‘Soil Your Undies’ Soil Health Challenge Completed!

Written By Claire Nelson

ERICD & Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm have completed the “Soil" Your Undies Challenge! Undies, what!? This challenge is designed to test the microbial activity in soil. How it works - you bury a pair of new 100% cotton underwear in your yard, crop, pasture, or forestland and leave it for 60 days. Dig it up after 60 days and the more the underwear is deteriorated - the healthier your soil! Here you can see the remnants of the underwear that were buried at the Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm – just the elastic bands are left which means the microbes in the soil broke down all the cotton. This is a testament to the health of the soil and the healthy ecosystem of worms and microbes that live in the soil. Soil isn't just dirt, it's alive!

This challenge is in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Claire Nelson
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