TREASURES FROM BAKERS CREEK SEED CO.

Howdy!  As promised I am back today to show you what I bought at the Bakers Creek Seed Co. annual spring planting festival that we went to on Sunday.

This is not the seed packet I purchased!!

Truthfully, I went with only one thing in mind...finding organic Spaghetti Squash seeds.  I have looked for spaghetti squash seeds in our area for the past two years but could not find any.

When I found Baker Creek Seed Co. here in Missouri and found out that all their seeds are organic, I couldn't miss the opportunity to go get me some seeds.  Yes I could've ordered them online or by mail from their free catalog...

but what's the fun in that especially since they have an entire pioneer village to enjoy.

Anyway, we are not planting a large garden this year because we are still looking to sell our house but I am determined that I will be growing Spaghetti squash and zucchini as well as tomatoes anyway.  My only seed purchase was the spaghetti squash seeds since we already have a few tomato and zucchini plants going.  I hope that if we are still in this house come harvest time that we have a bumper crop of all three.  Yummmmm!!!

While visiting some of the many vendors booths at the festival I bought a little something...that I really didn't need...and something I could easily make myself...but they were just so stinkin' cute I had to have one.  Plus the ladies selling them were of my same faith and all the proceeds were going to their church so I figured it couldn't hurt to support the church and all...wink, wink!!

Anyway, here it is...

a FEED SACK TOTE BAG.  Isn't it sooooooo adorable?  I don't have any animals and I don't live on a farm but I am going to find me some feed sacks somewhere and make some of these myself.  They are perfect for toting around crafting stuff, crochet stuff or for taking to the grocery store.  Plus the "plastic tarp type fabric" is easily washable with a sponge and little soap and water.  No washing machine required!!

My other purchases were from a swap meet we stopped at on the way home.  Wooden cheese boxes. I have been looking for a few of these to use for soap molds when I start making some homemade organic soaps soon.  Wooden molds made especially for soap making are around the same size and same kind of wood but are pretty expensive.  I figure I saved myself around $40.00 by getting these....besides these are WAY cooler than any traditional soap mold, right?

Anyway, I am super excited to get my seeds planted and to put my other purchases to good use.

What did you do this past weekend?  Anything fun?  Anything exciting?

BAKER CREEK SEED CO. ANNUAL SPRING PLANTING FESTIVAL...

I had such a great time on Sunday at the Baker Creek Seed Co. Annual Spring Planting Festival.  The whole family did!!

I probably haven't mentioned much about this on the blog but I have been studying up on organic gardening for the past few years.  After finding out how our government has duped us over the past 45 or so years into believing that our food and drug administration was regulating the quality of our foods to make sure everything we consume is "safe", when all along for bigger and better profits, they were allowing and even supporting commercial farmers and places like Monsanto to produce and plant genetically modified seeds to poison feed the great people of this country....and...allowing packaging companies to use poisonous materials in the packages our food comes in as well...I decided that I want to do better when it comes to feeding my family.  I want organic at a price I can afford (which means growing it myself) so I have searched out a place right here in Missouri that sells organic heirloom variety seeds....and it's only about an hour and a half drive from my house.  I also found out that each year they have a big shindig...their ANNUAL SPRING PLANTING FESTIVAL to celebrate all that wholesome good seed and plants....so we went on a little road trip Sunday to enjoy the festival.

The farm is set up like an old time pioneer village with old time hotel, restaurant, general store, apothecary, livery stable, mill and much more....the mach town is called Bakersville Pioneer Village. Really NEAT!!! For the annual festival they had over 150 vendors there selling their homemade organic, goods, plants, foods, crafts, small farm animals and other wears.  There was live music too....fiddlers, cello players, yodelers, etc.  All sorts of fun things to see and do. It was SUPER, SUPER crowded but we had such a good time.

