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

J. Sherman Bleakney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bleakney has advanced understanding of dyke-building at Grand Pre in a decisive way by thoughtful, intelligent and widely-based inquiry. I commend him on his major achievements." Graeme Wynn, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia

About the Author

[still accurate??] J. Sherman Bleakney is a retired professor of biology, Acadia University, living in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Prior to teaching, he was curator of amphibians, reptiles, and fish at the National Museum of Canada, Ottawa. He has published n

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: Mcgill Queens Univ Pr (October 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773528164
• ISBN-13: 978-0773528161
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,238,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Scientist looks at the historical geography of Acadia, December 11, 2004

By 

JT (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sods, Soil, and Spades: The Acadians at Grand Pré and Their Dykeland Legacy (Hardcover)

Bleakney, who is a retired marine biologist, provides an extensive examination of the process of dyking tidal marshland employed by the French settlers in Nova Scotia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The reclamation of salt marshes for agricultural use by the Acadians was unique to North America. As a biologist and observer of natural history who has spent his life in Nova Scotia, Bleakney offers a far more analytic and rigourous account of the Acadian colonial settlement than the historic record alone has provided. In particular his study of historic maps and modern aerial photography give a considerable understanding of the environment in which the Acadian settlers found themselves.