Sod House

A frosty morning below a pink and blue winter sky.

Frugal living arrangements.

Laying on the table inside the house was this newspaper article written by Colin Budd of the Herald (a regional newspaper) published circa June 2005.  It may be difficult to read in the photo so here it is in full:

The caption under the photo: "Tramping Lake farmer Mike Jahner stands in front of the sod house he and volunteers constructed on his farm last week.  Jahner built the sod house 100 years to the day and on the exact same spot his grandfather built their first home."

The headline: "Jahner builds sod house to celebrate farm Centennial"

The story: "The spirit of the province's Centennial has hit the Tramping Lake area.

"Mike Jahner, a local farmer, has reconstructed a log house in exactly the same place as his grandfather built his family's first in the area.  In fact the impressions from the first sod house are still visible.

" 'It was exactly 100 years from the day we started building, June 19,' said Jahner of his grandfather who made the trek to claim the land along with five other men from North Dakota.  His grandfather was originally from Russia.

"The frame of the house was constructed out of tree branches and the walls were then lined with sod which was carved out of the prairie grass with a breaking plough.  The roof will be a combination of sod and hay.

" 'It's something I have wanted to do for the 100 year anniversary,' said Jahner.  'It's just a heritage thing.'

"Jahner has had some help with the project including his brothers Jack and Lawrence, Allan Lacoursiere, Dennis Lacousiere, Brian Udey, Jahner's wife June, Colette Sharleen Jahner, Jahner's grandchildren, and Richard Pullen.

"He also plans to move in an old stove and table and chairs to keep the look as authentic as possible for any possible visitors that are taking in the Centennial celebrations in Tramping Lake later on this summer.

"Some people have suggested Jahner rent the sod house out to tourists."

Stop by for a visit.

Photographed near Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan on December 13, 2021.