It’s been over 20 years since I stumbled across the extraordinary rarity that is Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company in Mansfield Missouri, tucked away in the Ozarks nestled deep beyond the winding roads, and rolling hills lies what I’ve always found to be a little peace of Heaven, God’s country, a place where people like myself could gather to share each others knowledge of God’s plant based remedies, a love for real seeds, and real food.

I first learned about this company when I lived way out in the holler, no smartphones available to me, no high speed internet or artificial intelligent search engines to ask “what is this?” “where do I find that?” or “what’s it for?” no I had to find out everything myself either through listening to my elders or by reading books, so I began searching through seed catalogs, and eventually I came across one by Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, I kept studying until I finally found out where they were located, and that’s when I started visiting them.

Anytime my birthday would be coming up my husband would ask “What’s ya wanna do fer yer birthday mom?” and my answer would always be the same, “Well, you know what I wanna do, I wanna go to Baker Creek!” so that’s what we did, we would save up money, load up the whole family and embark on our over 100 mile journey up the holler we would go making our way up and down through the winding hills of the Ozarks, every twist, every turn, every wooded hilltop telling a different story, so many beautiful sights along the way, it’s truly a trip ya just got to make fer yerself if you’ve never made it.

We would often try to check into “Little House Inn” (which is unfortunately no longer in business) and we’d eat at a little restaurant located right beside it, which is also no longer in business. Time marches on doesn’t it? The memories of all the good times gone by, the melodies of the songs and the sounds of laughter are now merely Echoes of Baker Creek Road. I eventually got to where I would set up for his festivals as a vendor under “Hillbilly Heaven Herbs” where I sold supplements, tonics, tinctures, tea blends, some of my own homemade herbal sprays, fresh produce, and I even had gallon jars of fresh brewed teas that I’d dip out fer samples.

A sick husband stood behind me every step of the way supporting me in these endeavors and when people would stop by the booth he would often talk with them of how he was starting to feel and get around a lot better by doing some of the things I had learned, they were amazed.

Looking out here now so many things sure have changed, but it sure is beautiful and it was so nice getting to see this place one last time. I look around and I can see my Husband sitting on the porch in his overalls in the rockers with my grandson as they drank ice cold Sarsaparilla, my soap lady’s beautiful set up, and silly ol’ Ezra and Barney Fife walking around bringing people to tears from laughter.

Echoes of Baker Creek Road…

The memories linger on and on and on, but like the old heirloom seeds the traditions and festivities stand true year after year. What my dear ol’ friend, Jere Gettle has built out here really is a little peace of heaven, preserving so much of our food and the history of our food in the most beautifully breathtaking way. I’d love to be able to make it out to a festival one last time, if only just to visit, but only God knows what my future may hold.

For now I’ll let the Echoes Of Baker Creek Road linger on.

Fun Fact:

Granny’s maiden name is actually Baker – no relation to Baker Creek.

Y’all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?

Find Out More About Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company – CLICK HERE