Question
How do sod machines work?  Is it possible to harvest a piece of sod without one of those machines? If so, how? Thanks for any help!

Answer
You can cut sod yourself with a wide bladed shovel. Prefer a shovel with a wide, square, flat head (as opposed to curved, angled, triangular head).

Cut sod by rolling it as you cut it. Use a sharp spade for this operation. Do not attempt this unless the soil is fairly moist (moist, not too wet nor too dry). Begin by cutting lanes out no more than a foot wide. You do this by making cuts vertically straight down.

Start at one end of the lane you have just marked out. With the shovel, push the shovel into the sod at an angle to make an opening like a v-shaped notch a few inches deep.

The v-shaped cut will allow the space to penetrate below the green grass and sever the roots. Then tilt the spade horizontally and slide it back and forth so it chops at the grass roots just below the surface. You just need to get in and sever the roots a few inches from where you start. Do this 1/2" to 1" below soil surface. Not too shallowly, or you destroy the turf.

If you pull up on the sod, which you have just severed, you will expose roots of the "lane" which are not severed yet. Continue to cut the roost closest to you and keep rolling the strip of sod exposing more roots. Continue to roll until you have a roll which is 3-4 foot long. Then cut the piece off and place the roll aside. Then start a new "roll".

Store sod rolls unrolled in the shade (garage or patio which is shaded). Make sure it is watered regularily, especially on a hot day. Frequent (daily) waterings will be required in hot weather. You can keep it alive for several weeks.

You can also rent a sod cutter.

A sod-cutter is a gasoline-powered wheeled tool similar to an oversized lawn mower. It has knives which cuts sod into strips about 16 inches wide. It is easier to use than doing it manually and the sod pieces look great afterwards (not as much damage as you may do yourself). You can rent these machines at equipment rental agencies for about $20-30 dollars per day.

Good luck.