A lot of dirt is available on former President Jimmy Carter in his hometown of Plains, Ga. As in soil that sells for $200 a pinch.
The dirt was dug from Carter's front yard, sealed in 400 plastic jewelry boxes and attached to notarized certificates of authenticity.The soil is just one of a collection of items the Plains Historical Preservation Trust is selling to pay its share of renovation costs for the Plains school, which was closed in 1979 and named a National Historic Site in 1987.
It will reopen as a museum after renovation.
"I never have and never would dispose of any of my personal effects for my own income, for my own financial benefit," Carter said. "But for a community project like this, when all the proceeds go to improving the town of Plains and the national park, I don't have any hesitancy about it."
Carter has made a point of avoiding the appearance of capitalizing on his former office, donating prize money and speaking fees to the Carter Center, his Atlanta-based think tank.
Also available are spikes from a local railroad for $150 and Bibles the president once carried to church for $300.
Stuffed "Jimmy" and "Rosalynn" dolls cost $200.