its the Premium potting soil from a garden store ("Something Farms" ??) ... pricey, neutral PH, has a good ratio of perlite in it, the woood chips just gravitate to the top ... Im pretty impressed with the performance ... at first, I was like you, and didnt like the looks of all the 'lumber' ... Im using it in all my garden grows now, seems like all my plants like it, tomatoes, peppers, cannabis ... :smokin: