PRESENTATION OUTLINE
In the 1930s, the Great Plains were often referred to as the "Dirty Thirties," or the "Dust Bowl."
They were called this because severe droughts and soil-eroding farming practices created storms of black dust, which could be up to 8,000 feet high.
The dust storms, which were also known as the Black Blizzards, were highly dangerous. They could blind animals and bury cars and farm equipment. They could even cause death.
The dust from the storms would creep into houses through tiny holes or openings. To prevent that, people hung wet sheets and towels around doors and windows.
Because sheets and towels were hung around doors and windows, it was very dark, which made it difficult for kids to see anything in school. Candles were used, but they would eventually burn out.
When people got caught in a dust storm, they would breathe in the harmful dirt. For some people, this would result in permanent health issues, and for others, it would cause death through suffocation.
People wore masks over their faces to reduced the risk of getting health issues, and to prevent inhalation of dirt.
The dust storms weren't all of nature's fault. Humans were equally responsible for it. Originally the soil was kept in place by the native grasses, but the farmers over plowed their land to meet the high demands for certain crops, such as wheat.
Since some people failed to make a successful living in Kansas because of the dust storms, they migrated west.
To encourage change in agriculture, the U.S. government offered education and financial incentives, but some farmers refused because they didn't want donations from the government.
The government programs were designed to help reduce farm surpluses, stop soil erosion, and return prairie lands to native grasses.
Soil erosion was a major cause of the dust bowl; and to prevent that, people eventually started using more productive farming techniques. One example would be contour farming, which is plowing and planting crops around hills.
Another farming technique is terracing, which is creating ditches that go with the contour of the land.
Irrigation, or man-made methods of bringing water is another way to prevent soil erosion.
Stubble mulching is soil covered with crop stubble to reduce water runoff.
Lastly, crop rotation is planting different crops on the same field year after year. Crop rotation controls weeds, diseases, and insects, making the field more productive.
