I need to make a raised bed vegtable garden for a senior community and their residents to use.?

Once again Sweet Pea is throwing money at a problem instead of reading the content of the question. While checking out the ft2 gardening book doesn't cost anything: peatmoss, humus & vermiculite DO!

Call local painters & ask if you can have their scrap plastic from paint jobs. Or call your local United Way & ask if they know of an agency that will help fund your project.

My Grandfather used pressure treated oval 3X4X12's to border his garden & hold down the plastic & his garden was always amazing. Incidentally he got his plastic in the paint section of Big Lots! It was the most expensive of his garden props but he was elderly & couldn't weed.

Maybe you could contact local churches & find if they could get their youth groups behind the effort?

Untreated lumber will warp easier & be at the mercy of the elements but it will at least last you 12 months. If you cant buy lumber you can always use rock to border with. A low rock wall would be even more durable but it would depend on "availability" in your area.

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No on pressure treated lumber. Redwood & cedar may be too costly. Untreated lumber would last for a number of years. Search a salvage yard for oak beams, concrete blocks, bricks; just don't use mortar. I'm unsure if you would want to try tires. Stack & fill with dirt as you build the wall. Not sure of any possible leaching of chemicals tho they would last for ages.

Seems the major challenge is the 3 feet high requirement. Need to consider something that will not collapse from the pressure of the dirt. Ideally, inter-locking landscape blocks would hold the best but suspect exceeds your budget. Assume that's for the seniors ease of access.

NO!!! Don't use that!!! There are other products you could use on the cheap, but can I suggest you ask a lumber yard or supplier to DONATE the lumber? They may be more than happy to assist in exchange for free advertising in your garden area (ie, "garden supplies and lumber donated by xyz" signs). There are a couple of great books on raised beds at the library. Mel Bartholomew wrote "Square Foot Gardening" and there is another (I can't remember the exact name or author) something about growing 100 pounds of tomatoes in a cheap foam box. The boxes are reusable and seem easy to assemble and should work for your needs. I have my raised beds in a couple halved 50 gallon plastic drums I picked up for $5 each from a barrel guy that gets them from food factories (Be sure they are food safe). I cut them in half the short way (they stand on their tops and bottoms) with a jigsaw and drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. There are lots of other ideas out there, be creative!!!

NO, DO NOT USE TREATED LUMBER. It is poisonous.

Now, go to the library, get the book Square Foot Gardening. The system is perfect for seniors and there are directions for raised beds.

NO. Do not use treated lumber.Regular two x fours is ok.Cinder blocks work well too and cheap to buy.

how about landscape blocks? they can be cheap to get and easily arranged.