Travel Missouri: Bakersville Village and Baker Creek Seed Company

When Missouri was first opened up to homesteaders before the Civil War, the Rippee family claimed a scenic patch of land in what would later be Mansfield, Missouri.

What's surprising is to me is after 160 years, it's still family owned. The farm is actually the longest-lasting homestead in Missouri.

It can be hard to top an awesome legacy like that, but Jere Gettle, the current owner of the farm, has found a way.

I'll be honest with you, Jere was an odd child. He planted his first garden when he was three years old and developed a weird affection for seeds in the process.

He was so obsessed with seeds, he began collecting them. By the time he was 17 years old, he'd collected enough to print and distribute his own seed catalog.

Since then, he's traveled the world collecting heirloom varieties before they were lost to time. Jere's given them a promise of new life by offering them through Baker Creek Seed Company.

He wasn't content with just living his dream of preserving seeds and owning his own company, though. Jere wanted to be part of a bigger community of modern homesteaders and farmers, and in 2000 he began holding festivals on the farm to bring everyone together to exchange ideas.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from Bakersville when I was riding the five miles off the highway to get to it. I mean, I knew there was a seed store, but that was about it.

When we finally pulled into the farm, I was shocked to find an entire town. To me, it looked as if the whole town had plopped right out of the 1880's.

Being from Florida, I'm used to fake. I mean, we're the masters of fake. We have a fake Jaws, a fake mouse, fake countries at Epcot.

Take a stroll on the beach, and you're bound to see some fake body parts, too.

Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical as I was walking up to the buildings. I was expecting another old west façade with flashy modern insides and overpriced souvenirs.

I'm glad to say that I was wrong. With the exception of electricity and indoor plumbing, inside and out, the town is a bona fide pioneer village.

I've always had an interest in herbs and how they can be used as medicine. I think that's why the apothecary was one of my favorite shops.

It's laid out about the same way as the mercantile, the only difference is the walls are lined with labeled mason jars filled with just about every herb you can imagine.

I learned that nearly all of the herbs Bakersville sell are grown in the surrounding area. I like the fact that you know where the herbs came from. So many times things are labeled organic and pesticide free, but you can't always be 100 percent sure.

I liked the concept of the restaurant. There's only one meal choice, and there's no charge. They operate by donations only.

Never eaten vegan either? I always wondered what they ate.

This was the menu the day I was there:

• barley burgers
• lettuce salad
• fried potatoes

It wasn't bad. Besides, vacations are about new experiences anyway.

Looking at the seed store and village, it's hard to believe that Baker Creek began as a child's fascination with seeds. It really proves the point that parents should encourage their children in whatever they're interested in, even if it is off the wall.

Jere has a love for what he does, and it shows throughout the whole farm. He has to have a true passion for seeds and the farming community, otherwise he would be charging admission to Bakersville and for the food at the restaurant.

Unlike Laura Ingalls Wilder's home a few miles away, Bakersville is not a museum. It's a working farm and seed store that is always bustling with activity. Whether your passion is gardening or history or you want to see something unique and off the beaten path, Bakersville Farm and Seed Company is a must-see attraction when you're in the Branson area.