of the 6' cedar fence boards, lined it with trash bags, and dipped all of the wood.

Hey John look up the Material Safety Date Sheet (MSDS) on this product and you will find out that it's hazardous decomposition produces Sulfur Dioxide SO2(small 2). Not Good!

Use pine tar. There are churches in norway that where built in the Viking Age, coated with pine tar, and they're still standing.

How is the treated wood holding up now please being 7 years later?

I just bought Garden-seal clear sealer. No VOC's and can be used on plant cuttings.

Hi john. I used the Eco wood treatment on my 24" wood box planter. The problem I have on this product is, the black stained residue stayed it on my cement floor where the wooden box was placed. I cannot removed the stained from the Eco wood treatment off my cement floor. So if you ever use the product. The planter need to place on the dirt area. Not on the cement area.

In general, I recommend protecting wood that will be in contact with soil with straight dark pine tar resin. Wood that will be visible you can treat with dark, light pine tar resin, pine tar stain, mixed equal parts with raw linseed oil. These products are available from the Eco Living Rooms store at 12 Cataraqui Street, just east of Rideau Street and west of The Woolen Mill. If you don't live in Kingston, you can order it from www.solventfreepaint.ca. If you liven in the US, you can order it from www.solventfreepaint.com. For raised beds, if you have the space, you can build hugels, using a mix of fresh, dry, and rotting logs, fill the gaps with yard wastes, whatever yard wastes you happen to have, like leaves, weeds, etc, and then top off with soil. You can grow things like clover on while the soil is think and as things rot the soil will get thicker and thus able to accommodate deeper rooted plants.

So how did the Ecowood hold up in your garden?

I tried it this year, very cool the way it changes color in the sun.

6 years on.. hows it holding?

I do see your point, but for the gardeners who'd like to have something look a little nicer and last a little longer, this video seems pretty helpful.

I have to set up a beehive for someone that asked me to do it for them. This sounds good to use for it! I'll check it out. thank you!

the only proof for this product is in it's longevity, meanwhile I will stay with what I got and simply replace wood as it deteriorates to the point of uselessness. I will use the boards I removed to build a fire and roast hotdogs and marshmallows. y'all are all invited.

“Don’t know what’s in it but I feel it’s totally safe” I’ll get advice elsewhere I guess

Is it good on plywood? Will it make the plywood come unglued?

Off topic, but I like the drum-like raised planters in the background. Where did you get them or how were they constructed?

Hi John, ive used tung oil or linseed oil, and bee wax diluted in trementine, this finish is actually waterpoof, but are quite expensive. could you tell me what minerals this product has? because i dont think i can find it where i live, so maybe i can find something similar. Thanks

Hey John, what material are the raised round beds made of , that I see behind you in the video ? Looks like these are 12" tall, Right ?

I don't think they were, but I could be wrong. However, I do recall them also selling ones that were made of cedar, which were only about a buck more per board. Also keep mind that they no longer use arsenate to threat wood for home use. Now that doesn't mean it's safe for us to start sucking on treated toothpicks :)

Would it be worth it to use this treatment on my already sad looking deck before treatment?

I'm going to use Gronomics Cedar Garden Bed Oil. A blend of natural and citrus oils for preserving and protecting the wood. Some of us are uncomfortable kneeling and bending so we like raised beds also you can grow plants that like to creep and hang.

Rain gutters with sides attached would be a good soaking rig for long boards...also, hope no one's pee is anywhere near that color! You'd want to go to the hospital if so, lol! It's ochre color. Ochre is a mineral, maybe it's in this mix. Thanks for this - I was looking for an option and I LoVE that grey, driftwood look, thank you!

John I look forward to seeing your updates on this product. How well is it supposed to protect from UV damage? Out here in AZ we have more problems with wood drying out and cracking from UV than from rot.

Chemicals are often added to concrete for various reasons, such as affecting curing time, plasticity, etc, including various formayldehyde compounds. Flyash, recovered from the stacks of coal-fired power plants, is often incorporated. Flyash can be a source of gypsum, but notoriously contains toxins like mercury. These are among the reasons I'm not comfortable using concrete in contact with soil that is used to grow food. If there is a source w/out these additives, that would be great!

