To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.

–Wendell Berry

we produce our farm issue every year because we strongly believe that the connection we have with our food defines our connection with our greater community, our health, and our culture.

And a local food economy should be considered the best source of improving our overall well-being as Utahns by our government leaders. Why?

Because our greatest hope of long-term survival as a species is to respect the connection we have with food, nature, and culture through our farms. And by farms, we don’t mean large mono-crop factory farms, but local farms: market farms that produce food for local distribution.

But again, the five-year-old could ask: Why?

We have built our “modern American culture” on an agricultural system that degrades the soil, that relies on destructive chemical additives.

Mr. Berry believes “People use drugs, legal and illegal, because their lives are intolerably painful or dull.” When our lives are oriented in a manner so that we lack any connection with the food we eat, or further the soil, life becomes painful and dull.

If all we see is endless asphalt, big boxes, chain stores, and cars … we need relief from this sensory pain.

When we value our soil and farms, and don’t drown our crops in Glyphosate (AKA Roundup); when we respect the plants and animals that feed us, and we can see both plants and animals all around us, life and living becomes much more interesting. Market Farmers and gardeners understand this, which is why they don’t often need opioids to remain happy.

Enjoy our 8th annual farm issue, and we will see you at the Downtown Farmers Market, the Liberty Park Farmers Market, and the Ogden Farmers Market.

Utah Stories writers and contributors will be at each of these markets. Follow us on Instagram to get the details of where and when.

Correction to story in our May issue:

• We incorrectly stated that Michael Hanson, who ran against Tali Bruce, was endorsed by Chief Robby Russo, when, in fact, he was not.