I wanted to eat at the restaurant which serves vegan food from fresh ingredients right off the farm there but the line was a mile long.  The neat thing about the restaurant is that they don't have a set price for the food.  You pay by donation.  I did have a delicious bowl of organic cowboy beans and cornbread from their outdoor kitchen where the line wasn't so long.  It was by donation also...and I tried a sample of fresh, creamy goat cheese from one of the vendors.  Very tasty!!!

Shamefully I didn't take a ton of pictures because I just wanted to enjoy my day there without being tied down with the camera.  However, I did take a few to show you....

Pops (my father-in-law) and the kids took a horse and buggy ride...

Awww...isn't he pretty?!!

This view is from the entrance gate and that's only about a third of the vendor tents that were set up.  I'm tellin' ya this was a BIG shindig!!

 I bought something from this cute booth....which I will show you tomorrow after I get a picture of it.  All I can say is that I plan on making some of them for my little boutique....but I am trying to keep all that on the down low until everything comes together.

These were my favorite musicians.  I love old time bluegrass fiddle music and these KIDS played beautifully.

These guys were good too.

We also met this group of entertainers...

Of course I was respectful to ask if I could take their picture because I know that native american Indians oftentimes do not permit their picture to be taken.

Of course we were on a real farm so there were all kinds of animals to be seen...sheep, goats, chickens...

I didn't get a picture of it because it was so crowded but the Seed Store (where they sell all the organic seeds) was huge and filled with not only seeds but other cool handmade stuff.  Here's a picture from their website...

I can tell you I absolutely love this place and we WILL be visiting again....probably in the fall.

If you would like to take a trip to Bakersville Pioneer Village aka Baker Creek Seed Co. or learn more about them, go to their website HERE.

I promise if you are in Missouri and interested in organic farming or just like outdoor adventures and activities it's worth the drive.  If you are not in the area they do sell their seeds online.  Plus they will send you a free catalog so you can order by mail.

I'll be back tomorrow to show you what I bought on our trip.

Ciao,

THE LAST COVERED BRIDGE...

So it's been a while...last summer to be exact...but you might remember that I made it my mission to see all four of Missouri's covered bridges.  I was able to see three of them last year but then it got too late in the year and there were too many other things that needed our attention to make a trip to the last one.  The other day; however, since the weather was so nice the hubs surprised me with a day trip to the last bridge.  Awww, thanks hubs!!

The Burfordville Bridge in Bollinger, Missouri.

So very picturesque don't you think?

This bridge leans just a tad but was safe to walk on and play on...yay!!

It is situated right next to Bollinger Mill which was a neat place to visit as well and a nice addition to our trip.

 From the inside of the mill.

See the table and chairs?...Someone was setting up for a wedding when we got there.   It's definitely a beautiful place for that!!

This is the view from the other side of the bridge.

There was also a cute a little antique shop right across the street (that I forgot to get a picture of....foooey).  The prices there were very good and I almost bought something but I have been trying to refrain from making any home decor purchases until after we get our new house....so I left the little treasure behind.  Whaaa!

Yes, I am STILL waiting for our house to sell.  Lots of lookers and a few who have looked twice.  It's just a matter of time and all will happen.  I still have faith, trust and hope in the Lord that it will be soon!!

Anyway, we had a terrific time picnicking, playing ball, antiquing and just enjoying family time together on such a gorgeous spring day here in Missouri.

Here is a little collage of all four of Missouri's covered bridges....

It's funny, the Burfordville and Locust Creek bridges look exactly alike.  I did not know that until I put this collage together but I assure you they are two different bridges in two totally different towns a few hundred miles away from each other.  Pretty neat if I do say so myself!

My next goal is to someday go to Indiana's covered bridge festival.  It takes place every October and is a traveling festival.  You travel from town to town to see each of the covered bridges.  There are food vendors, shops and markets and lots of things to enjoy along the way.  I can't wait for that!!!

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE COVERED BRIDGES?  To me they are incredibly beautiful!

Since I've seen all of Missouri's covered bridges I now have to come up with new ideas for this years day trips.  Do you know of any fun places in Missouri that we should visit?  Do tell!!!