JohnyMac, the arsenic leech is minimal to the point of being a non issue. I did quite a bit of research on that, but based on the fact that your regular wood lasted 10+ years and can be tossed in when it finally does rot makes it a better option in my opinion. I'll give that a try on my next one. Cinder blocks would be great, I REALLY like that idea, but until I am in a house where I won't be moving again (I hate the suburbs), that's not an option. Side note: the cinder blocks will pull minerals out of the soil. I learned about this when I had problems growing plants next to the foundation of my home.
special-k, selective reading?
I didn't say I added peat moss. The only place where I mentioned it, I mentioned it being ONE option of several. In fact, the article clearly states that I only used soil and manure. (I've added compost to the top as time has gone on.) No one "sold" me anything. I did my research on several university and agricultural sites; the last person I ask for advice is the Home Depot/Lowes guy...they are about as useless and ignorant as our POTUS.
Drainage isn't (or doesn't seem to be) the problem?when I water, you can see water come out from under the sides of the bed. That being said, your mention of it gave me the idea that it probably wouldn't hurt to drive and remove a piece of rebar 3-4 feet deep all over the bed to loosen the soil beneath the beds. Sort of like how the lawn guys will walk around with those spiky shoes every few months to aerate your lawn. Come to think of it, you may have given me an idea for a simple device to speed that up.
I'm not to worried about the paper ash?the ink is soy ink (from stuff we printed at home). The wife is in HR and produces a LOT of paperwork that can't be thrown away as-is. The paper itself probably contains some bleach, but that's minimal. It's a one-time thing anyway just to kill the weeds.
I'm definitely going to check the ph?the more I look at it, the more likely that looks to be the issue. All beds were made the exact same way, but this one is the only problem child. The fact that there seem to be no more earthworms in this one could indicate either a ph issue or that I need to kill more opossums.
Last night I planted squash in the bed, so we'll see shortly if anything is different. It may just have been too hot for the tomatoes.