Sod,Straw,Logs,and Mud

Abstract

Hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families made the western prairie region their home during the Canadian homesteading era. In order to build their first homes, many had to rely on the natural materials that were readily at hand on their quarter section. As such, homes made of logs chinked with mud and straw were common as were residences that were made of sod. Using results obtained from a survey that was administered in the 1950s to individuals who had pioneered in the province of Saskatchewan between 1867 and 1914, this article will detail the house-building process. Describing materials that were used, the amount of labor that was involved, and the positive and negative experiences that were encountered by the settlers during the build will all be discussed.