I found the MVP in 50 pounds for $13.99, so yours doesn't look bad.

As far as all you need, I don't know that one. What mix are you making?

Al's mixes usually have at least 3 items.

JoJo

Decent enough price, buy it and be thankful you have a source. You can use it on all your other containers as part of 5-1-1 or Gritty Mix.

The thing about the Earthbox concept is that your soil will need to wick water upwards. This is different from the best "regular" container soils, which are built to drain down and pull fresh air in when top-watered. (I will assume you have read "Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention" since you went out and sourced bark fines and Turface...)

Are you able to get to a Lowe's and purchase Sta-Green? That product has been shown to work well in Earthbox-style self watering containers (SWC).

If you want to test a Fines + Turface mix for wicking, I bet we can come up with a way to see how it performs. I'm thinking a clear container with holes at the bottom and 3" up the side. Placed in a container with 2" of water. Fill with wet mix, then somehow we have to remove water from the top (as the plants do, along with some evaporation). See if the mix wicks. There may still need to be a perlite (or granite grit) component to keep it from getting TOO wet.

Rick

It should be all you need as long as the bark is partially composted. if it isn't you will likely need to add some peat to it.

dclegg,

Keep us posted on how your 5:1:1 mix works in an EarthBox. In my own EarthBox trial, I found a 3:2:1 ratio of Potting Mix, Bark Fines, and Perlite worked well for the self-watering properties that are needed for wicking upward to the root system.

Raybo