On every camping trip we have ever taken, my kids’ first order of business is to play in the dirt. Sometimes they crush one rock with another to make a fine dusty rock powder they have coined, “precious dirt.” Other times, they move dirt around with tiny tractors or fill cups with dirt and water to make a sort of dough for dirt balls. Regardless of the activity, it results in unavoidable mess - mud smeared on legs and faces and caked under fingernails, sandal straps embedded with grit. In this state, they are so happy, and I am grateful that this joy over dirt hasn’t waned as they’ve gotten older. I know there may come a time when they aren’t so keen.
I see how this has happened in myself. Somewhere along the way, I decided that playing in the dirt wasn’t my favorite pastime. I am not someone who needs to keep things fastidiously clean or someone who is overly worried about dirt, but I guess I don’t want to partake in the same level of dirt play that my kids so readily embrace. In their excitement to make these dirt balls and share their art, they ask if I want to learn how. I am definitely interested in their process, but less interested in doing it myself.
Elliot: “Do you want to make one, mom?”
Me thinking: Do I indulge them and play, even though I don’t really want dirt all over me or is it ok to not do everything they do?
Me: “I don’t really want to make one, Elliot, but I’d love for you to show me.”
Elliot: “Why? you don’t mind getting dirty when you are hiking or riding your bike.”
He’s right, I routinely come home from rides or trail runs with mud streaming down my legs, so it’s not so much an issue of getting dirty, rather how that dirtiness happens. To willingly play in the dirt and coat my hands in it - somewhere along the way, I had lost that sense of play.
I continued reading my book and watched my husband say, “Sure” and learn how to make a dirt ball. How is he always so good at playing?!
But then I had a second chance. Elliot asked again and, I figured “Why not?” Dirt washes off, and we have a river close by.
“Yes,” I said, and beaming, Elliot walked me through the step-by-step process of making my very own dirt ball. I learned that to get it to set up just right, you have to add a layer of “fine finish,” silty dirt that you sprinkle evenly over the surface just prior to letting it cure in the sun. Once the balls have dried, they become ammunition for throwing at trees.
As I molded my dirt ball, I didn’t worry about messiness and let myself get dirt under my fingernails. In fact, it felt a little like baking or cooking, molding dough to make cookies or meat and breadcrumbs into spheres for meatballs.
It was oddly satisfying.
Had I kept my hands clean and stayed in my chair with my book, I would have missed out on the chance for Elliot to teach me something. Today, adventure was about getting up close and personal with dirt. The earth nurtures us in unexpected ways, and sure enough, our evening dip in the river washed it all off, leaving me feeling satisfyingly clean again.
Step-by-step recipe for making dirt balls (courtesy of Elliot)
STEP 1: Fill one “#11 child’s stackable cup” 1/4 full of dirt, careful to remove excessive debris like sticks and rocks. This is best done with a small shovel.
STEP 2: Add water and stir with stick until the mixture is sticky (not too soupy).
STEP 3: Scoop the dirt from the cup by hand and begin molding it into a ball. If your dirt ball is too wet, add dry dirt and continue molding until it is firm (this is called “drying finish”). If the ball is too dry, add slightly more water.
STEP 4: Sprinkle the firm ball with “fine finish” to keep it from flattening out during the drying process. This also makes the ball look nice.
STEP 5: Set the finished ball on a flat rock to dry in the sun for at least 45 minutes.
STEP 6 (Bonus): Have fun! Example, throw the ball at a target and watch it explode.
Elliot is a great teacher like his mom. 😊
I have been looking for a good recipe for Dirt Balls. Thanks Kristi 😜