If you need some motivation to get your garden going this spring, look no further than Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company’s annual Spring Planting Festival, which takes place Sunday May 4th through Monday May 5th near Mansfield. The event will feature live entertainment, food, vendors, and an array of experts discussing everything from mushroom foraging to tips for growing culinary herbs.
Located just north of Mansfield (about an hour’s drive from Springfield or Lebanon), Baker Creek’s Ozark Village is so named because of the array of shops and buildings on the grounds. Beyond a typical seed store or plant nursery, Baker Creek also has a restaurant, boutique, and bakery/flour mill on its premises. It serves as a place to serve your gardening needs as well as an inviting event venue, and gardeners who attend the Planting Festival will be able to procure both expertise and supplies.
The list of speakers will include Mike Snyder, who will talk Ozark Mushrooms and wild foraging, Ranjana and Chetan Hans who will speak about bridging the gap between Ayurveda and modern medicine for health and wellness, and a Q&A session with Baker Creek horticulturalists to get all your burning questions answered.
In addition to expert panelists, the festival will feature the music of bluegrass hall-of-famer Rodney Dillard, an old-fashioned music contest, and many other musical acts.
Admission to the festival is free, but a ticket for parking is required. The cost is $15 per vehicle, and tickets can be bought at the Baker Creek Seed Company website, www.rareseeds.com. The festival will run from 10 AM – 7 PM on both Sunday and Monday.
