At first glance, this basil might look a little too perky to have arrived in the U.S. over 100 years ago. Truth is, this basil is fourth generation Sicilian-American, just like me. According to family folklore, when my great-grandmother's parents arrived at the Port of New Orleans from Sicily, basil seeds were among the few items they brought with them from the old world. When they planted the seeds for the first time in Louisiana soil, my great-great grandparents collected seeds from those plants and gave some to their children, who grew basil and gave seeds to their children, and so on and so forth. Now, passing on the Sicilian heirloom basil seeds is a generations-old family tradition. Even as our family has scattered throughout the United States, we're able to take this reminder of our shared heritage with us wherever we go. 

– Stefani

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more