Mike Strong

5 years ago I built 3 raised beds using concrete blocks. 2 of them I decided to save some money on, and filled the bottom 1/3 with shredded cedar mulch. The rest and the 3rd bed were filled with a mix of peat and compost.  For 3 to 3.5 years most plants in those 2 beds were anemic or pathetic at best. Last summer I finally started to get good results.
In Gardenlab 2.0 (My side yard with growing pots and such to test seedsaving and what grows well in my climate) I filled the bottom 1/3 of a few pots with cedar and tried a few veggies. All suffered problems. The plantopsy revealed roots growing right down to the cedar where they stopped like it was a barrier.
The only thing I know that will grow in a cedar environment is Bermuda grass. Don't grow Bermuda grass. Ever.

I noticed small bits of red, green, blue plastic in my bags of "Organic" "OMRI certified" soil from the big box store. What it leads me to believe is that the "compost" that they use is the same compost that most cities provide - shredded partially composted material from the city yard waste programs, which includes the trash picked up by the lawn mowers and the herbicides that were sprayed on those plants. It would explain why some people have their seedlings killed when potted in these soils. I have also seen postings that some of these also include small amounts of sewage in them.
So I am wondering if running this material through a composting cycle would be worth the effort.

I am starting to think that just getting shredded trees from arborists and composting that would be better.

Well we finally got the project / campaign launched on GoFundMe. When we get the project up on its feet we will acquire more plots to develop. That is why I was asking the questions earlier. If things go well we can spread outside my state.

Here is the link:
https://gf.me/u/y4s7y3

Please help me get the word out and thanks for any support!

I am working on a business concept that might help permaculture get more traction, and I want to see how deep the field is where this is planned to start. So the question:
Who of you
a) have a permaculture design certificate
b) do not have a 1+ acre plot of land to work on but want to design, implement, and manage one
and
c) live in California or are willing to move here