we explore how ancestral traditions have been adopted and/or adapted to meet the sustainable farming practices we use today.
I have been dedicated to small-scale farming for close to a decade. I’ve grown fruit trees and a variety of other staples such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, potatoes and greens. I have focused on growing utilizing natural processes that produce clean, healthy food.
In interviews with family members, I often been told about our ancestors having farms and how their meals and remedies came from what they grew. This was true of both my Northern and Southern families. They would only go to the store to buy baking goods like flour, sugar and occasionally the children would buy candy. I will convey tidbits of those traditions and reflect on whether they have changed over time and if we still use them today.
Beyond farming, I have a deep passion for genealogy which began with researching my family ancestry in 2018. I traced my lineage through historical documents, interviews, vital records, etc. I’ve applied case study methods to delve deeper to find past generations. I am a certified Indigenous Genealogist through the Aboriginal Republic of North America (ARNA).
This blend of practical farming and research-driven genealogy gives a unique perspective on the connection between how we grow from the land and also from the lives that came before us.
