Tracing My Farming Roots

This assignment is a very difficult one for me to write about. The topic assigned requires me to research family history and find a connection to farming. And unfortunately, I am unable to complete that task. All of my grandparents are deceased and neither of my parents have a strong knowledge of their genealogy. Their memories stop at their grandparents. If you were to ask me to write about a military connection in my family, I could outline several significant events from a scrapbook my uncle put together... but to my current findings, there are no ties to a farm.
At most what I can offer this assignment is the small glimpse I have had into the crop world via some friends I have made along the way.  My husband was in the Army when I met him. Stationed in Fort Drum, New York where I was born and raised he finished out his military career and retired. We moved to his home of record, Utah.  It was a bit of a culture shock to me. But I slowly made some friends and learned quite a bit about the mormon religion. I found that most everyone I met in Utah had some sort of garden. It was very important to most people I met along the way to grow their own vegetables. It kind of goes in hand with their strong practices of healthy clean eating. Something else I was introduced to.
I found that most people I met in Utah thrive with success and happiness. I believe this has a lot to do with being self sufficient enough to raise their own crops and the benefits this offers them. Not only does it encourage healthy eating practices but it saves money. It also serves as a valuable trade should food ever become scarce.
Although I did not convert to the Mormon religion, I envy their way of life. I have even discovered my own love of gardening. I can not tell you the pride I feel when I see that tomato start to grow. It is crazy how much you gain from the work you put into the ground. I know it may not be much but it is a start to the roots of crops and working the land for self- sufficiency I can pass on to my own children. I am not knowledgeable enough to start my own farm, but I can at least pass on the seeds of knowledge that has been planted within the gates of my garden.