making dirt

[Mthunter]

I am doing my first habitat and have a fox that will be a pedistal mount. I have made the base and put in the foam. How do you all make your dirt? What ratios of what do you use? I also have some wheat stalks that will go in the base as well, do you just drill a small hole and glue those in? Thanks ahead for any input. Eric.

[-Rebecca-]

For dark rich dirt I use peat moss, for a lighter look I send the kids out for a bit of sandy dirt from the back yard. You can either mix  it with elmer's glue to a peanut butter consistency and spread it on for a wetter look, or paint the foam with glue then sprinkle the substrate on it, let it dry, and then spray with a matte sealer.  Either way, I'd paint the foam a flat matching color before adding your dirt of choice.

[George Roof]

I chill my foam , mix it quickly and paint it on.  When it activates, I sprinkle it heavily with peat or with sand.  I've learned how to get thicker and thin areas in the pour and brushing of the cold foam, but when I need to shape it, I just use rubber gloves and plenty of peat/sand on top of the foam and form the foam underneath them to my liking.

[DDavis]

I mix dirt with a 50/50 water and elmers glue ,mix it a little thicker than pancake batter.  Put it over your base . If you want a wet looking dirt let it dry like that . If you want a dry looking dirt , sprinkle dry dirt over it and let dry . next day shake off any lose dirt . Then take airbrush and spray the 50/50 glue and water over the dirt to lock everything in . Let dry .

[Mthunter]

Thanks for the responses I will give it a shot!

[Jerry]

I like WASCO base mix