What had other civilizations done to their soils? According to Lowdermilk’s later recollection, the idea began when a “thoughtful member” of the House Appropriations Committee asked Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace whether the Department had ever studied lands that had been cultivated for two thousand years or more. Wallace answered that it had not. WhateverContinue reading “Tracing Land Use Across Ancient Boundaries, Part III: Send Lowdermilk”
Author Archives: Norm Benson
Tracing Land Use Across Ancient Boundaries, Part II: Building a National Defense Against Erosion
Walter Lowdermilk was recruited by Rexford Tugwell in 1933 to serve as the second-in-command of the new Soil Erosion Service, later called the Soil Conservation Service. In 1938, he was tasked with studying how soil affects human life and well-being. He spent two years exploring lands once ruled by the Romans to find answers. TheContinue reading “Tracing Land Use Across Ancient Boundaries, Part II: Building a National Defense Against Erosion”
Tracing Land Use Across Ancient Boundaries: From San Dimas to Washington
Walter Lowdermilk was recruited by Rexford Tugwell in 1933 to serve as the second-in-command of the new Soil Erosion Service, later called the Soil Conservation Service. In 1938, he was tasked with studying how soil affects human life and well-being. He spent two years exploring lands once ruled by the Romans to find answers. ThisContinue reading “Tracing Land Use Across Ancient Boundaries: From San Dimas to Washington”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Conclusion
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Conclusion”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Part II
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Part II”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Part I
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Problem with Ben Saada, Part I”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Slow Train to Souk Ahras
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry: The Slow Train to Souk Ahras”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry. Exploring the Ancient Ruins of Djemila
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry. Exploring the Ancient Ruins of Djemila”
The Trouble with Being a Dignitary
Walter Lowdermilk was recruited by Rexford Tugwell in 1933 to serve as the second-in-command of the new Soil Erosion Service, later called the Soil Conservation Service. In 1938, he was tasked with studying how soil affects human life and well-being. He spent two years exploring lands once ruled by the Romans to find answers. ThisContinue reading “The Trouble with Being a Dignitary”
Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry. Algeria:: January 24, 1939
“Elizabeth Moody, age nineteen and very beautiful, accompanied her Uncle, Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk and family on an official trip for the United States government, using their personal car and paying their own expenses, to study old Roman lands for the benefit of the US soil conservation service, and American farmers to find out whatContinue reading “Lowdermilk’s niece’s diary entry. Algeria:: January 24, 1939”