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Plowed Sod in Grundy County, Iowa, 1940

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Image
The image shows a field in Iowa that has been half plowed.  It shows how the earth has been overturned and changed to accommodate growing crops.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Vachon, John, "Plowed Sod, Grundy County, Iowa," April 1940

Description

The photograph was taken by John Vachon in April 1940, who also took the photo that shows the Iowa farmer plowing sod. The image shows a field in Grundy County, which is located in northeast Iowa. That field has been half plowed, and it shows how the soil has been overturned and changed to accommodate growing crops.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • Describe the image above. What is happening in the image and why is this happening?
  • How is this land being changed? Why is this land being changed?
  • How can this image be used as evidence that humans modify their physical environments to grow food?
  • Compare this image to Farmer Plowing Sod. Explain which image comes first in the progression of change to the land. Describe what comes next as farmers grow food.

Citation Information 

Vachon, John, "Plowed Sod, Grundy County, Iowa," April 1940. Courtesy of Library of Congress