Friday, October 19, 2012

Cotton Picking

Seventh and eighth graders at school got to go cotton picking! They learned all about the cotton gin, separating the cotton from the seed, and so much more. We have a little bag full of cotton, and my daughter and I will make some pillows for the dolls. My kids have loved the nonfiction books on all sorts of processes -- apple to pie, cotton to clothes -- but nothing beats seeing and doing for oneself. Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, for setting up this wonderful field trip.




 





I missed this event due to pressing deadlines and the need to get back to revisions on my historical YA, but you'll be sure I won't miss it the next time it is offered. Who knows, maybe I'll get to drive this thing ...

Have a great weekend.

7 comments:

Mirka Breen said...

Picking cotton... That's what I'd call real schooling!
I remember that one of the subjects we had in elementary school back in Israel was called Agriculture. We plowed a field, seeded it, weeded it, and grew crops. A really good thing to do.
Can't wait for your YA. Why did I think it was a MG? I know it will be great.

Faith E. Hough said...

So cool! I had no idea cotton was so beautiful. Though I imagine it lost some of its charm if you were a slave breaking your back over it all day...

Vijaya said...

Mirka, I think learning how to grow things is an absolute must. Gardening is so good for the soul.

Faith, fresh cotton is incredibly soft too. It's fun to do anything for an hour or so ... but when you visit plantations, it can break your heart if you think about the poor slaves. God rest their souls.

Molly/Cece said...

Cotton picking. Haven't seen that in a long time.

Christina Farley said...

I loved the pictures. I've never actually seen cotton picking done but I bet it would be fun. But it's horrible to think of slaves doing it for their entire lives isn't it?

Marcia said...

What a cool field trip! The cotton field is beautiful. But I too can't look at this without thinking of the slaves. I am not cut out for physical work and know I would have died at a young age had I been a field worker. Lord have mercy.

Vijaya said...

Molly, every time I see the cotton, I start singing Cotton eye Joe!

Christina, thanks. Yes, there's beauty ... but the price was heavy.

Marcia, I also think I would've died under the weight of such grueling work ... I'm sure many did. May they rest in God's loving hands.