Homestead Heritage: A Homeschoolers Paradise

Homestead Heritage is a "traditional crafts village at Brazos De Dios", in Elm Mott, Texas. A Christian, homeschooling community, you can visit the stores anytime of the year, but a favorite time for our family is the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, when they have their annual children's fair.

When you drive into the gate of this 510 acre homesteading community, you will find the visitors center, which also includes their deli and bakery. You can buy sandwiches made with homemade bread and have homemade ice cream for dessert. They also sell other baked goods.

Continuing on, you will come to "the Barn", where you can buy all kinds of heirloom, handmade gifts: pottery, quilts, baskets, soap, candles, needlework and all kinds of wonderful things.

But for the homeschooling family, the best thing they have is the Thanksgiving Children's fair. Our family has gone every year for the last fifteen years, and we have never been disappointed. You can watch demonstrations on blacksmithing, woodworking, quilting, weaving, spinning, basketry, soap making and cheese making. Watch a sheep dog skillfully herd sheep, being guided only by a whistle. Take a tour of the farm on a horse drawn hay wagon. Your children can visit a petting zoo, and take a try at making butter. There are many crafts the children can make, with a friendly adult there to teach: a wreath, a boat, bookmark, keepsake bag, candles, and many other things. They can bake a pretzel and braid a jump rope. In the wood working shop they can make a tool tote, bird feeder, wooden spatula or wooden horse.

Every year at the fair there is a barn raising. Beams are hewed by hand, and the joints are mortise and tenon. On Saturday, the barn is auctioned off. Other eighteenth and nineteenth century barns and buildings are on the grounds to tour.

There are two concerts each day of the fair, the children's concert in the early afternoon, and an evening concert with the adults. This group of people are amazingly musical and the concerts are a real treat. They have made most of the instruments themselves.

There is a book store open during the fair, and you can browse and buy wonderful children's books. Their homeschool curriculum is also available during this time. Samples of writing the children who live here have done are displayed, along with art work. We never leave without buying books. Everything is great quality and always character building.

Visit Homestead Heritage if you ever have a chance, and if not, visit their website at http://www.homesteadheritage.com