********** Attention Old EB Users ********

If you have recieved the new Earthbox brochure and you have the old boxes and want to order the new acessories - DON'T -- They won't fit !!! Just got off the phone with the EB people. I wanted to order the new staking system for my original boxes and they did the dumbest thing in marketing that I can imagine and that was to design the new boxes with a different dimension than the old making all the new options and all the re-order business that they would have recieved OBSELETE! They didn't even think about us. However if you order the new boxes you will have a big advantage over the older EBs with more water, casters and a staking system. I can not believe such a poor marketing decision......

What about the covers? I just ordered several of the replant kits along with some more Earthboxes.

I got Terra Cotta this time.

I get the feeling they really don't care.

The covers should fit. It's the base that they changed. You will be getting the new EBs --- I'm sure you will like them. The rep. told me I should buy the new ones after I told her I have fifteen old ones? Imagine the gaul of that person? Like I should throw away my old ones? It is better to do bussines with them by e-mail and not making personal contact with them as we have had a prior discussion about their attitude. They have an excellent product but their PR "sucks."

Tplant, do you know if they still carry the other EB combination platform/staking get-up that Kingedking has? If I remember correctly from an old post last year, he mentioned they were about $40 and available at their location in Florida.

Don't know about that one Toni? I believe Ed made his own? Maybe he can fill us in?

T and Toni - Sounds like a new singing duo sensation, or should it be Toni & T? I purchased 4 from the EB research center. I don't think they were ever available at the 800 number. Let me see if I can find a picture. I hope the attached one shows them OK. All they are is an aluminum frame with casters that the EB sits in. Then you have 1/2" or 3/4 aluminum tubing that goes into a channel in the frame and up around and down the other side. They don't roll very well in the grass but they are great on a hard surface. I wheeled them in and out of the house a bunch last year and I'll be rolling three of them in tomorrow. I didn't buy anymore. I'm making my own out of 3/4" schedule 40 PVC. I'll be able to add to them at anytime, making them higher, wider, or whatever I need to support the maters. No wheels. If you want to roll them around in the grass just make a wood platform with wide rubber tires on it

I don't know if they are still selling them or not. They have lots of wooden things to hold EBs. A wheelbarrow, raised boxes (about 3' high) and other fancy ones. They are made from cypress and are a tad pricy. You can see a couple of them on their homepage at earthboxresearch.com
Their phone number there is 1-800-821-8838. I'm going to call them Monday and see if the automatic watering valves are shipping yet. If you haven't called them yet, I'll ask if they still have the aluminum stands. Ed

Ed, I'm so glad you posted. Those are the stands I was thinking about! May I ask how much they cost when you bought them? It sure would be nice if they would update their website and offer these other products.

Thanks again for the pic.
Toni

i only have 2 eb's but i just use 4, 2 gal containers with stakes in them and i put them around the eb's and then run twine around them. hoping my beans and peas will like them.

This is an old thread ***Tomatoes: PVC Cage for Earthbox*** http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/508247/ Maybe you can use these!?

~* Robin

Ed -- Are they the original EBs with the new staking system? If so they told me the new stakes would not fit the old boxes! Would you clear this up for me?

Tplant, the aluminum stands that Ed has pictured are the stands/supports for the old EB's. I believe Ed bought them at the Florida location. They are not shown in the catalog or on their website.

My question is "Will the new staking system fit the old EBs?" I was told "NO" by a person who answered the phone at their Fl. location.

"Will the new staking system fit the old EB's?"

According to the telephone call I just made to the number listed in their current catalog 888-846-7593, NO the new staking system will NOT work with the old EB's.

As far as the aluminum stand that Ed purchased at the Research Center in Florida, they are not available for purchase, at least not through the website or telephone. That's what I was told.

I was also told that their website IS updated with the new EB's, but I'm not seeing that. I did request info on the alum. stands from their "More Info" page. I will post the reply if and when I get one.

Toni


Edited to add: The number for the Research Center is 941-723-2911, Tues.-Fri., 9:00-4:00.
I've been trying to call the main office number 800-821-8838 but the line is continually busy. I want to ask them why their website does not reflect the introduction of the new EB's.


