allthumbsgardener

by Jann
(Helotes, TX )

I have just started my lasagna garden and decided to build my beds out of materials I had instead of buying them. I made the first two beds out of some fencing I had laying around. I lined the sides as well as the bottom of these beds with newspaper. The fencing has a pane about the 3x5" and I planted my strawberries in the side sections. This is experimental, but I figured that if those strawberry pots work, this may also. It also added to the space I had for planting. The other 4 beds I made out of chicken wire, just because I had so much of it. It looks a little shabby, but I got tired of buying a lot of stuff and then losing interest or having a pest problem and losing the crop.

I would like to ask questions of an expert on this subject.

1st question: Is the ink from the newspaper in any way toxic?

2nd question: If you plant in a new lasagna bed, Aren't the first few layers acid? The top layers being wood ash, oak leaves and peat moss. I know the wood ash is alkaline, but does it balance against that much acid material?

Any communication will be appreciated.