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sl8

(16,603 posts)
Wed Jun 4, 2025, 09:26 PM Wednesday

Soil Your Undies Challenge

Notes:
I'm not sure if this specific challenge is current or not. I think the information is Quite Interesting*, regardless.
I've included more than 4 paragraphs, as this is public information released by the US government.


https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/oregon/soil-your-undies-challenge

An Oregon-grown campaign to raise public interest in soil health

Since this campaign launched in December of 2018, more than 100 Oregon farmers, ranchers and other agricultural enthusiasts have stepped up to the challenge. The "Soil Your Undies" challenge was created by Oregon farmers, working with their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and NRCS, as a fun way to build public interest in soil health.

The NRCS Oregon Soil Health Committee capitalized on what farmers and SWCDs were doing and gave "Soil Your Undies" a visual brand to expand the reach of this campaign, through developing custom graphics, handouts, and informational materials to recruit new challengers. The campaign also includes media outreach to local newspapers, radio and TV stations across Oregon's agricultural communities, as well as special events with farmers and ranchers.

For more information about the campaign, or to request graphics and handouts to launch a "Soil Your Undies" campaign in your community, please contact the Oregon NRCS public affairs staff at orinfo@nrcs.usda.gov or call the Oregon State Office at 503-414-3220.



How Healthy is Your Soil? Take the Challenge to Find Out!

Chewed-up, ripped, torn, threadbare, riddled with holes, completely, utterly soiled--the undies in Oregon's farm country are falling to pieces. And that's just the way farmers like it.

Whether you're on crop, range or forestland, the quick and dirty way to test your soil health is by "planting" a pair of new, cotton underwear in the site you're curious about. Wait at least 60 days, then dig them back up. The more the undies are deteriorated, the healthier your soil.

Plant a pair of new, cotton underwear horizontally about 3 inches deep in the site you're curious about. Don't forget to mark the spot you planted!

Wait at least 60 days. This gives your soil microbes time to do their magic! Then dig the undies back up.

Share your results by sending us a photo of your "harvest" and a little information about your operation to orinfo@nrcs.usda.gov.

We'll put your undies on the map, literally! Submissions will be included on our Soil Your Undies Challenge Tracker so you can show your neighbors and other Oregon producers just how healthy your soil is.

[...]



* to the QI panel show.
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sl8

(16,603 posts)
3. Loan your friend a pair of yours?
Wed Jun 4, 2025, 10:55 PM
Wednesday

Gift them, probably, as you likely won't want them back.

Warning - will not work with hypothetical friends.

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