I am a real rookie and realize that PT wood is not good, but I wonder how to resolve the issue if I want to use railroad ties. Would it be safe to simply paint &/or use a water based sealant to protect the garden? Thanks
Agreed. Anything treated with pentacholorophenols is best used for landscaping, growing non-edibles. A basic yet possibly useful article here: http://www.ecologicalsgardens.com/materials.htm