Can a pair of underwear tell you something about the health of your soil? You bet! Take the “Soil Your Undies” Challenge! It’s a fun and easy way to see how much life there is in the soil of your lawn, garden, farm, or ranch.

Simply bury a pair of 100-percent-cotton underwear in the top six inches of soil. Mark the spot so you can find it again. Then come back in six weeks to dig up your undies. If you have healthy soil, the worms, nematodes, bacteria, and fungi in the soil will have eaten and broken down the cotton fibers, leaving little but the elastic band. In less healthy soil, the cotton underwear may be largely intact, needing only a quick wash to be wearable. Post a picture of your results on social media with the hashtags #SoilYourUndies and #IWLA.

Healthy soil grows better plants (and better food!) and soaks up rainfall like a sponge, keeping soil and other runoff out of nearby streams. The same soil health principles that work on a farm or ranch can work in your garden or lawn.

Visit iwla.org/agriculture for more information on boosting the health of your soil.