What happened to the old way of doing things — before our every day life became mechanized? To find out, include a visit to Micanopy on your next Florida vacation.
At Mosswood Farm Store and Bakehouse, you’ll discover wooden clothespins, butter churns, hand-cranked coffee grinders and recycled overalls. No, this isn’t an antique store, museum or cutesy gift shop. The items for sale at Mosswood Farm Store are meant to simplify your life, while lessening your impact on the environment. The store’s slogan says it all: “Organic, Recycled, Non-Electric, Earth-Friendly Stuff You Need.”
The smell of pastry baking in the oven greeted me as I climbed the wooden steps of Mosswood Farm Store’s 1910 cracker-style building on Cholokka Boulevard, a street lined with live oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss and old-style Florida charm. Accepting the Pasties de Nala that owner Morgan offered, I wandered the store checking out rooms filled with products I remembered from my grandmother’s home. The washing room contained all the supplies necessary for an organic laundry experience—wooden clothes hangers, clothes line, mop and bucket, organic soaps and non-toxic detergent. In another, I found old-style sewing baskets, knitting needles and a wall filled with recycled overalls. Come to think of it, durable overalls rarely wear out. Morgan is bringing them back to life—your life.
I was tempted to stay inside, browsing the book room filled with books on topics like green living or growing organic foods. The handmade violins by Jerry Jenkins made me want to pick up a bow and play, if I only knew how. But the beautiful weather was calling me outside for a walk through the organic herb garden. Plus I wanted to take a look at the stone oven behind the store, available for local bakers’ use and reminiscent of those found in European communities.
If you visit Mosswood Farm Store on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll discover local farmers selling produce and other locally produced products, accompanied by the tunes of bluegrass music. During the rest of the week, choose from the selection of organic foods, both shelf items and prepared food, available inside the store. You’ll even find organic pet food.
Browsing through Mosswood Farm Store takes hours, but save time to explore the rest of Micanopy, a Florida antique mecca that’s a fun off-the-beaten-path diversion from sunning on the beach. Later, drive over to Blue Highway, a Pizzeria where Frank Ruffino serves up gourmet pizza in a former biker bar.
Better yet, spend the weekend at Herlong Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Micanopy. Then you’ll have time to visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park to explore Cross Creek, the Pulitzer prize-winning author’s home, to learn more about Florida living, cracker-style.
Have you visited Micanopy? Did you go shopping at Mosswood Farm Store? Join the conversation at the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook or send us an email to ask a question or share your experience.
This travel experiences was provided by the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau but the opinons are my own.
