The late Frank Oakes, Southwest Florida’s beloved Obi-Wan Kenobi of organic gardening, was a man with a mission to promote self-reliance, which includes growing and eating healthy food. His legacy lives in Food & Thought—The General Store, where he generously shared his wisdom with anyone that needed it. Oakes’ family, protégés, friends and admirers, along with nationally and locally recognized health professionals and educators, will pay tribute to his legacy, mission and spirit through the Food & Thought 2015 Health Freedom Summit, from February 20 to 22.

On opening night, through a presentation, “The High Cost of Cheap Food or The Price of Everything, The Value of Nothing,” and a short film, Frank Oakes: Awakening of an Organic Prophet, attendees will hear from many of the individuals that Oakes inspired to take control of their health and well-being. Organized by the store’s management team, the event clearly depicts and honors Oakes’ personal mission to promote health freedom.

In addition, presentations, panel discussions and an original play, A Tale of Two Agricultures, are a few highlights of the circus-themed event, where two separate stages set up on the midway between The General Store and Thoughtful Threads offer attendees a menu of healthy lecture choices. Broadcast media personality Robert Scott Bell is the ringmaster; he will preside over the event, lead a panel discussion, “Health Freedom and Health Empowerment,” and present his own talk, “Health Sovereignty—Unlock the Power to Heal: Accelerating Gut Recovery for Reversal of Immune-Deficiency, Allergies, Autism, Cancer and More.” Bell will broadcast live from the event on Sunday.

The event’s featured speaker is Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating. He is also the producer of a feature-length documentary, Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives, and the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Smith will discuss “The High Stakes Game of Genetic Roulette.”

Participants will learn about Chinese internal organ massage from Vaisháli, a faculty member at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies and the Kripalu Center for Health & Yoga, who will also speak on “You Are What You Love.”

Useful knowledge about “The Joy of Disease” and the role that herbs play in the process of restoring and maintaining health will be dispensed by Clinical Herbalist Dean Martens, founder and president of Herbs of Light, Inc.

Professor Kathleen Delate, a professor of agronomy and horticulture at Iowa State University, known for her work on organic agriculture, will explain her research in “How Organic Farming Can Feed and Save the World.”

Ken Rohla, a researcher and natural health educator certified by Hippocrates Health Institute, will lecture on “The Art of Staying Healthy in an Era of GMOs, Geoengineering, and Biowarfare,” as well as “How to Grow Your Own Nutrient-Dense Superfoods for Pennies.” Rohla specializes in rejuvenation and cellular regeneration using cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom.

Julia Craven, who educates practitioners and consumers for Veriditas Botanicals, will lead two talks: “Superior Potency Therapeutic Essential Oils Through Organic and Biodynamic Cultivation” and “Therapeutic Use of Essential Oil.”

Cherie Soria, the founder of Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, and her colleague Dan Laderman, a raw foods pioneer, will present “Raw Food for Cooked Food Lovers.” Soria has been teaching the art of gourmet raw foods for more than 40 years.

“Let Food Be Thy Medicine” is the title of a lecture by Sayer Ji, researcher, author and founder of GreenMedInfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced, evidence-based natural health resource supporting natural and integrative modalities.

Deborah Post, an advanced registered nurse practitioner and the founder of Wellbridges, Inc., will discuss “Toxicity Body Burden and Chemical Sensitivities.”

Registered Nurse Susan Winters, a shamanic healer and a master in the healing arts of qigong, will demonstrate and discuss “Qigong and Chinese Energetic Medicine.”

From Theresa Severs, M.D., attendees will discover “Why We Don’t Heal: The Mind/Body/Spirit Connection.”

Osteopathic physician Pamela Hughes, the new owner of Perlmutter Health Center, will explain “How Functional Medicine Can Empower You.”

For those interested in sprouting or eating nutritionally dense foods, Chris Lindsey, “The Sprout Queen,” will talk about “Sprouting for Life.”

Registered Nurse Rene Oswald will highlight the many benefits of vegan fermentation in “Supersonic Sauerkraut.”

Donald Mayfield, doctor of Oriental medicine, will explain the disrupting impact of toxins on the body in “Homotoxicology: Getting Well.”

“The Importance of Maintaining a High Vibrational Frequency” is the topic of a talk by Interfaith Reverend Christopher Macklin, founder of Christopher Macklin Ministries Inc., the summit’s sponsor. The nonprofit, interfaith ministry embraces divine healing, unconditional love and compassion.

Prior to the summit, The Arsenault Art Gallery, located at 764 12th Avenue South, in Naples, will present An Evening with Jeffrey Smith on February 19 at 6:30 p.m. Organic wines and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Food & Thought is located at 2132 Tamiami Tr. N., in Naples. For more information on speakers and the event schedule, call 239-213-2222 or visit FoodandThought.com.