Hunting for Ancient Life
Help us capture the biological blueprint of healthy ecosystems. Your samples could contain the specific fungal strains needed to heal degraded land.
Why We Need Samples
Industrial agriculture and urbanization have wiped out native soil microbiology in many areas. To restore "Zombie Forests," we need to reintroduce the specific ectomycorrhizal fungi that originally supported these trees.
We are looking for Refugia—small pockets of undisturbed land where ancient biological networks still survive.
Rewards
- 500 Soil Grower Points per verified sample
- "Mycelial Hunter" Badge
- Naming rights for new strains discovered
Identify a Pristine Site
Look for areas that haven't been plowed, paved, or heavily trafficked in decades.
- Old fence lines with large trees
- Cemeteries (often undisturbed)
- Remnant prairies or ancient woodland patches
Dig Carefully
We need soil from the rhizosphere—the root zone.
Clear away the top layer of debris (O-horizon). Dig down 4-6 inches near the drip line of a healthy native tree.
Collect & Document
Take about 1 cup of soil. Place it in a clean paper bag (plastic can suffocate the microbes).
Immediately use the Citizen App to log the GPS coordinates, take photos of the tree and soil profile, and scan the site.
Submit
Mail your sample to our lab or drop it off at a partner nursery. Label the bag with the Sample ID generated by the app.