ORIGINAL: DanM3029

Here is howI do it, and I do one sample for each plot. I get a container, usually a sandwich sized zip lock bag. I put a name on it in black magic marker, something like "Plot #1, big field". Then I take another ziplock and put a label on that "Plot #2, Honey Hole". THen I go to my plots, dig down a couple of inches in to the dirt, and put some dirt into the ziplock bag for that plot. I do this in 4 or five spots within the plot. I try not to get any vegetation in the bag. Then I take the other bag and go to the other plot and do the same thing. Now I have two labeled ziplock bags filled with dirt. It is important that you use a clean trowel or shovel when you dig the dirt so you do not contaminate the sample with chemicals that are on the trowel/shovel. With the dirt in the ziplock bag, I try to mix it around pretty good so the sample is evenly distributed in the bag. this will give an average for ph and nutrients within the food plot. Now once i am home, I lay out on the table two sandwich sized ziplock bags that are labeled and contain dirt. Next I fill out the soil sample information sheet. On the Biologic shet, if you look in the top right corner of the information part, right above "Crop to be grown" in the grey shaded area, it says "Field Name or Number - DO NOT LEAVE BLANK-" I will put in that box "Plot #1, big field". The where it asks what I intend to grow in that field, I will check that box. IF it is corn and soybeans, I will put down Bio-Maxx, which is the Biologic mix of corn and soybeans. I will fill out the same information on another sheet for the other sampl, and lable that under Field Name or Number "Plot #2, Honey Hole". Now I have two soil samples in labeled sandwich sized zip lock bags, and two information sheets. I will now get 2 gallon sized ziplock bags. I put on the front of one, "Plot #1, Big Field" and on the other "Plot#2, Honey Hole". Open the gallon sized bag,put in the information sheet and soil sample ziplockfor "Plot #1, Big Field"into the gallon sized ziplock and seal it. Now the soil sample and information are contained within the same bag. The information and soil sample stay together. Then I take the other gallon ziplock and add the soil sample sandwich sized ziplock and infromation sheet to it. now i have 2 gallon sized ziplocks that each contain a sample and information sheet. I can put both into a mailer envelope or box and send them to the Biologic LAb at the same time and not have to worry about them mixing the sample witht he wrong information. I have sent in as many as 4 samples at the same time. Or you can send the soil sample and information sheet in its own mailer, one at a time. Hope this helps.