The April showers have done their part to prepare Mother Earth for spring planting and the Pioneer Museum of Alabama will put the “plow” in the ground Friday and Saturday for its annual “Spring Plantin’ Days” event.

Kari Barley, museum executive director, said there’s a difference between spring plantin’ and spring planting.

Spring plantin’ is done the old fashioned way– with a hoe and a strong back. And, that’s the way it will be done Friday and Saturday when the museum staff and volunteers plant cotton and peanuts, one row at a time.

“We’ll plant a row every hour so that visitors to the museum can experience how plantin’ was done in pioneer days,” Barley said.

Friday has been designated School Day for the museum’s Spring Plantin’ event and Saturday is designed for the general public.

“We’ll have about 500 students for Friday’s Spring Plantin’ but the public is welcome to come on Friday, too,” Barley said. “We’ll have activities and demonstrations planned for both days that highlight the old time folk crafts.”

The demonstrations will include blacksmithing, basket making, woodworking, rope making and perhaps candle dipping.

“On Friday, the kids will have a chance to plant a plant to take home. On Saturday, the Pike County Master Gardeners will have a Spring Plant sale. They will have a variety of plants to purchase and take home to enjoy throughout the summer.”

“In the demonstration cabin, we’ll be cooking cornbread and frying sausage on the woodstove both days,” Barley said. “The cabins will be open and sausage will be smoking in the smokehouse,”

Don Renfroe will offer rides around the grounds on his mule and wagon and Calvin Bodiford and friends will be fiddlin’ and pickin’ throughout the event.

“Those who enjoy the outdoors will want to spend time on the walking trails,” she said. “And it’s always fun to stroll the museum grounds. There’s a lot to see and experience on a walk around the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.”

Snacks and soft drinks will be available in the museum gift shop and the picnic area will be open for those who would like to bring a sack lunch or pack a picnic.

The hours for Spring Plantin’ are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $6. Children under age five will be admitted free.