This message was edited Feb 13, 2006 1:10 PM

That is the answer I was looking for to confirm what I was already told by them but after making the new staking system unavailable to former customers I lost all respect for their credibility!
Thanks Toni

I'll scan in a picture from the new brochure as soon as I figure out how to use my new HP all in one color printer, fax, copier, scanner, make you coffee, and blow on it to make sure you don't burn your lips. I couldn't retrofit any of the new features to my old $1200 HP scanner either, and the new one was only $229.00. Amazing! The pictures show the new staking pipes to end on a piece of plastic that comes out from the bottom of the new EB. Probably snaps in to/screws in to someting molded on the bottom of the new EB, just like the caster set which can't be retrofitted to the old non-molded EBs either. Tplant - To make this stuff work on the old EBs would require them to make a mold of the bottom third of the new boxes that could then be slipped under the old EBs. The difference in cost between the "upgrade" and a whole new EB would probably be measured in pennies. I bet they couldn't sell many upgrades for $37.95!!

Besides that, you can make a better staking system with PVC. The one for the new boxes is just a one pole thing up the middle of the box, kind of like the old ones I have. Based on last years crop, that isn't enough support for me anyhow. Maybe if you were growing all determinates they would be OK. But I need more support options than that so I'm building my own with PVC for both the old and the new EBs. Easy enough to do, not very expensive, and expandable as needed. It don't get much better than that. Mine are similar to the ones referred to in the link above, "Tomatoes: PVC Cage for Earthbox", but mine go out past the ends of the EB about a foot on each side and they can easily be expanded to be wider, higher, longer, or whatever I need for that set of plants.

I don't think the research center has much to do with earthbox.com and their marketing on a daily basis.

The stands I got for the old EBs were never available anywhere other than at the research center. Same thing for all the specialty cedar EB stands they have at the research center, like wagons, wheelbarrows, raised boxes, etc. (all cedar and not cheap). When I got the aluminum ones they were like $50 each. Good on a hard surface, but they don't roll worth a darn in the grass. Toni5735 - If you asked earthbox.com about the old aluminum stands, I have a feeling they will have no idea what you are talking about.

I think you're right Ed, b/c I haven't received an answer from them yet after asking a question on their "More Info" page.

It's too bad about the aluminum ones that you bought, since I like the way they look but if they don't provide enough support then I guess the point is moot.

My hubby made me the PVC supports so that's what I'm going to be using. They look a little strange and the neighbors did snicker about them but once the plants started filling in they looked just fine.

Thanks again Ed for all the info.

Toni

Here is a picture of my PVC supports. The really neat thing is you can change them around anyway you can think of and keep adding to them if needed. What I will probably do with this one once the maters reach the exisiting top, is to use a "T" and go out further from the front and back of the EB. Give them maters something they can really hang out there on. It is easy enough to tailor them to your plants as they grow. Easy storage too, just pull them apart and store the pieces. Ed

Thought you would all enjoy seeing what I did with my 6 EarthBoxes.
Just a suggestion....
Thanks to everyone for all the great tips...
Nancy

Great idea Nancy. Twice the crop in less than half the space. Really looks good also.

I recommended an EB to someone. She ordered : soil, box, wheels, support. She received the box and soil. Still waiting on the other stuff. It has been more than a month. Some sort of sorry outfit has screwed up the marketing of great idea.

Am I ever glad to find this thread. I was just looking at the EB web-site because I need to order new covers and was wondering about the staking system for my old box. All my questions have been answered. Love the PVC staking systems that you all have 'invented'. They are giving me ideas!

Marie

Great site and thread folks.

I've been enjoying your comments and advice.

BTW, Is the old EBs swtill a good buy? What is the new resevoir size and is it worth the extra $$ to upgrade to them? It looks like I'll be getting some as a present soon.

Bernie

Bernie ---- They are or already have phased out the old ones but that is only my opinion so we won't have much of a choice. I really don't see much of an advantage unless you want to spend another $30 for the custom staking system available for the NEW boxes only?

Tplant, NO I never want to spend more, especially not for flimsy looking dowel-like system, because it reminds me of the ones on old self-wicking Rubbermade containers that blew over a lot until I caged and staked them. Besides, I've seen better designs here DG. I'm converting a kids play gym in the NE corner of my yard constructed of 4x4 treated lumber into my main garden area. So I'd never buy that! The coupon I have offers EBs at$29.95 each plus $6.95 for S&H or:
3 @ $106.70,
5 @ $169.75 and
10@ $334.50 including S&H if you use DEPARTMENT I-GSS6 when ordering at www.earthbox.com or calling 1-888-618-2707- didn't see a place on the website for the code so I called. .

