How to Make a Sod Hut

Start with a plan. As with any construction project, everything relates back to the plan. If you are cutting sod bricks that are 12 inches long -- a standard size -- you can plan your sod hut to be 10 by 12 feet or 14 by 16 feet. Mark the places for the windows and the door on your plan, so you will know when to insert the frames.

Find the right sod. Look for soil that is thick with buffalo, wheat, Indian or prairie-cord grass.

Buy, rent or borrow a "grasshopper" or "breaking" plow to cut 4-inch-wide by 12-inch-long bricks. Calculate the number of bricks you will need from your plan, and then cut a few extra in case some of the bricks don't have enough fiber to hold together properly.

Build window casings and a door frame out of 2-by-4-inch or 4-by-4-inch lumber. Make the windows 12, 24 or 36 inches wide to coincide with the sod bricks. Place or mark the door frame where you want it to stand. Set the window frames in, according to the plan, as you come to them.

Lay the sod grass-side-down as you build. Three rows of sod -- for a total thickness of 12 inches -- along each wall will give you a shelter that is warm in winter and cool in summer. Position the sod at different angles to seal it off, and make sure there aren't any gaps for drafts.

Refer to the plan for the roof. If you are going to have a flat roof, lay the ridge pole across the sod hut lengthwise. If you want a more pointed construction, cut the sod bricks accordingly. Use 2-by-4-inch or 4-by 4-inch lumber for crossbeams.

Cut thinner sod bricks -- say, two inches thick -- for the roof, as they will put less stress on the ridge pole and supporting beams. Another option is to make the roof for your sod hut from lumber.

Place tar paper over the roof before you lay the sod. Even though the sod is grass-side-down, the tar paper will prevent dried grass and dirt from falling into your sod hut.