Rob Chambers

Thanks for your suggestions folks!  Very helpful ideas!
To answer your questions, pine is the affordable wood in my area and it does not hold up in my humid environment beyond a few years.
Thanks again!  Rob

Hi Folks:
In my vegetable garden I use 8-10 inch high raised beds with hardware cloth underneath primarily to defend against voles.  Wood sides do not last but a few years in my woodchipped garden space.  I'm considering concrete sides as an alternative.  I have experimented with concrete blocks, but they are overkill.  Seems like I could make some thinner walls using a form and Quikrete or another concrete mix.  Should I be worried about contaminating my soil?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Rob

I have an abundance of (free) fungal compost from decayed arborist woodchips.  I also have red clay topsoil.  Any other ingredients (i.e. peat, vermiculite, sand) I have in limited amounts or have to purchase.  Any advice on a tree potting mix that utilizes my free ingredients most effectively?  I am potting up some young figs, mulberry, and aronia berry. Thank you in advance!

I've noted with various compost piles over time that if black soldier fly larvae appear in quantity, I lose a lot of compost volume...so much that I am concerned that what would be compost is flying away as insects, seeping into the ground as bug urine, or otherwise disappearing somehow.  Are my concerns warranted?  My goal is to have as much compost for my vegetable beds as possible.  Note I do not have chickens to take advantage of the situation.  My inputs are primarily vegetative waste from the annual garden, kitchen scraps, and leaves.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful reply!