Gotcha. It was the bricks you were talking. These things are rated for 1,700 f and 2.5 " thick. They have hundreds and need them gone. Sadly they pay twice and throw brand new stuff away . I'll take all freebies

HUGE score today with 2 VERY nice crates came home from Germany.
They even have nice tops.
Found my local farmer is a feed supplier so it was a good day

Yea the fire bricks.  Our pig left today for greener pastures. I know it's late as it should of went  in the fall, but I have some garlic bulbs to plant asap.

Question.?
I'm going to start filling the wooden crates with dirt.
My thoughts: Do' s and don t welcomed.
1. Lining the crates with plastic to prevent rot . Yes or no ?
2. Drlling holes in the bottom for drainage.

Just like a flower pot, put stones in the bottom, otherwise you get a pool. I've used weed cloth over the stones to prevent clogging. I built raised boxes out of locust logs so they last many  years. As for the plastic, it's better not to hold water and have some side drainage, too, but as long as it drains well from the bottom... I have coated pine with Thompson's water seal  and got a few years out of it for a customer's garden (they had the lumber-wanted to use it up). It also helps to have  a friable soil mix. Don't use much of that clay you got for soil without adding humus, sand, and gypsum.  Speaking of that, remember the soil under the boxes has to drain, too. If there's nowhere for the water to drain it'll stay in the boxes. A good way to install a drain is to put 4" perforated drain pipe in the bottom of the boxes and let it exit just above grade. That way you don't worry about flower potting with the clay. Sorry if I insulted you with too much 411. Best of luck with the garden and the stripers. I may go down by Saugerties one of these days with the yak.

HT if you ever luck out with a few free square of rolled roofing or shingles, scoff it up neighbor. Excellent liner material. Also, keep a slight slant on the bottom of your boxes for drainage, if you can.

Fichy that was sound advice on the soil admendments, especially for crops like Asparagus that do not do well in clay soil.  Takes two years for Asparagus to really grab hold and 6 years later I'm still waiting for more than just a sprout here or a sprout there.  Stupid clay soil!!

HT, if you want to have a loose soil mix use gypsum & peat moss as Fichy advised along with vermiculite or perlite.  Another additive is epsom salts to help plants green up faster and prevent blossom end rot.  Don't forget to test soil PH regularly because the raised beds may leach nutrients faster than traditional gardens.  

All good advice . Thanks !! I would have forgotten the stone. I'm used to raised bed , not so much containers. No clay will be used. Didn't get time to fill with soil today but moved a few in place and cut them down after this picture. If we get a lot of rain , it will let me see how they fare.
My firewood pile was in that spot and given it's south facing, I moved the firewood.
Rain tomorrow I guess. I think it's time I have a campfire 😉 to rid some scraps.
Built a compost bin , cut some trees and made 2 trips to the local dump. Officer Opie woulda been proud.
Boat , boat, boat detail tomorrow. I hear there are fish in my mighty muddy river.

Cleared some brush ridden area yesterday. Wish i could slash and burn but it was all manual labor with lopers and rake.
Got 5 each black and raspberry plants today going in there. Lotta $$$ getting tied up so far. Hope it all provides in the end . My garden projects are another or 2 years out on my expectations