This is my first sfg and my boxes are to be made today so I can't say what others would suggest however I am considering using pine 2x6's and also thought about painting them only because they will look better. If you paint the outer side of the boards it shouldn't hurt the plants because they don't come in contact with the paint and yes it would make the garden look better. Look on this sfg site at the galleries of pictures and you can get some ideas. Welcome to the site, good to see someone else from NC.

I painted mine. I'm not too worried about latex house paint leaching through a 2" thick board.

Granny

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

lowraine - how do I look at those photos in the gallery that you mentioned? Also, where in NC are you? I'm in the Charlotte area.

granny - I was looking at your blog (great garden and blog, btw!) and couldn't find photos of your painted boxes. Do you have any photos?

Thanks!
Sangeo

Sangeo, the current blog has photos, but not very clear. Here's one right after the second batch of boxes were built:

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

Granny - thanks for posting that photo! Your garden beds look so nice! My backyard is small and sloped so I'm having trouble finding room for only a few beds. It looks like you painted your boxes brown... I'm thinking about blue around the edges of mine. If I ever get finished building mine, I'll try to post some pictures :)

Sangeo

Wow granny, it's beautiful!
I let my kids color the outside of the boxes with plain old crayons last year. It washed off in a month or so. And we'll probably do it again this year in the back yard. My kids love it and it makes them feel more like a part of the garden.