Sods, Soil, and Spades : The Acadians at Grand Pré and Their Dykeland Legacy

French Acadians began settling in the Grand Pré area of Nova Scotia, a region plagued by salt-soaked tidal meadows, in the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, a complex system of sod barriers had enabled them to convert 3,000 acres of what had been tidal marshes into rich crop land. Four hundred years after the Acadian arrival in the Bay of Fundy region, the physical presence of their legacy is still intact. Contents Figures and Tables Preface Acknowledgments Colour Illustrations 1 Introduction 2 Geology, Geography, and Tides 3 Tidal Aspects and Effects 4 Sods, Soil, and Spades: The Botanical Contribution 5 The Art and Science of Dyke Construction 6 Sequence of Dykeland Enclosures at Grand Pré 7 300 Years of Rising Sea Levels 8 Coping With Cartographic Errors 9 History of Dykelands at Six Locations 10 Recent Exposures of Entombed Shorelines Summary and Conclusions APPENDICES 1 Chronology of Various Events Pertaining to Dykelands 2 Minas Basin Tidal Marsh Flora 3 Persons Contacted for Information on Dyking 4 Data Sheet: Tidal Marsh Sod-Cutting Spade 5 J. Crane's 1819 Article on Dyke Construction 6 J.F. Herbin's 1911 Notes Concerning the West Marsh 7 Plowing Patterns for Crowning Dykelands 8 "Deportation Creek" and the Iron Cross Memorial 9 Source List for Early Aerial Photos, 1931–1967 10 World War II and Grand Pré, October–November 1940 11 List of Seventy-Three Newspaper Articles Pertaining to Grand Pré Dykelands 12 Acadian Farming, 1605–1755 References Index A B C D E F G H J K L M P R S T W Sherman Bleakney, a marine biologist, examines the unusual physical and biological features of this region of the Bay of Fundy, home to the only successful pioneer culture in North America to farm below sea level. Using original photographs, diagrams, and graphs, Bleakney shows how and why the Acadians were successful. "Sods, Soil, and Spades" examines the unique and elegant engineering principles and practices used by the Acadians and looks at how their culture influenced their success in mastering this marshland region. Sherman Bleakney examines the unusual physical and biological features of this region of the Bay of Fundy, home to the only successful pioneer society in North America to farm below sea level. Using original photographs, diagrams, and graphs, Bleakney shows how and why the Acadians were successful. Sods, Soil, and Spades examines the unique and elegant engineering principles and practices used by the Acadians and looks at how their culture influenced their success in mastering this marshland region. "Sherman Bleakney employs his knowledge as a marine biologist to examine the unusual physical and biological features of the environment at Grand Pre, features that encouraged dyke construction as a viable alternative to clearing forested upland terrain." "Among many others, topics discussed by Bleakney include Bay of Fundy geology and derivation of marsh soils, sod production, Acadian technology, and dykeland fishing and hunting practices."--Résumé de l'éditeur "Sherman Bleakney employs his knowledge as a marine biologist to examine the unusual physical and biological features of the environment at Grand Pre, features that encouraged dyke construction as a viable alternative to clearing forested upland terrain." "Among many others, topics discussed by Bleakney include Bay of Fundy geology and derivation of marsh soils, sod production, Acadian technology, and dykeland fishing and hunting practices."--Jacket