[hubballi]

I have built (out of recycled pine wood from a futon  ) a raised bed on 4 sturdy legs that will help keep the slugs at bay when I put something on them like copper. Now I have treated the wood with Linseed oil, I am not sure what materiel's to use  to make the bottom of the bed where the soil/compost will sit. I have had the idea to keep the weight down to batten across the base with wood and then staple chicken wire mesh or something similar with plastic sheeting over it for drainage. The depth is not quite 8" deep so the less deep rooted and slug vulnerable veg like salad, Broad beans would be best grown.

I also need to fill it when finished. Do I just add garden soil mixed with multi purpose and a bit of home made garden compost ?

Does this sound like the best way or has someone else built one better ?

[Trillium]

I've seen something similar made and used by the Square Foot gardener, Mel Bartholomew. He used all potting mix with some compost to keep it light and fertile. Before each new crop, he added more compost and bonemeal. Not sure what he did with the base but plastic sheeting with some holes for drainage should work since the load above is light.