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shirt-to-dirt gallery

See the visual data we've collected so far!

Simple science version

Barbara

Buried Meditation Book

4 weeks

Colorado
Buried Meditation Book
Aug 9, 2023

Very little deterioration. However discoloration noted.

Pamela

Simple Science

8 weeks

Coeburn
Virginia
Simple Science
Aug 16, 2023

I dug up my final specimen this afternoon. Considering the decomposition in the 6th week sample, I was a bit surprised to find this one in better shape. There are a few tiny holes and the edges are frayed and decomposed in places, but not as much as I had expected. This has been a very interesting experiment!

Megan

Simple Science

8 weeks

Raymore
Missouri
Simple Science
Aug 16, 2023

As I cleaned the dirt away, the fabric continued to fall apart. I was amused at the root that clung to its bit of treasure! :)

Barbara

Simple Science

8 weeks

San Antonio
Texas
Simple Science
Aug 16, 2023

No visible decomposition

Katrina

Simple Science

2 weeks

Madison
Wisconsin
Simple Science
Aug 16, 2023

Janice

Simple Science

2 weeks

Greenville
South Carolina
Simple Science
Aug 14, 2023

This was a delicate operation.I was amazed at how small the sample was, since it’s been buried for just two weeks. However, when I put the pieces on the gray square outline,it appeared bigger.

Stacy

Simple Science

4 weeks

Fremont
California
Simple Science
Aug 8, 2023

We found no scraps of fabric after 2 weeks. We dug on Tuesday August 8th

Dana

Simple Science

2 weeks

Lodi
Wisconsin
Simple Science
Aug 13, 2023

The fabric is very fragile, so much so that I can't brush off the dirt without the fabric tearing.

Barbara

Simple Science

4 weeks

BRISTOL
Vermont
Simple Science
Aug 13, 2023

No trace of linen square . It has rained soooo much here in Vermont.

Reesa

Simple Science

6 weeks

ROXBORO
North Carolina
Simple Science
Aug 12, 2023

Not a scrap of linen left!

MARSHA

Simple Science

8 weeks

RIDGEFIELD
Connecticut
Simple Science
Aug 10, 2023

Found no trace of linen square at all at 8 weeks!

Katie

Simple Science

2 weeks

Washington
Maryland
Simple Science
Aug 10, 2023

Washington, DC - not Maryland.
buried in a shady corner near grass clippings

Simple science
Linen biodegredation project
Buried Books

buried meditation books

Barbara

4 weeks

West Hills
California
July 18, 2023

A few bugs had made homes in the pockets. So far, the fabric is in tact. No holes. My garden has hard packed soil with minimal watering. Zero rain fall.

Patricia

2 weeks

Minneapolis
Minnesota
July 17, 2023

We are in extreme drought here, though we’ve had a couple very brief rain storms. The soil was thick and clingy on the linen. It took awhile to get it cleaned off. There were some tiny bugs living in the pages, and one very tiny white worm curled up inside.

Cathy

Just buried

Cuyahoga Falls
Ohio
July 16, 2023

The soil was slightly damp, very loose and fertile because it is part of our garden. I didn't see any worms nearby. We had just harvested the kohlrabi from this spot.

sheila

4 weeks

sandy hook
Connecticut
July 15, 2023

have had some very soaking hard rains so soil quite wet. I notice a bit more fraying on the edges of the pages and the hand dyed ribbon on the binding fell off of the front (I placed it back in the pages of the book) and the leaf printed piece over the front cover is mostly just threads once rinsed. It was hard to rinse soil out quite embedded in weave of linen and once dry has become very stiff. It does have some beautiful colorations throughout. after enjoying it one more time it is back to the earth for 2 more weeks!

Barbara Piano

2 weeks

Thornton
Colorado
July 15, 2023

Fern

4 weeks

Randolph Center
Vermont
July 15, 2023

Rain everyday. Lots of worms in the soil. The meditative book is disintegrating. Very fragile.

Beth

Just buried

Houston
Texas
July 13, 2023

Hot, humid, no worms

Beth

Just made/sewn

Houston
Texas
July 8, 2023

Emma

4 weeks

Oconomowoc
Wisconsin
July 4, 2023

Barbara

2 weeks

Sedalia
Colorado
July 8, 2023

Received four days of rain and one hail storm. The book showed no deterioration detected.

Janet

Just made/sewn

Houston
Texas
July 5, 2023

Tina

2 weeks

Palmyra
Pennsylvania
July 1, 2023

It has been really rainy and I was surprised at the amount of disintegration in 2 weeks. 1 'page' was completely apart from the book.

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