prairie point

an old-time fair

Tricia and I spent most of Friday at a fair at Brazos de Dios, which is a farm operated by Homestead Heritage just north of Waco. The event spreads over three days and combines some of the more enjoyable elements of a renaissance fair with a visit to grandpa's farm.

We had some homemade jalapeno sweet-potato soup that was out-of-this-world tasty, watched a barn-raising, rode a hay-wagon around the property and had a great time. There were all kinds of demonstrations - quilt-making, soap-making, black-smithing, weaving and pot-throwing among others - as well as examples of all these things for sale. We wanted to stay for the gospel-singing in a big outdoor tent after dark, but unfortunately it was colder than we had expected and windy and we had not come with the appropriate clothes, so after five hours we were ready to get back in a warm car and head back north.

Brazos de Dios is the old Spanish name for the Brazos River. It means "the arms of God." The farm is located in the rich floodplain of the river and is worked using drafthorses instead of tractors, which they say is actually more efficient for a small farm. The fields are lying fallow this year, which they do every seventh year.

One of their businesses is taking down old barns and reconstructing them on new sites for customers. Several of their own buildings are reconstructions, including a working gristmill that dates from 1760.

As you tell, I am really taken with the lifestyle of these people and the way they have built a community that incorporates traditional crafts and values into their everyday lives.

Posted by Bill Hopkins on November 29, 2003 10:20 AM