By Brandi Sikora

If you are interested in simple living, gardening, the ways of yesteryear, and wholesome entertainment, have I got the place for you!  What started off as a trip to an Heirloom Seed Festival evolved into a visit to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Rocky Ridge Farm, a stay in our very own “Little House in the Big Woods,” and most surprisingly, a step back in time!
We elected to begin our adventure with an overnight stay at Mansfield Woods Vacation Cabins.  The first book in the very popular Little House series is titled “Little House in the Big Woods” so it just felt appropriate.  The grounds and accommodations were rustic but just comfortable enough to not feel like you are camping. After a trip to the local Town and Country grocery store, we fixed ourselves a simple meal of steak and mixed vegetables on the outdoor grill.  It started to rain just as the steaks got done so we decided to eat out on the covered porch and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of an Ozark rain along with our feast and iced tea. I will warn you—there is no cellphone reception, no television, and no internet—but unplugging for the weekend was just what we needed. The cabins do have air conditioning, refrigeration, comfy, beds and bathroom/bathing facilities.  If you decide to stay here, be sure to explore Hicks Cave for a light bit of spelunking. That’s right! There’s a cave on the property, and with the permission of the landowner, you can explore the 1.8 mile-long cave until your heart’s content!

The next morning we checked out of our cabin and made the short trip down the gravel drive and across the street to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.  Here, visitors can tour the Historic Rocky Ridge Farm, where the Little House books were authored. As a little girl, I admired my mother’s collection of The Little House books, but it wasn’t until I was older that I understood why she liked them so much.  It was wholesome reading, yes, but also an inspiration for living more simply and purposefully. Family and love were the cornerstones of life back then; not money and belongings. Not wanting to spoil the trip for you, I won’t share much more, but I hope you get the same appreciation of a simpler style of living after your visit to the Rocky Ridge Farm.  When you leave the museum, proceed to the Mansfield town square to catch a glimpse of the Laura Ingalls Wilder bust, which is proudly displayed in the city’s central park. She’s definitely this town’s hero, so if she was ever an inspiration to you, pay her a visit and tell her Cypress sent you.

After our glimpse into the past, we made our way down a winding country road, out to Baker Creek Homestead—the reputed oldest homestead in Missouri.  The pioneer village and farm is open Sunday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM and the first Sunday of every month Baker Creek puts on a festival. Our visit happened to coincide with the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Festival!  Admission is completely free except for two days out of the year in May for a Spring Planting Festival. An avid backyard gardener, I am always looking for “new” varieties of veggies to add to my garden. I say “new” because the majority of these seeds are heirloom seeds.  Some species were thought to be lost forever but somehow resurrected so that we can taste the food of generations past. Does anyone else get nostalgic at the thought of how they could be savoring the same sweet tomato variety that our great-grandparents ate when they were our age?  As I grow older, I find myself appreciating the simplicity and purity of food. There’s no need to add a bunch of flavor-enhancing ingredients when the food is grown from good seed, preserving its God-given flavor for us to enjoy.

In the village, you’ll find an old-time mercantile, herbal apothecary, bakery, blacksmith shop, an Opry House, greenhouses, and of course, SEEDS!  Plan to spend a couple of hours exploring the property. There are guided tours of the greenhouses, herb gardens, and seed warehouses among other attractions.  You can also purchase goods either crafted on site or brought in by local craftsmen. We actually purchased a water seal crock in which to make our homemade sauerkraut.  If you think you don’t like sauerkraut, try a batch you’ve made yourself. There’s really nothing like it! On the property, you’ll also find numerous animals, some exotic, some not, but all very friendly and always up for some attention.  Don’t be alarmed when you see the “pioneers” running around barefoot. They really try to make your experience as authentic as possible. Oh, and before you leave, no matter what, be sure and grab one of Deb’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls from the bakery!  Within 15 minutes of being made, they’re sold out and already working on icing the next batch. Yes, they’re that good!  

Finally, if you garden and like to start your plants from seed, I highly recommend visiting Baker Creek Seed Warehouse.  Not only does it make gardening much more affordable, but all of their seeds are heirloom or non-GMO, meaning you know exactly what your family is eating.  If you can’t make it out to the village, at least visit their website and order a seed catalog to be mailed to your house. It is so beautiful that it actually lives on my coffee table year round.  And something really cool about this catalog—it doesn’t just give you plant care instructions, it also includes a little history on where the seed originated and how they brought it back into cultivation.  

Mansfield, MO is a little out of the way but one hundred percent worth the pilgrimage!

*To reserve your stay at Mansfield Woods Vacation Cabins, visit www.mansfieldwoods.net.
*Plan your trip to Rocky Ridge Farm and The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum at http://lauraingallswilderhome.com/
*To plan a visit to Baker Creek Pioneer Village or order a seed catalog, visit www.rareseeds.com.