John, great video. You mention "virgin wood". Please note this product will only work if your deck, dock, or raised bed wood has NEVER been treated with ANYTHING.

How can you recommend something that you haven't used yourself? AND, have absolutely no idea what it contains?

2 years ago. How did it hold up to date?

dig hole a little larger than lumber ie 2x6x10 line with 6mil or thicker plastic sheeting now soak /dip board

12 minutes! Great timing, thank you!!! Keep up the good timing.

how did this hold up over time???

Cheap is good and free is even better. I just built another bed out of 2x4's that I pulled out of a home construction dumpster. However, my beds are in my back yard, so if they were in my front yard like John has, then I'm sure I'd want them a bit "prettier" :)

Food grade mineral oil could be a safe and effective way to treat wood used in raised bed gardens. It probally would have to be applied every year

Dar n it! Can't find the manufacturer. They seemed to have gone out of business. Does anyone know if they are under a new name?

Exactly. Or if you don't mind spending a bit of money for long term results I suggest using old railroad ties. They are treated with creosote so they last many years. There are tutorials for this project.

Thanks for all your hard work and investigation John

Thanks John you're the man just finished my first and second raised beds can't wait to plant them out. This video is a little late to soak them but maybe if I get some I'll spray it on.

please can you put a link to your update on this in your heading. I'd really like to know how this is still going.

No way I'm using that based on some dude's word that it's non-toxic after he says he can't tell me what's in it. Especially when the guy telling me that is the same guy trying to sell it to me.

do plants even absorb toxic and harmful chemicals? if so, does it get converted to good nutrients?

How has the treatment held up now 11 years later?

did you get this free or did you buy it, is there any lab that has certified it non toxic, Thanks

I am going to have to try that and not just for gardening but for the things I make outdoors out of wood for the cats to play on. It should be safe for animals too I would think. I will check on that to be sure though. - Heidi

How is the product holding up?

I have a question about how you built the round raised beds in the background and what materials you used?

There is a product called Timber Pro (this is non toxic) based in Portland Oregon it is called Internal Wood Stabilizer. Clint of Gardenfrugal mentioned it on one of his videos. I am giving it a try and will see. Apparently it is a very good reliable product.

If you buy wood, you could buy some that's thermally modified. I think that makes it rot resistant.

The oil-based stains are breeding grounds for mold, unless they contain chemicals to prevent that (aka deck stains). Pressure treated wood no longer contains arsenic. The newer ACQ wood contains copper to deter insects and quat fungicide, which is the same used in swimming pools as a disinfectant. Risk is minimal to nonexistent in my opinion. Treated wood lasts longer, which means fewer trees cut down.

very informative! You explain it really well. I still haven't found azomite. John: "that's a nice yellow...dark pee color actually!" hahaha!

Awesome, great video! I'll definitely give this a try... Presently in the market for this kind of a product that I'll use on a wood bowl to plant succulents . The before/after part was very helpful!

What about the Penafel Rosewood oil? You used that in a previous vid. I then used it and it worked great. Am I missing something?

Has anyone ever tried coating the wood in parafin wax (or bees wax if you want to be hard core organic)? I did that with some pine 2x12's, just melted it on there with an iron (like for clothes) and ironed the wax in. I know that sounds a little crazy, but it's the same iron I use to wax my snowboards ($5 at walmart). Anyway, 1 year later and those beds still look like new and water beads off of them...

If I'm not mistaken, he said in a previous video that they were ten foot lengths of plastic.

This is incredible product.

I will have to look around for this product. I was thinking of saturating the wood inside the raised bed with vegetable oil to help delay rot, any idea how well that might work? Great vids.

Thanks, saved me from making a dumb mistake.

By any chance, do you know if the fence posts are treated?

