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flowerbug

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we get times like that too with it being fairly flat in our area, but gladly Mom/+ did have to bring in fill when they built this place to bring up the elevation for the drainfield. if they'd known they were going to be doing so much gardening they would have been really nice to bring in some good topsoil and fill before putting in all this other stuff but that ship has sailed as that is water well long gone under this bridge...
 

akroberts

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1000000314.jpg

This is the pallet wood bed that my husband and I built over the weekend. It's probably my favorite raised bed yet. I'm trying to figure out a way of coloring it but I want it to be naturally colored and not just weathered. If anyone might have an idea of what I can do to give it some color, please let me know. I posted a picture of the bed on my other thread "Organic Gardening 2025", but I didn't ask for any help in coloring it. Just let me know what you think.
 

flowerbug

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i don't think pallet wood has much in the way of preservatives in it. if you like red or rust colored things try looking into milk paints. if you want brighter colors chalk based for whites and plant or mineral extracts might provide some limited color, but in the end the UV from the sun can do a lot of damage to organic compounds so you may need to do protective sealant layers over any color to keep it bright.

the better your prep work the better paints stick and the longer they may last. so perhaps cleaning before coating and that may mean some drying time needed before painting.

when i redid the house stain here a few years ago i just jumped in and did not study up on how to do it at all. mistakes made and learned from. no plans on redoing any of it unless i have to.
 

digitS'

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Edit: while I was fiddling around on other things ⬆️ there's an answer from @flowerbug :).

"Think?" Well then, this is completely off the top of my head ;).

Boiled linseed oil is a traditional wood preservative. I understand that it isn't always 100% linseed so I'd be cautious.

I don't know how well it would preserve the wood but going over it with a propane torch would color the boards.

It turned out nicely and would be a shame if deterioration sets in quickly. Someone with more knowledge should reply or a call to your local extension office may provide an answer.

Steve
 

Dahlia

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I went to Walmart today and found out that someone had abandoned a rooster. I was trying to get him to come to me so that he would be safe but he wouldn't so I had to have my daughter call animal control and they said call the police department and they came out and picked him up. I cannot stand people that are so stupid as to abandon animals.
I know it is so sad! When I lived out in the country in CA people would drop off kittens out there to just abandon! Very sad.
 
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