shirt-to-dirt gallery
See the visual data we've collected so far!
Simple science version
Lisa
Simple Science
8 weeks
Hendersonville
North Carolina
Aug 23, 2023
Nothing to be found! What a fun experiment. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.
Deanna
Simple Science
6 weeks
Lakewood
Colorado
Aug 17, 2023
Again my sample cloth is totally gone. I could not find evidence of the linen at all. I even made sure the “burial site” had not been tampered with by critters. Do worms dine on linen?
Lisa
Buried Meditation Book
8 weeks
Auburn
Alabama
Aug 18, 2023
The book was nearly gone! The soil was damp. When rinsing the book in the stream I had to be very careful that it did not just disintegrate. The heart rock I’d sewn into the corner was still there. Lovely!
Jessica
Simple Science
8 weeks
Santa Cruz
California
Aug 19, 2023
Jessica
Simple Science
8 weeks
Randolph
Massachusetts
Aug 19, 2023
Nothing left!!
Erin
Simple Science
8 weeks
Pownal
Maine
Aug 19, 2023
Sally
Simple Science
8 weeks
FAYETTE
Maine
Aug 15, 2023
Last dig. More rain. I successfully dig up only 2 pieces that didn't immediately disintegrate when I touched them. Even the stick was too far gone to work with!
Fern
Buried Meditation Book
6 weeks
Randolph Center
Vermont
Aug 17, 2023
Not enough left to rebury. Even the porcupine quills on the cover have disintegrated.
Tina
Simple Science
8 weeks
Palmyra
Pennsylvania
Aug 17, 2023
Nothing left after week 6, so here's the spot for week 8, unearthed.
Elizabeth
Simple Science
8 weeks
Simpsonville
South Carolina
Aug 16, 2023
We had storms and lots of rain on Saturday and Sunday. I was actually shocked that the soil was so dry when o took the picture. During this experiment, I discovered I have jumping worms and they leave behind a coffee ground texture soil. This soil was so loose that the hole just kept collapsing in so it was hard to keep it empty. Once again, like in week 6, I had lots of plant roots intersecting where this fabric was buried. It’s been a fun and interesting experiment. It not only made me more aware why we should use natural fabric and material in our life, it taught me a few things about my yard.
Malia
Simple Science
Just buried!
East Lansing
Michigan
Aug 17, 2023
There are many big beautiful worms in the dirt. The soil in week 8 has a little more clay than the weeks 2,4 & 6. I had 5 samples so I added a week ten, the soil there is clay at 3” depth, regular soil on top. It started to rain as soon as they were in the ground. We are expecting heavy rains all day. Off to a good start.😀😀
Amy
Simple Science
8 weeks
Tucson
Arizona
Aug 16, 2023
buried meditation books
Annie
Just made/sewn
O'Fallon
Illinois
August 1, 2023
Been abnormally hot and dry. Thankfully had a good storm a couple days ago. Soil already parched. Expecting rain for the next two days.
Barb
4 weeks
Aromas
California
July 27, 2023
Amazing difference in the last two weeks! My meditation book is disintegrating in my hands as I try to find it in the soil.
Barb
2 weeks
Aromas
California
July 13, 2023
At week 2, my meditation book is damp from my watering, but no sign of any change in the fabric.
Barb
Just buried
Aromas
California
June 29, 2023
Living on the Central California coast, chances are we won't have any rain, so I buried my meditation book in my garden where I will water it with my veggies.
Barb
Just buried
Aromas
California
July 13, 2023
Just buried my meditation book and buried it in my veggie garden. I'm in Central California, so we probably won't have any rain, so being in the garden will keep it moist.
Barb
Just made/sewn
Aromas
California
June 28, 2023
Just finished making my meditation book! Will bury tomorrow in my garden....
Patricia
4 weeks
Minneapolis
Minnesota
July 31, 2023
Our severe drought continues. We’ve had a couple of brief rainstorms in the past two weeks. No worms in the soil. One squiggly tiny whiteish wormy creature who hid deep in the fabric when I tried to free him/her. The top part of the meditation book is deteriorating; there are a couple of holes beginning in places; the tie around the book is very fragile; the indigo fabric is the only one with its original color. A paper tucked in a pocket is still intact; some of the plant material I tucked in has eco-printed onto the fabric. All of my stitches are intact.
Barbara
4 weeks
Thornton
Colorado
July 29, 2023
I has disintegrated much more rapidly week 2 through 4. I wonder if it will last another 4 weeks
Sheila
6 weeks
Sandy hook
Connecticut
July 29, 2023
Soil a bit dryer this dig and surprised to see how well my book has held up. The binding is almost gone and the front piece of tie was separated (I inserted it in pocket inside book). The fabric feels more brittle but the earth has given new and beautiful coloration to the pages. I also buried 4 squares from simple science on opposite side of path. Very curious at the rate of decomposition of single layer vs. multi layers. Hopefully see you in two weeks
Janet
2 weeks
Houston
Texas
July 22, 2023
The weather has been in the high 90s to over 100 . The ground is really dry and it was like digging up rocks when it came time to check my book after 2 weeks.
Just made/sewn
Granby
Connecticut
July 19, 2023
I used four pieces of fabric, thread that was included, birch bark found in the woods where I hike, a small seashell from a trip to the RI shore( where I sewed part of this), and some of my own marigold-dyed cotton thread. I stitched the word Joy in it
Jacqueline
4 weeks
Collingswood
New Jersey
July 19, 2023
Weather has remained hot, humid, and rainy. Dramatic decomposition!
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