The equipment that we will be needing for the Common Carbon Content Sample Collection are Camera, Handheld GPS, knife and or gardening shears, tape measure, Compass, Clipboard with  paper or printable data sheet or Tablet, Steel tube approximately 32 mm in diameter and at least 400 mm long cut at 90° on both ends with one end sharpened like a cookie-cutter, hammer and or rubber mallet, soil sampling auger or pick and shovel, a flat board 1 m long and a straight edge or steel ruler, sample collection containers or bags, masking tape, permanent marker and Representative Sampling Map.

For the above ground organic sampling, we need to:

1. Identify a sample location from your map and position yourself at that location,
2. On paper or printable data sheet, record in this order, longitude, latitude, day, month, year, and the map sample location number, then photograph handheld GPS with location visible on screen and of any identifiable landmarks. For example, hills, mountains, buildings, or a tree.
3. Identify species within location of sample to be collected, ensuring no endangered species are damaged.
4. Stomp or push organic matter flat to the ground over approximately 300 mm².
5. Put sharpened steel tube, sharpened end down, onto flattened organic material, hit with hammer or rubber mallet until the pipe reaches soil or ground level.
6. Clear all organic matter away from the outside of the pipe.
7. Collect sample of organic matter from inside pipe and down to the ground directly inside the diameter of the pipes sample area.
8. Place in sample container or bag, using permanent marker, label sample container with the following information in this order, longitude, latitude, day, month, year, and the map sample location number and the internal diameter of the pipe.” Pipe……… mm”
9. Weigh sample using digital scales record weight on the outside of sample bag/sample container and on your paper or printable data sheet.
10. Tape sample bag or container closed and sign with permanent Texter across tape, take photo of signature on bag. Be careful not to cover any sample information with tape.