March 22, 2018 – Canada, you really got down and dirty in the name of soil conservation last year. Who knew soiling your undies could be so much fun? Now it’s time to do it all over again. April 15 kicks off National Soil Conservation Week and the second annual Soil Your Undies campaign. For those of you who didn’t take part last year, here’s an undies update: the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) wants you to bury a pair of cotton undergarments to check the health of the soil under your care.
“We were blown away by the response to the national launch of Soil Your Undies last year,” says SCCC chair and Ontario farmer, Alan Kruszel. “We take the task of advocating for Canada’s soils seriously, but it was a lot of fun to show Canadians just how alive healthy soils are through this entertaining citizen science experiment, and we are eager to do it again.”
Last year, many farmers, schools, media, and organizations from various industries planted a pair of underwear in agricultural fields, flower beds, lawns and even at research facilities across the country to test for soil health. National Soil Conservation Week, which has been held during the third week of April for the past 30 years, extended far beyond its seven days last spring as folks buried undies well into the fall.
The Soil Your Undies test shows just how biologically active your soil is. After a couple months buried, there shouldn’t be much left of your knickers if there is abundant life in your soil. To get started, all you need is a pair of new, 100 per cent cotton white briefs, a shovel, and a flag to mark the site. A helpful step-by-step guide on how to properly Soil Your Undies is available at www.soilcc.ca.
“Once again, Stanfield’s is partnering with us on the Soil Your Undies initiative,” says Kruszel. “We soiled many pairs of tighty whities from coast-to-coast last year and we are excited to bring the Canadian clothing company on board in 2018 as the official underwear sponsor yet again.”
National Soil Conservation Week is an annual event that gives groups like the SCCC, and others who promote soil conservation and health, a platform to remind the public of the importance of soil and the issues around its degradation and loss. To underscore its significance in food production and the role it plays in clean air and water, SCCC encourages all Canadians to take part in the fun, easy, do-it-yourself soil science experiment. Don’t forget to take a video or snap a photo and share your experience with us on social media using the hashtag #SoilYourUndies. Show us your soiled underwear!
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The SCCC is the only national organization to concentrate on the issues of soil health and soil conservation within a broadly-based landscape context. It works to build a greater understanding of the importance of soil as an essential resource to society by facilitating the exchange of information with all stakeholders. Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable food production, enhanced biodiversity and cleaner air and water for present and future generations.
To learn more about other SCCC initiatives, please visit www.soilcc.ca.
CONTACT: Jim Tokarchuk, Executive Director, 204-792-2424 or jimtokarchuk@soilcc.ca