By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Soil your undies in the name of soil conservation

Apr 18, 2017 | 3:46 PM

LETHBRIDGE —  The Soil Conservation Council of Canada is encouraging people to recognize National Soil Conservation Week and they want you to do it in an unusual way.

The organization is launching the #SoilYourUndies campaign.  It’s an experiment for the kid, or scientist, in all of us.

The Council wants people who care about soil health to bury a pair of 100-percent cotton undergarments, to witness firsthand the activity that happens right under your feet.

After a couple months buried, there shouldn’t be much left of your undies, if there is good biological activity in the soil.  Healthy soil is full of living organisms, which sustain us and are the foundation of a thriving civilization.

To make a good on-farm comparison:

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— Test similar soil types under different rotations and tillage management

— Keep track of each pair by writing an identifying number on the waistband

— Be sure to bury all underwear being compared on the same day and for the same amount of time

What you will need:

New pair of white 100% cotton briefs (no dyes or polyester blends), shovel and marker flags.

1) Dig a narrow trench and bury the underwear in the top six inches of soil

2) Leave the waistband showing a little and mark the place with a flag so you’ll be able to find it again

3) Leave the underwear buried for about two months

4) Dig it up carefully and wash it in a bucket of water to remove the soil

For more information on the challenge, check out the Soil Conservation of Canada website

If you actually take the challenge, share your experience @Soil Council and send photos of the rotted undies to news@LethbridgeNewsNOW.com