Heirloom Garden Show

If you are into heirloom gardening, you have most likely heard of Baker Creek Seed Co. They are one of the most well-known rare seed companies in the seed-saving world. Their mission is to provide healthy, natural, authentic foods by promoting original, non-GMO (gene-altered) seeds.

I have ordered seeds from Baker Creek via the internet for several years. Turns out that they are in our backyard, only 7 miles down the road in Mansfield. This past weekend they held their spring Garden Show.

Yesterday, Littlewho, Sisterwho and I set out for a day at Baker Creek. To get there, you drive to Mansfield, MO, take 1 of 2 exits and head North about 5 miles. It is off the beaten path, to say the least. After turning off the main highway, you drive several miles down dirt roads while navigating the chugholes, over creeks, past a multitude of farms and eventually wind up at an old farmhouse at the end of a lane. Parking is in the fields around the house and along the creek bed where many people have set up tents to stay for the 2-day event.

Vendors come from areas all around to attend the Garden Show. Here you will find varieties of tomatoes and peppers that are unusual, old, and reportedly delicious. I bought 4 beautiful, large tomato plants and I'm anxious to see what they will produce. The fun is in finding out what types of jewels you have at harvest time. I bought a "Purple Russian" plant, described as "delicious,...flavor that tops the charts,...one of the best varieties for salsas and preserving, etc.". Another variety I got was a "Black Krim" which says it is a favorite of many fine chefs. I have no idea what the other 2 are but they are supposed to be good. Dh is a tomato lover, I just like growing them.

Just down the dirt path from the main house at Baker Creek is a wonderful building that houses all of their seeds. During their garden shows in the Spring and Fall they sell all of their seed packets for $1 each! It is incredibly overwhelming to stand among bins and bins of seeds, stacked floor to ceiling, most of which I've never heard of. Not having done my research, I just picked varieties that sounded interesting, or more importantly, pretty. I bought "Jumbo Pink Banana", a winter squash, "Chantenay Red Core", a carrot, a long bean called "Chinese Green Noodle", a cucumber called "Delikatesse" and melons called "Minnesota Midget", along with a plethora of other seeds, none of which I have room for. I just couldn't resist!

There were musicians, Silver Dollar City performers, speakers, including James Clary of "Clary's" restaurant who talked about what he looks for in locally grown food. There were people selling honey, tee-pees, jewelry, braided rugs and skads of other items. Littlewho purchased a wooden hunting "knife" and a treasure box carved out of cedar with a secret drawer in the back. Sisterwho bought a sterling silver ring and a painted wooden jewelry box.

The music was inspirational country gospel and bluegrass. There were kids playing fiddles, guitars and keyboard. One lady yodeled and most just sang and played whatever was on their hearts or what the audience requested.

The restrooms at Baker Creek are very nice, most of the time. Unfortunately, the women's restroom was out of order so Sisterwho and I were relegated to the port-a-potties. Rather than try to explain to Littlewho how to use a port-a-potty, I let him go into the men's restroom by himself when the other stalls were unoccupied. I sent him in with explicit instructions while I stood by the door. He went into the stall which I could observe from the doorway. Within seconds he came wobbling out. There he stood in the doorway, pants around his ankles, anatomy glaringly obvious to the 20 or so people standing around. He was yelling "don't shut the door, I'm scared!". Sisterwho shrunk away, mortified, pretending she was not with us. I ushered Littlewho back into the bathroom, not caring that I was of the wrong persuasion and assisted him with his business. There were a few knowing smiles and snickers as we walked out. Sister was still hiding behind a tree but Littlewho quickly spotted her, ruining her cover when he said "Sissy, what are you doing back there?".

We had a wonderful, peaceful, spirit-filled day. If you ever have the chance to go, I highly recommend it and if you aren't already aware of the dangers of "Frankenfoods", go to www.rareseeds.com for more information.