This year we are progressing smoothly with preparing the earth boxes and planting.  I learned something that I previously did not understand clearly.  Lorraine Gibbons of Garden State Urban Farms explained that the earth box is properly classified as a hydroponic system.  The growth medium that we place into the earth boxes which we mistakenly refer to as soil, in fact, is not soil.  It is a mix of mainly Sphagnum moss peat, coconut coir fiber and composted pine bark which do not contain all of the nutrients that plants need to grow.  Fertilizer must be added to this mix each season in order to enrich the medium with the various nutrients that plants require.  The other characteristic of the system is that the growth medium is absorbent - "spongy" - so that is can soak up water from a water reservoir that is below the growth medium.  We will be experimenting with growing in a medium which consists entirely coconut fiber to which the fertilizer is added.  It will be interesting to compare the results we get from use of potting mix which contains many more ingredients.  Additionally, we will be experimenting with the use of red colored mulch covers. Red mulch cover has been shown to increase tomato and strawberry production 12-20% by reflecting growth enhancing sunlight waves onto the plant.