Germán Bollero, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for the sake of science. After being invited by Champaign County Farm Bureau and Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation, Bollero took on the “I Soiled My Undies” challenge on Oct. 30 at the Energy Farm. 

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College of ACES Dean Germán Bollero gives a thumbs up after 'planting' his undies at the Energy Farm.

Bollero first encountered the “I Soiled My Undies” challenge when University of Illinois Extension’s Michelle Cox and Sarah Farley (who serve Lake and McHenry Counties) partnered with teacher Brian Greene to bring the experiment to John R. Lewis Middle School in Waukegan, Illinois. Bollero helped Greene’s students dig up a pair of thoroughly decomposed underwear — a testament to the soil’s microbial activity. 

“I was inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and the tangible way this project demonstrates the importance of soil health,” Bollero said. “This hands-on experiment reflects our mission at ACES and Illinois Extension to connect communities with science that matters. It’s a meaningful way to bring science to life and foster environmental stewardship for people of all ages.”

The “I Soiled My Undies” project is a hands-on demonstration of soil biodiversity and a fun way to engage with the environment. By burying clean cotton underwear and monitoring their decomposition over time, participants can gauge the level of microbial activity in the soil. The more decomposed the fabric, the healthier the soil ecosystem.

There’s still time to join the fun!

If you want to get in on the action, there’s still time! Students and community members in Champaign County are encouraged to bury their undies by Nov. 4 — but you can try this at home any time! Here’s how to participate:

1. Bury your undies. Grab a new pair of 100% cotton underwear and select a spot in your garden, yard, or field, and bury your undies horizontally about 6–8 inches deep. Mark the spot with a flag or marker.
2. Wait for it! Let nature do its work over the next 60+ days. 
3. Harvest your undies. In March (before April 1), dig up the underwear and observe the level of decomposition.

To document your participation, make sure to snap a photo or video — both when you bury and dig up your undies — and send it to Lucas Stark at lucas@ccfarmbureau.com or Sarah Kaper at sarah@ccfarmbureau.com.

The “I Soiled My Undies” project is part of Champaign County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom agricultural literacy initiative. For more information about the challenge and how to get involved, visit Soil Your Undies for Champaign County