Oscar Cotton

Thank you Chris and Chad for the helpful responses. I have no particular reason to believe the soil is contaminated. My home was built in 1946 and the area where I plan to put the garden is only a few feet from the house, so I'm concerned about toxins coming from the house, as well as any chemicals that the lawn may have been treated with in the past. It sounds like a soil test would be wise.

I'm starting a vegetable garden for the first time. I'll be using a cedar raised bed. It's going in the backyard of my new home, so I'm not sure about the condition of the existing soil and if there are any toxins present. What can I use as a liner to separate the existing soil from the new soil that I will be using for the garden? I'd like to avoid plastics or other synthetics, because I don't want it leeching into the new soil. Could I use burlap? Mulch? A combination of the two? Any other ideas? What will keep the new soil from being contaminated by the old soil and also prevent weeds and critters from getting into my new soil?

Thanks!