Make it step by step
- Step 01
Label samples A, B and C. Avoid contaminated land, sewage or manure.
- Step 02
Add water gradually until moist. Try forming a ball and note grittiness, smoothness and stickiness.
- Step 03
Press a short ribbon between thumb and forefinger. Sandy material tends to crumble; clay-rich material generally holds together better.
- Step 04
Record each result and compare with the USDA chart. Do not infer exact percentages from a single feel test.
Check before use
Samples have comparable moisture and notes separate observations from uncertainty.
Limits of this project
Loam contains several particle sizes. A mouldable soil is not necessarily clean or suitable for food vessels.
Take down and restore
Wash hands and retain soil in trays; keep sediment out of drains and waterways.
All lashings and racks here are for light objects, never people, climbing or rescue.
Further reading
References support relevant principles, not certification of these projects or their dimensions. These original practice designs and diagrams have not been field-tested by this website.
