In this one we show how we made an unusual but very simple design for a slug-proof raised bed vegetable patch. These raised beds are very cheap, as we made them from chainsaw milling off cuts (slabwood) and branches that would have been firewood.

The construction is very straightforward. and primarily done with a chainsaw! The idea is to use the top and bottom slabs, that have one awkward irregular face and therefore will not stack easily for drying.

Even the mitre joints on the ends are made with a chainsaw, clamped into a ridiculously simple mitre jig.

The jig made from two parts. The first, a very large straight right angled triangle made with oak boards with spline joints and ply reinforcement. The second, the vertical mill attachment: it is the same one used to make these gate posts. The mill sits snuggly on some perpendicular channels cut into the face of the large triangle, and is locked in place with a regular woodworking clamp.

The slug resistance comes from a specially angled section of the raised beds, as shown near the end of the video. It essentially provides a fortification that is very hard for the slugs to climb round without falling off.

For durability, the timber used on the beds is charred (as in the shou-sugi ban preservative method) on the inside using the ‘burn unit’ of the rocket stove BBQ (you can see a video of how that’s designed and made here)

The mitred corners of the raised beds are held together with four corner posts. These are simply oak branches from the firewood pile, that we cut a quarter out of with the chainsaw (freehand), like so…

Along with the inside edges of the raised bed sides, the corner posts also get the shou-sugi ban preservation treatment.

We will have to report back on how well the slug-proofiness works in a part two. It’s kinda unlikely to be 100% effective, but we shall see….

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Posted: 11|1|20 at 4:58 pm. Categorically squeezed into: Invent.

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