shirt-to-dirt gallery
See the visual data we've collected so far!
Simple science version
Barbara
Buried Meditation Book
4 weeks
Colorado

Aug 9, 2023
Very little deterioration. However discoloration noted.
Pamela
Simple Science
8 weeks
Coeburn
Virginia

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

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

Aug 16, 2023
No visible decomposition
Katrina
Simple Science
2 weeks
Madison
Wisconsin

Aug 16, 2023
Janice
Simple Science
2 weeks
Greenville
South Carolina

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

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

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

Aug 13, 2023
No trace of linen square . It has rained soooo much here in Vermont.
Reesa
Simple Science
6 weeks
ROXBORO
North Carolina

Aug 12, 2023
Not a scrap of linen left!
MARSHA
Simple Science
8 weeks
RIDGEFIELD
Connecticut

Aug 10, 2023
Found no trace of linen square at all at 8 weeks!
Katie
Simple Science
2 weeks
Washington
Maryland

Aug 10, 2023
Washington, DC - not Maryland.
buried in a shady corner near grass clippings

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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