I rememember being asked if I wanted the new one and saying NO because I only wanted ONE EB as a reference before making the project box ($44.00).

The box I got is green and has the embossed EB logo at each end and not the white logo sticker I see on the side of EBs in pictures on DG. it came with aeration screen, covers, fill pipe, instruction/planting quide brochure and promotional literature on the "NEW" EBs. Boy it sure is well made and deceptively large for such a small foot-print. I just don't know if it is "New or "Old"

The new ones are supposed to have grooves on the bottom to hold up the staking contraption but yours don't seem to match the old design? Take a look at the bottom? You should have your answer then as the old ones are flat...

Tplant & All,


I just called EB's 1-800-821-8838 about my 03-25-06 order where I was charged $37.95 versus the $29.95 I thought I'd pay plus $6.95 S&H ($44.90). The girl interrupted me within my first sentence because she thought I'd call to complain as oppose to ask for a clarification. I asked if there was a place to enter the DEPTMENT I-GSS6 discount code during the online order proccess. I didn't get an answer to that but was directed to read the tiny print at the bottom of the coupon "prices are subject to change" I said OK-that makes sense! But, I asked again-- where DO you put the discount code during online order proccess. Still no answer; just this response, "... actually this worked out better for you because I see you ordered 5 boxes in April at the discount price.. If you'd gotten that first one at discount you would have had to pay the current price for your 5 on order.." But,I said the coupon states only that, "..For even greater convience, use the Department code above and order at www.earthbox.com." It didn't say that if I DID I'd be charge regular price.

Enough HE said SHE said! What I know is this:


1. The discount is a ONE time deal only which makes sense to me!

2. My EB is the "new" box because it has 4 re-enforced holes on the base, up-side down cup in the bottom and coupled with the fact the"old" EBs stopped shipping in December 2005.

3. To get the discounted price you must call 1-888-618-2707 or mail the coupon to:
The Earthbox Department I-GSS6
1300 MEylert Ave
Scranton, PA 18509-225

4. If you order online you will pay the higher price.

5. That neither the order taker nor the customer service rep actually asked me for the discount code.

Sorry for the long post guys and thanks for your help.

BTW, is quarry lime dolomitic lime?

Bernie.

Don't know? Dolomite lime is a gray pebble.

dolomitic limestone

Limestone Lime"stone` (l[imac]m"st[=o]n`), n. A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.

marble is the metamorphic form of limestone -- sorry its the geology major in me.
:) Debbie

His question"Is quarry lime dolomitic lime" is still unanswered?

I can't find dolomitic lime at BB stores & local Feed & Grain will special order, but no price yet. HoweverI did find the following at the Manards in Fox Lake, IL:


1. NuTraLime Pelletized limestone ASC Mineral Processing 40# - $2.59

2. Mayville Garden & Lawn Lime Zone 80-89 Quarry Limestone 50# - $2.49

An article at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fabe/ocj%20articles/sweetersoil.m... by Dr. Thomas Marshall, P.E. He states, "... Agricultural lime is typically mined from a limestone quarry and is generally known as dolomatic (high magnesium) or (high calcium) lime." I'm just checking with all of you because sometimes things seem and sound the same when they are not. I'm actually learning more biology and chemistry now than in my school years. Any who, is this Mayville quarry lime the best choice, I have NO idea what either ASC or Zone 80-89 mean. Or dolomatic versus dolomitic. Also, is epsom salt just as effective?

Thanks for all your responses.

Bernie

I'm sorry, the correct link is:
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fabe/OCJ%20Articles/SweeterSoil.Marshall%20Mid%20Dec%202002.htm

I've heard dolomatic lime described as dolomite lime. As a matter of fact some packages go both ways. As long as you don't use the white powdery lime you are OK. In certain areas of our country you can't buy lime as the soil is very sweet and lime is not needed.

I've been e-mailing Steve at the Earthbox company and lo and behold I've been getting rapid replies. I think they have turned over a new leaf and all for the best. All questions are answered promptly and with concern. I told him of the many DGers that were disappointed with their customer service. I must say he is on the right track with his response...

Tplant,

Do you know of anything (short of Bricks) that I could use in the bottom of the EB's?

2 of the gratings on the bottoms are broken in 2 of my EB's. They're the older ones.

~* Robin

I don't know the answer to that. I've never had that problem? Call the EB people in PA and ask for Steve their PR man. I'm sure he will help or go to the www.earthbox.com You'll find it to be most helpful as there have been lots of changes for the best.