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shirt-to-dirt gallery

See the visual data we've collected so far!

Simple science version

Jessica

Simple Science

6 weeks

Randolph
Massachusetts
Simple Science
Aug 3, 2023

The piece was very hard to find, but I was excited when I unearthed it!

Jessica

Simple Science

6 weeks

Santa Cruz
California
Simple Science
Aug 6, 2023

Very dry site. No rain or moisture at all.

Andrea

Simple Science

6 weeks

Kalamazoo
Michigan
Simple Science
Aug 5, 2023

No fabric found! All has gone back to dirt.

Amy

Simple Science

6 weeks

Tucson
Arizona
Simple Science
Aug 4, 2023

Lisa

Simple Science

6 weeks

Hendersonville
North Carolina
Simple Science
Aug 2, 2023

Nothing to be found except this beautiful worm!

Erin

Simple Science

6 weeks

Pownal
Maine
Simple Science
Aug 4, 2023

More rain today, a very wet summer here in New England

Elizabeth

Simple Science

6 weeks

MORRISON
Colorado
Simple Science
Aug 3, 2023

Deanna

Simple Science

4 weeks

Lakewood
Colorado
Simple Science
Aug 2, 2023

There was nothing there! I dug around carefully and sifted the dirt with my fingers and couldn’t find a speck of linen. I wonder if it became worm food? We have had more rain than usual. I did find a small piece of dirty plastic bag…

Megan

Simple Science

6 weeks

Raymore
Missouri
Simple Science
Aug 2, 2023

Mix of very hot temps plus a few drenching storms the last 2 weeks. Decomposition continues!

Pamela

Simple Science

6 weeks

Coeburn
Virginia
Simple Science
Aug 2, 2023

At Week 6, there is an appreciable degradation of the fabric square. We received significant rain over the past several days; mostly it has been hot, dry, and humid. I’m happy to see some changes this week!

Barbara

Simple Science

6 weeks

San Antonio
Texas
Simple Science
Aug 2, 2023

This piece seems similar to week two. Weather here has been consistently hot with no rain so I’m thinking that’s a contributing factor.

Dana

Simple Science

Just buried!

Olathe
Kansas
Simple Science
Aug 1, 2023

It's been rainy lately. Spot has sun and rain access. We'll see!

Simple science
Linen biodegredation project
Buried Books

buried meditation books

Barbara

2 weeks

West Hills
California
July 4, 2023

The soil was packed on to my book. The book was a little damp and quite muddy on the exterior. No holes yet. A little stain from a flower in one of the pockets. I dunked the book into a bucket and then let it dry in the hot sun. Now ready to bury it again.

Patricia Brenneman

Just buried

Minneapolis
Minnesota
July 3, 2023

Hot! Mid-nineties expected today. Dry dry dry- drought conditions, invoking the rain gods. There may be scattered thunderstorms today into tomorrow. The soil is very dry, actually cracking in our front yard. We usually have the beautiful presence of worms in our soil, but my guess is they are hiding deep wherever they can find moisture in the soil. We water the trees weekly- a maple and flowering crab- near this burial site.

Patricia Brenneman

Just made/sewn

Minneapolis
Minnesota
July 2, 2023

Barbara

Just buried

Thornton
Colorado
July 2, 2023

sheila

2 weeks

Sandy Hook
Connecticut
July 2, 2023

Saturday 7/1 hot humid hazy afternoon dug up, soil was still wet from rain night before. Feather did not survive but rest of the book is still in beautiful shape. There are some lovely new markings in fabric. Rinsed and enjoyed overnight and after reading each page again this morning I buried once again in-between rain drops. Bunny in garden as we (pup and I) went out and buried in very wet soil.

Renee

2 weeks

Morrison
Oklahoma
June 29, 2023

Moist soil.

Barbara

Just buried

Thorntom
Colorado
July 1, 2023

clay soil with red mulch cover - unusually wet weather this spring

Barbara

Just buried

Sedalia
Colorado
June 23, 2023

My meditation book was buried at an elevation of 5823 in a forest of gambel oak. The soil is rich and soft due to several days of rain. It’s buried in a semi-arid climate with cool summer nights and warm days. The site has many visitors including bunnies, deer and birds.

Barbara

Just made/sewn

Sedalia
Colorado
June 23, 2023

Barbara

Just buried

San Antonio
Texas
June 21, 2023

Barbara

Just made/sewn

San Antonio
Texas
June 21, 2023

Lisa Kensler

Just buried

Auburn
Alabama
June 21, 2023

I buried this meditation book just in front of a nandina bush and next to a magnolia tree down by the stream that runs behind our home. The sandy soil is soft and wet - it has been rainy for days, although not this minute today. There was a cute golden mushroom just to the east of the burial spot.

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