Those appear to be anti-static bags. Were they silvery in color? If so, these are used typically with sensitive metals. If these are anti-static bags, that means metal is in those bags most likely and you should ask the manufacturer why they are using anti-static bags. The last thing you want in your wood and food is heavy metals.

update??? been 7yrs now

The chemicals that they are treated with to make them 'for fences' is the issue. Sure, you have eaten food grown in soil that may have leached some of them and you are just fine. I have Leukemia and those chemicals interract with my meds that keep me alive.., and for some like me, it makes all the difference in the world. Keep doing what works for you... :)

Oh, ok. Can you please tell me the source of where you got it from? I'd like to pick some up but not sure where to get it. thanks. :)

Will borax preserve wood as well?

Wonder if you could use water soluble Azomite to do the same thing. this looks like it protects the wood, because you are basically petrifying it.

Hey its my Juice Guy!

hey john do you get free samples? thank you for all your work on yhese videos.

Where did u get the plastic ring raised bed from?

How much wax did you use and how much does it cost?

Is the bag now flammable?

True, that. The point is to do the best you can with what you have to work with. Even so, the least amount of 'stuff'' we add or let get added to our food sources, the better. Homegrown, even imprefectly homegrown is still loads better than commercial. Homegrown carefully is even better than homegrown haphazzardly. I agree with you tho, that at least growing your own is a big step in the right direction. :)

Great! I’ve been looking for something safe 👍

Use linseed and get a plastic drum fill it with linseed and dunk the wood into the linseed ore let them soak raw linseed is as natural as the wood.

3 years on.....how is this holding up?

Amigo John ase tiempo te vengo siguiendo me gustan tus videos adelante amigo con los comentarios negativos no Hagas caso no te alcanso a entender el nombre del producto para tratar la madera si me lo mandas por favor tu Amigo Jose adelante...

I know this isn't the right video to ask my question but, I saw "non toxic".. I found a natural remedy to prevent pests on plants with eucalyptus oil and water.. That's fine for plants but will it be bad for catnip and veggies?? I was also told about neem oil for outdoor plants but still don't know if I can spray it on edible plants.. please help :)

Yo yo from B.C.! The next time you visit, you should check out all of the amazing community gardens we've got growing around the Metro Vancouver Area! We even have some gardeners growing year round, and some awesome garden projects connected to the Food Bank and elementary schools! Thanks for giving us a shout out!

LOL, I see what you did there. You win the internet today.

Does anyone know the ingredients of this product?

I’m surprised you’re using that without knowing the ingredients, but I trust your judgement..

John try concrete blocks for raised beds

Some of the reviewers on Home Depot are worried that the product may not live up to its claims. What they need to remember is that the nice thing about buying from HD is you can always get a refund or at least a credit, because they keep a record of all your purchases. Just don't pay cash! (Who does, nowadays?)

What exactly is in it?

He said that that the color is a "dark pee color actually"... Dude, get a kidney and bladder test. lol

I’m seeing how a treatment of walnut oil and beeswax works on cedar beds we just assembles. Let Yah know in a few years. 😉.

So grateful

HI is there an updated video on this product lol

John, Im amazed you didn't got for any morning wood jokes, but good episode nonetheless lol. I wonder if this product is available in europe though.

You are so fun to watch brother. Also, very educational. Thanks. Peace!

Hi, John. I actually saw this a couple days ago on another video of yours from a hardware and gardening show. I was looking at this last night but didn't. Then I came to your channel today and what was there? This awesome video. THANKS! We've now ordered ours from Home Depot dot com and didn't have to pay shipping if we were willing to pick it up at the store. That might help some folks out a bit! It will be at our local HD in 4 days. Thanks for your great videos!

if you want to protect you wood use a trojan XD

Mix in warm water. 4tbl neem to same soap in 1gallon.

I don't get all the hubbub about building raised beds with thick lumber and sealing and protecting it. I always see people building their beds with 2"x6" lumber and spending time and money sealing it. I just build my beds with boards meant for fences. They are like 1"x6" and cost like a dollar or two a board. Lasted years so far. And worst case I replace them every 3-4 years. Still way cheaper than dealing with all this.