October is cotton-picking time in eastern North Carolina
Some things change, but fall is still harvest time on the farm. I woke up today, and the big tractor was outside my window picking cotton.
In the fall after the cotton is picked, rye or wheat is sown in the field. In the spring, the rye isn’t harvested; the cotton seeds are just planted right in the middle of the cover crop. The rye dies away, and the cotton seeds emerge. This is called “no till” farming.
Cotton plants peeking up in the field of rye.
The cotton plants will grow over the rye, and they never have to plow the field. Miraculously, the rye just disappears and becomes compost.
Harvesting cotton has changed so much over the years. Just a few years back, this big machine came on the farm and picked the cotton.
Cotton Picker unloading Cotton into the Hopper
As soon as the cotton was picked, it was dumped into a hopper, which rolled the cotton into big, round bales. Just as soon as they picked it, they dumped the cotton from the picker into the hopper, and then yet another machine rolled the cotton into big, round bales.
These bales of cotton weigh about 500 pounds each. Next stop – the cotton gin.
Now one machine does it all. It picks the cotton and rolls it into the round bales. If you would like to purchase this machine, the price is $1,000,000.
Cotton is a gorgeous plant, and I use the empty bolls for decorating, and always in my cork wreaths. I also visit the Cotton Gin in Everetts, and they give me cotton mulch for free.
As soon as the cotton is picked, Mark returns and cuts the stalks.
I imagine this is the most photographed cotton field in eastern North Carolina! Of course, I think our cotton is way prettier than all the cotton in Martin County.
If you want to see this happening, plan a trip to Big Mill B&B Extended Stay in September or October.
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