To build a sod house, you needed the
right kind of grass
— grass that had densely packed roots that would hold the soil together. So, Nebraska settlers would search for fields of buffalo grass, little blue stem, wire grass, prairie cord grass, Indian grass, and wheat grass. The next task was to cut the sod into bricks.
How did settlers build sod houses?
Sod quickly dried, cracked, and crumbled if not used immediately. Most
farmers cut sod from the area where they planned to build their house
. Doing so provided a flat surface on which to build and helped protect the house from prairie fires.
How much did it cost to build a sod house?
A simple sod house could be built for a cost
of less than five dollars
. Originally the process was to cut sod bricks using a spade or wooden plow, which a difficult and laborious task.
What were sod houses made out of?
These two- to three-foot square, four-inch thick sod bricks were then stacked to form the walls of the sod house. Soddy roofs were constructed by creating a thin layer of
interlacing twigs, thin branches, and hay
, which were then covered over with another layer of sod.
Why did Pioneers build sod houses?
Primarily used at first for animal shelters, corrals, and fences, if the prairie lacked standard building materials such as wood or stone, or the poverty of the settlers precluded purchasing standard building materials, sod from thickly-rooted prairie grass
was abundant, free
, and could be used for house construction.
How long do sod houses last?
Settler families tended to live in their sod houses
six or seven years
. If the exterior was covered over with whitewash or stucco, the houses could last much longer. But sod construction had it's limits.
Who lives in sod houses?
Before the 1860s, most of the people living on the Great Plains were
Native Americans
. In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, allowing men or women who were 21 years old or older to “stake a claim” to 160 acres of land.
What were the advantages and disadvantages of living in a sod house?
Sod was
a natural insulator
, keeping out cold in winter, and heat in summer, while wood houses, which usually had no insulation, were just the opposite: always too hot or too cold. Another advantage of a soddy was that it offered protection from fire, wind, and tornadoes. But a soddy also had drawbacks.
Who built the first sod house?
Isadore Haumont
built his house 1884 or '85, at the same time that others were building lean-tos. As far as we know it was the only two-story sod house built in Nebraska.
Why did homesteaders live in sod houses?
–
They had to build a house to live in
. There was no wood so they had to use the sods that lay around. It took about an acre of sods to build a sod house. -Sod houses were difficult to keep clean, leaky in rainy weather.
Did sod roofs leak?
Beneath the surface, it's not the same as it used to be. Synopsis: The author explains how he constructs a sod roof. Heavier than conventional roofing and prone to leaks if not detailed carefully, sod still has some advantages as long as you don't mind hauling a lawnmower up now and again.
Why is it called sod?
sod (n. 1) “
turf, slice of earth with grass on it
,” mid-15c., apparently from Middle Dutch sode “turf,” or Middle Low German sode, both related to Old Frisian satha “sod,” all of uncertain origin. … in sod off (1960), British slang term of dismissal; see sod (n.
What was a homesteaders life like?
The life of a homesteader was
unpredictable and challenging
. Earning a living by farming was unreliable when summer droughts and insect infestations destroyed crops. Harsh winters brought vicious blizzards that killed livestock and isolated families. Yet settlers proved ingenious, resourceful and determined.
How was sod made?
Sod farms professionally
cultivate, fertilize, water and mow the grass
in a process that takes 10 months to two years. When mature, the sod is cut into thick pieces, including the underlying soil and roots. Because of the intricate work involved in growing sod, it is much more expensive to buy than grass seed.
What were settlers on the prairie often called?
The settlers often came by way of
prairie schooner
. The prairie was sometimes called a “sea of grass”, and schooners are small, sea-going sailing ships. Prairie schooners were also called covered wagons or conestogas.
What problems did homesteaders face?
As settlers and homesteaders moved westward to improve the land given to them through the Homestead Act, they faced a
difficult
and often insurmountable challenge. The land was difficult to farm, there were few building materials, and harsh weather, insects, and inexperience led to frequent setbacks.
