This week I’ve written about the connection between disease and the environment, and Islamic arguments for degrowth. So it feels considerably less serious to be writing today about the campaign Plant Your Pants. And yes, that’s the British meaning of the word pants – get out there and plant your tighty whiteys in the ground.
Why would you do that? Because it’s a fun way to get children to take an interest in soil science, that’s why. And there are few things in the world more important than soil.
All life on earth depends on soil. So does our entire food system. Soil make or breaks civilization, as David Montgomery explains in his fascinating history book Dirt. It’s even more important in an age of climate change, as soil is a huge store of carbon.
Despite its importance, few people take an interest in soil. It’s dirty and overlooked, and so many people miss out on both how vital it is and how wondrous it is. As George Monbiot enthuses in his book Regenesis, there is more biodiversity in a handful of soil than in a rainforest – it’s just very small.
The Country Trust, an education charity, wants to change this with an easy way into the topic of soil science. They’re inviting us to plant a pair of cotton pants in March and then dig it up eight weeks later to see what has happened. It’s for schools, families, and generally anyone who wants to have a go.
The idea is that when you dig up your pants later, you’ll find decomposition well underway – the more decomposition, the healthier the soil. If you sign up, their resource pack will help you to discover exactly what’s going on, and identify some of the creatures responsible.
See The Country Trust website for all the details, and let me know if you give it a try.
The Earthbound Report 
I have been known to add my old pants to my compost bin. And my old socks