Dr. RedHawk, you said "I have not yet found a good solution for treated woods other than treating them with sodium hydroxide and then fungi, the sodium hydroxide soaks in and reacts with the nasty chemicals to change them to easier to digest chemicals then the fungi finish off the breakdown"
-- will you please share your process for treating the old lumber?
I just got my roof replaced and I have a lot of the old beams from my house that was built between 1948-1950 that I want to use at the bottom of my hugelkultur raised beds. Just like the original post, there are a lot a nails. But this wood is also very termite eaten, which is why I think it would be perfect for the bottom of the beds.
What is the strength of the sodium hydroxide solution that I should use to treat the wood with? Should I make a solution and then just soak the wood in it so that it get absorbed?
Also, I have the Porter Institute Biodynamic Compost Starter. I was planning to spray that on the old lumber once it is in the bottom of the bed to encourage it to break down well. Underneath the old lumber and against the ground, I'm planning to have several layers of cardboard for mycelium production.
Please share your suggestions on treating the lumber with sodium hydroxide – I would love to use my old lumber in the best way!
