shirt-to-dirt gallery
See the visual data we've collected so far!
Simple science version
Janice
Simple Science
8 weeks
Greenville
South Carolina
Sep 24, 2023
As expected the linen square is gone. While I had a hole in the ground I buried select items to bury for 30 days. I hope some of these items will survive and be changed in an interesting fashion. I will potentially use them in mixed media art. I did the Buried Book project with #Emma Freeman 2 years ago, which was a fun and exciting project as this project was.
Thank you Leah for this experiment. I hope your data will be great help to the slow fashion industry.
PS My iOS17 keeps loading the wrong image. It should be the empty photo zone. I’ve tried several times. 🤷♀️
Sheila
Simple Science
8 weeks
Sandy Hook
Connecticut
Sep 23, 2023
In between rain drops I carefully searched for last piece but could not find one trace of fabric. happy worms and a few new roots but after 8 weeks last square returned completely. Such a difference between single layers and my book. Thanks Leah and Emma this was a wonderful experience and experiment.
Christin
Simple Science
4 weeks
Corinth
New York
Sep 22, 2023
Malia
Simple Science
4 weeks
East Lansing
Michigan
Sep 15, 2023
There was nothing left of the linen. I searched carefully, looking for even small fragments and found nothing.
Dana
Simple Science
6 weeks
Olathe
Kansas
Sep 15, 2023
Janice
Simple Science
6 weeks
Greenville
South Carolina
Sep 12, 2023
From dust to dust…here and gone. Six weeks in the ground.
Nowhere to be found.
Janet
Simple Science
2 weeks
Belden
Mississippi
Sep 12, 2023
Very little rain…
Sandra
Simple Science
2 weeks
Savannah
Georgia
Sep 10, 2023
There's more degradation than I expected given our unusually dry weather w/none of the normal daily summer showers. But the daily temps have been more normal in the mid to high 90s. At this rate, I'll be surprised if there's more than little bits & pieces left in 2 more weeks.
Sheila
Simple Science
6 weeks
Sandy Hook
Connecticut
Sep 9, 2023
Among some earthworms I was able to find these bits. Weather has been dryer until last night. Still summer hot. Wondering if there will be any bits to dig and share for week 8. Return in 2
Christin
Simple Science
2 weeks
Corinth
New York
Sep 4, 2023
I was surprised at how good it looked.
Deanna
Simple Science
8 weeks
Colorado
Aug 31, 2023
So strange that there were no remains for weeks 4 & 6, and here a scrap for week 8. This was buried closest to the trunk of a very large elm tree, maybe less moisture got to it? There were no worms when I dug this piece up unlike the other 2 that had worms all around it.
Dana
Simple Science
4 weeks
Olathe
Kansas
Sep 1, 2023
buried meditation books
Michelle
8 weeks
Eastlake
Ohio
August 27, 2023
Completely gone but for the small piece I found. Lots of worms in the area, rain the last few days as well.
Barbara
8 weeks
Thornton
Colorado
August 26, 2023
As I suspected - all fibers and threads have disintegrated. Happily I was able to locate the stick that was used as my locator.
Sheila
8 weeks
Sandy Hook
Connecticut
August 12, 2023
Quite fragile binding almost totally disintegrated. Brittle covers inside pages have beautiful coloration and remain intact. Overall I’m surprised at how well it held up.
Barb
8 weeks
Aromas
California
August 24, 2023
I tried to rinse the dirt off my book, which only made the fabric fall apart faster. This is what my wet, muddy book looks like. I'm looking forward to seeing what it looks like when if dries, but it's so fragile that I just have to wait for it to air dry!
Barb
8 weeks
Aromas
California
August 24, 2023
I've been watering my garden daily, but with sandy soil, it dries out quickly. I had trouble finding my meditation book today, since it was really dissolving! I gathered all the pieces which were covered in soil.....
Janet
6 weeks
Houston
Texas
August 19, 2023
Still no rail. Cracks are 7” deep in the ground. Slight bit of decomposition/worn spots on some pages. Haven’t had rain in weeks.
Beverly
4 weeks
Granby
Connecticut
August 18, 2023
It has continued to be quite rainy. I dug the book up two days later than scheduled and was surprised by how many holes it now has- most seem to be in the area where I sewed the sea shell, even many pages away. I also noticed a spot on the blue fabric where the color is now gone.
Tina
8 weeks
Palmyra
Pennsylvania
August 17, 2023
This is all that is left. In the subsequent 2 unearthings, the book structure had fallen apart, so I attempted to rebundle and bury.
Dana
2 weeks
Olathe
Kansas
August 16, 2023
Barbara
8 weeks
West Hills
California
August 16, 2023
A lot of the fabric is shredded on the edges and small pieces are missing. The material feels brittle. No bugs came crawling out of the pockets this time. I live in LA, CA and my home is in a very dry, hot area. It is 105* out right now at 4pm. It was a fun project. Thank you. Barbara
Patricia
6 weeks
Minneapolis
Minnesota
August 15, 2023
Still in severe drought, though we received 1.5” rain two nights before un-burying my meditation book. No creatures noted in the soil or on the book. The front cover is no longer attached; the back cover is breaking off piece by piece. Seed pods- and some seeds- in a pocket on front cover are now loose (no sprouting yet!). I am interested in how the indigo-dyed fabric seems to be holding up better, even in comparison with other inner pages that have different dyes. My book looks ancient and somehow more sacred.
Barbara
8 weeks
San Antonio
Texas
August 16, 2023
Weather has been hit with no rainfall for weeks. The natural elements I added, twigs, leaves, feather have decomposed or are beginning to do so.
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