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The Sod Busters
In 1862 the United States government offered
a "land grab" to people who would go into the western plains states and homestead
it by building a home & raising crops. Because there were so few trees
in this region, the pioneers built homes from sod and grass, and tilled the
earth to raise grains and vegetables. In the 75 years since Lewis and Clark
mapped a route to the western coast, the sod busters were key to populating
the frontier lands between the eastern cities and the Rocky Mountains. Many
population centers became organized, creating small towns that grew into commerce
centers and later, cities.by Peter Busch-Jensen. Copenhagen, Denmark Photo by Jorge Wiegand |