A Little Cotton, A Lot of Family History

Little Glimmers from the Farm

Sometimes the things we plant grow into something much bigger than we ever expected.

This spring, I decided it would be fun to try growing cotton. I had visions of those beautiful little white cotton puffs tucked into wreaths alongside the deep purple lavender from our farm.

I started four little cotton plants in my hydroponic garden and eventually moved them outside. Only one survived.

But boy, did that one little plant thrive!

I've already gathered a wonderful basket of fluffy white cotton, and there's still so much more waiting to be picked.

What I didn't expect was the family history that would come along with this little gardening experiment.

As I shared my cotton-growing adventure, several family members told me stories about my great-grandfather. Apparently, he picked cotton in Oklahoma to earn enough money to travel to New Mexico with my grandmother, who was just a baby at the time.

One of the stories described how he fashioned something from a gunnysack to carry or pull her along the rows while he worked, picking cotton and saving what he could for their journey.

Can you imagine?

I don't know all the details of that story, but I love that growing this one little plant has brought those family memories back to life.

Something that began as a simple experiment has become an unexpected connection to my family's roots.

And now, generations later, here I am growing cotton on our little farm in New Mexico. Not out of necessity, but for the simple joy of creating something beautiful.

I can't wait to see those soft white cotton puffs nestled among the rich purple lavender in a handmade wreath.

A little bit of family history, a little bit of farm-grown beauty, and a whole lot of unexpected meaning.

Who knew one lonely little cotton plant could grow into such a wonderful story?

Another little glimmer from Figments Lavender & Herb Farm.