Sue,

We use soil in one of our exhibition areas and if I am not
mistaken the curatorial folks baked the soil in the oven at a
very high temperature to kill off any crawly things. It took
them a while since the ovens were not that large, but we have
had the same soil in the exhibit for ten years and it is still
looking as fresh as the day we installed it.

According to Sue Thompson:
>
> Our musem will be hosting an exhibit this coming summer & fall with a
> theme that deals with plowed fields.
>
> We would like to incorporate freshly plowed soil from farm fields into
> the display areas.
>
> Has anyone had experience with this sort of thing?  We do not have a
> decontamination room.
>
> Also, there is the necessity of keeping the soil looking fresh.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sue Thompson
> Sr. Registrar
>


--
Robin Gabriel
Director of Education
Monticello
P.O. Box 316
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(804) 984-9854
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