Five-Year Forest

When Joe and I started writing out our 2020 goals, a philanthropic program was on the top of the list. With numerous ideas running through our heads, it was hard to focus on one idea in order to develop it fully. So we tabled it. Then, as I started building our next 2020 goal, our "5th year in business" celebration, the idea of planting trees as a way to give back, popped in my head. Seeing as most of our products are created from wood and because wood is the traditional 5th anniversary gift, it just made perfect sense. That is how our philanthropic program, Cottonseed Cares, came to be and that's why this year's program is planting our Five-Year Forest.  Every order we receive in 2020 will plant a tree!

Wood is the traditional 5th anniversary gift because it is durable and long-lasting. A tree is a symbol of strength and wisdom. As partners in business and marriage, these characteristics are rooted deep in our hearts. That’s why we feel supporting this effort is the perfect fit for us.

In the Summer of 2016, we were fortunate to visit San Francisco, California for my brother's wedding. It was on this trip that we visited Muir Woods. The pure majestic beauty and peacefulness we felt among the 500-800 year old redwoods was absolutely incredible.

Fast forward three years and another baby later, we took our family out of our comfort zone, vacationing at the beach, and took a trip to the mountains of western North Carolina. The experience was life-changing for me. It's very hard to even put into words. The views from our cabin were breathtaking, the charm of Bryson City felt like we had stepped into a Hallmark movie and the adventures of hiking Deep Creek taught our girls and ourselves about perseverance. At the end of each day, when we returned to the Owl's Roost Cabin, the sense of relaxation and serenity cleansed my heart, reinvigorated my creativity and I found a newfound sense of joy. I came home ready to do some BIG things!

In the infancy of the 5-year celebration's development, I came across One Tree Planted in a Google search. It didn't take me long to believe in their mission and decide that this was the organization we wanted to partner with to help us plant our Five-Year Forest. One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. As an environmental charity, their mission is to reforest the planet, one tree at a time. It's that simple. They are also creating a healthier climate, protecting biodiversity and helping reforestation efforts around the world. In 2019, they were able to get more trees in the ground than ever before, 4 million!

Click here to read more about One Tree Planted and their efforts.

We are honored and grateful to partner with One Tree Planted this year. So while you’re gift shopping with us this year, remember that your purchases will also plant trees around the world!