About

VISION
CULTIVATE, BLOSSOM, GROW
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MISSION
OUR PURPOSE IS TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OURSELVES, FRIENDS, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND MOTHER EARTH. LIVING BY THE CORE VALUES OF LOVE, RESPECT, GRATITUDE, EQUALITY, COMPASSION AND UNITY, WE STRIVE TO HELP THE WORLD BLOSSOM INTO ASCENSION. WE ARE GROWING STRONGER KINSHIPS TO PROVIDE A BETTER TOMORROW FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO COME.​

LOCATED IN THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA, COTTON BLOSSOM GARDENS FEATURES BEAUTIFUL WILD PLUM TREES, CHERRY TREES AND A HAPPY GARDEN! GROWING  A VARIETY OF SUMMER VEGTABLES AND FRUITS, COTTON BLOSSOM GARDENS USES FRESH HARVEST TO MAKE DELICOUS SALSA AND HYDRATED SNACKS.
COTTON BLOSSOM GARDENS IS A PEACEFUL AND SAFE  SPACE OF LEARNING, HEALING,  AND SHARED KNOWLEDGE.​

Cotton Blossom Gardens
​CORE VALUES

LOVE
Love has no expectations, no conditions, and is the highest frequency of vibration. With 
love, anything is possible and with love comes no fear. We believe in love as our forefront starting with ourselves.
​RESPECT
Respect and self-respect is a moral value that encompasses all values that one should always live by. Respect, and respecting everything above, everything below and everything all around you. We believe that respect is a sign of humility and love.
GRATITUDE
Gratitude is the foundation of true happiness. By having a grateful heart, you can appreciate the beauty in people, the beauty in the land, the water, the sky, the stars, the sun, and animals. Big or small we believe in giving thanks to everything and everyone. 
EQUALITY
Equality has no color, no label, no title, and no gender. We believe that everyone should be treated equal and have the same opportunities 
COMPASSION
Compassion is putting others first. An action that requires your love to be transmitted into something or someone. We believe in showing compassion and being compassionate to others.
UNITY
Unity brings togetherness and a sacredness in love. We believe in unionship with all of creation.

Janice Lucero

Isleta Pueblo, NM

MaGuWam, Welcome! My name is Janice Lucero, also known as Cotton Blossom (Dah-khee-pauff) from the Pueblo of Isleta.
I'm super excited to share this new journey with you. In 2020 during the pandemic I felt this urgency to start a garden. I had a lot of anxiety with the lock down and there was a lot of uncertainty with Covid and the numbers kept going up and up. Access to food seemed like it was a task, and the long lines and limited items didn't help.
At the time I was working a full-time job in the corporate industry for an electric utility company, as an SR SCADA Network & Security Specialist. My job was very demanding with big responsibilities. I found myself drowning in work and more work, triggering emotions of depression and high anxiety. I was no longer passionate and was unhappy. I was a one woman show for 3 years, trying to juggle my high demanding work life, home life, and personal life. With 20 years in the Information Technology industry, I was ready to hang up my hard hat. I was DONE! I no longer wanted to pursue this career path and there was nothing satisfying about it. In June of 2021 I resigned my position.
I knew I had to follow my passions. I had chased money for so long that I no longer wanted to chase it. I wanted to do what made me happy, whether that was taking a pay cut or not. I took a leap of faith and a door of opportunities opened for me. Right after I resigned, I was hired as a Hike Crew Leader to mentor youth from my own community, the Pueblo of Isleta. This experience was so rewarding, and I learned so much from the youth. We created a space of exploration, curiosity, vulnerability, and safety.
In April, 2021 I was selected to participate in the New Mexico Community Capital Native Farmer In Residence Program (NFIR). The program offered so much more than I expected. Great mentorship, financial assistance, and valuable resources, but most of all, shared knowledge, and deeper connections with the land and Indigenous farmers.
Farming had always been a part of my life, but this year in 2021 it became my life. I became more serious in becoming more self-sustainable and providing healthy foods for my family, friends and community. I farm on inherited ancestral land from my late paternal grandparents, Tata Joe D Lucero and Nana Lupita Lucero.
My garden has also kept me sober. I just celebrated my 4th year of sobriety! After years of self-sabotage and bad choices my body was telling me it was time to stop drinking. For years I played into my own self pity and became a victim. A vicious cycle of blaming, denying, and judgement. I was lost in this world trying to feel accepted and loved. I was trying to search for fulfillment in things that had no value. I rememered the words of William Shakespeare "Be true to thy own self".  One of the hardest things to do is admit the truth no matter how ugly, cringy, or scary it is. By allowing myself to be vulnerable I was able admit my truth. I had to change my mindset and thought process. I am healing through the land and loving my self through this journey. 
My goal is to share knowledge, teach the youth, build community and grow healthy food. 

Much Love & Blessings to all!
Cotton Blossom


 
 
 

  

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