What are they? Why bother? And, how do you make them? Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy answers the basic questions of raised beds: what? why? and how? And she adds in a few details, too, about how big, how high, and other questions to consider before you start.

One question we didn't get to: if you're concerned at all about pressure treated lumber, don't use it or lay plastic between the wood and your soil. Amy uses pine, 2X10, untreated.

Next week: what to fill them with?