Presented by Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.
This post was paid for and produced by Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. The Daily Citizen newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. is more than a seed company — it’s a destination for gardeners and the people who love them! The annual Spring Planting Festival, to be held on Sunday, May 12 and Monday, May 13, 2024, is known as one of the premier events of the gardening world.
For two days in May, Baker Creek’s farm and pioneer village near Mansfield transforms into a marketplace for seeds, plants, and handcrafted goods, as well as delicious food and drink from southwest Missouri food trucks and restaurants.
Chef Tong Trithara of Tong’s Thai Cuisine in Springfield will be cooking in the Baker Creek restaurant, and all proceeds will be contributed to his gardening and educational project for children in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Learn from the best minds in gardening and health
Featured speakers and topics at the 2024 Spring Planting Festival include:
Maile Auterson, Dr. Katie Davenport-Kabonic and Dr. Kristi Crymes
Maile Auterson is the founder and executive director of Springfield Community Gardens.
Dr. Katie Davenport-Kabonic, DO, FAAFP, is a family medicine faculty physician at the CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency in Springfield; Dr. Kristi Crymes is Associate Program Director and faculty at the CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency, where she directs the Lifestyle Medicine Program.
With funding from a USDA grant, CoxHealth and Springfield Community Gardens established the HealthScripts program, which is a relationships-first, farm-to-clinic, food-is-medicine approach to reduce nutrition insecurity and prevent, treat, and reverse chronic disease. HealthScripts provides select patients with a weekly produce box filled with locally grown fruits and vegetables. Crymes and Davenport-Kabonic also provide patients with ongoing support around whole food, plant-based nutrition.
Master Gardeners Maurice and Dr. Maxine Theriot
Maurice Theriot is a Small Farms Specialist with Lincoln University’s Innovative Small Farmers’ Outreach Program, where he prioritizes historically under-resourced populations in the Missouri Bootheel to achieve greater levels of independence through sustainable farming practices.
Dr. Maxine Theriot is a wound care specialist physician, and with her husband is a co-founder of Theriot Farms Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides training and educational resources to teach people how to grow their own food and become less reliant on corporate food supply chains. In their presentation, they will offer a guide to the fundamentals of vegetable gardening.
Tina Marie Wilcox and Susan Belsinger
Tina Marie Wilcox and Susan Belsinger are accomplished herbalists and long-time friends who have collaborated on presentations and workshops around the country, written about herbs for national publications, and co-authored “The Creative Herbal Home,” a book centered on celebrating lives spent among the herbs. Wilcox is also the head gardener and herbalist at the Ozark Folk Center's Heritage Herb Garden in Mountain View, Arkansas.
Rev. Chris Battle
Rev. Chris Battle is the founder of BattleField Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2019, he left the pulpit after a 30-year career in the traditional role of pastor. Today, his ministry is focused on reducing food insecurity and economic injustice, especially in East Knoxville.
Battle works with other churches and organizations seeking to establish gardens on their grounds and has recently begun utilizing a food truck to distribute fresh produce to underserved communities.
Presently, he serves as the CEO of the Knox County Community Gardens & Growers Alliance. He is a founding member of Rooted East, and the Lead Pastor of The CUT (Church Under the Tree). He has been featured on NPR’S “All Things Considered” and People Magazine.
A full list of speakers and a schedule is available here.
Music and entertainment:
Festivalgoers can also enjoy two days of music and entertainment all around the grounds. Plus, a music contest at 2 p.m. Sunday offers the chance for a top prize of $800 and the chance to play at a future Baker Creek festival. Click here for details.
Additional event details:
Admission to the Spring Planting Festival is free, but a parking pass (good for both days) is $15. Bring proof of advance purchase to the gate. Payment is also accepted at the gate, but space is not guaranteed.
Purchase parking and learn more about the Spring Planting Festival.
About Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.:
Jere Gettle founded Baker Creek as a hobby in 1998, but the company has grown to offer the largest selection of heirloom and open-pollinated seeds in the United States. Baker Creek’s mission is to provide the seeds of a sustainable food supply for everyone and keep heirloom varieties alive for future generations.
Baker Creek website: www.rareseeds.com
This post was paid for and produced by the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., a Booster Partner of the Hauxeda. The Daily Citizen newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. To be accepted, sponsored content must be consistent with the news or features topics, and the Springfield-centric geography, of the Daily Citizen. For questions or information about sponsored content, please contact Daily Citizen CEO David Stoeffler at dstoeffler@hauxeda.com. To become a Daily Citizen partner, please contact Partnership Sales Manager John Tate at jtate@hauxeda.com
