Since it’s inevitable that all wood in contact with the ground contact will eventually rot, the challenge isn’t to try to make it last forever, just as long as possible. Pressure treated pine is great for decks and fences, but not a good choice for building projects like raised garden beds and chicken coops, where there is direct contact with food or animals. Still, these urban farm structures often represent a significant investment, and every effort should be made to make them last as long as possible. Here at Microfarm, we build the vast majority of our projects using various sizes of Western Red Cedar lumber. It naturally resists rot and decay much better than other softwood varieties like Spruce, Pine, or Fir, but will still eventually succumb to the elements. So how do we safely extend the life of cedar garden beds, chicken coops, compost systems, and wooden greenhouse frames that we build?
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