Nice! I'm not too worried about the soil being too hot, there isn't a lot of concentrated manure anywhere in it. The back yard is currently decomposed granite, and almost sterile. I'm going to sheet mulch with cardboard and some organic matter (chosen based of what is growing there, and their nutrient needs), and fill over the top. What kind of wood are you using for your's? Any termite or decay problems you've encountered? Do you use any kind of a lining to keep the dirt off the wood?

I have two primary garden areas. One is our main production garden, I have been given permission to use the 'back yard' this year for an experimental garden, to try different varieties and options for eventual inclusion in the main garden. First project this year is building a series of planter boxes in the back yard area, to do some raised beds. The soil is abysmal there, so I will be bringing in topsoil from our chicken run/compost burying area. It appears to be very high in nutients at the moment, so we'll see how it grows veggies.

Hello everyone, I live out in California, Sunset Western Zone 7, for anyone that particularly cares. :-) Means it gets juuust cold enough to kill citrus. I have been doing the garden on my family's property for the last few years, trying some new things this year, and hope to build a greenhouse this summer. We're focusing on eating organically and living more sustainably, so really looking forward to learning more from all of you! Eric