SPRING BREAK: A FARM TO TABLE CELEBRATION
Take an adventure into 100 years of farming, cooking, playing and eating on the wild frontier at George Ranch Historical Park
March 7, 10 – 14 and 17 – 21, 2015
Fast food, microwave dinners, grocery stores, ordering online. There are many ways we conveniently get our food in the modern world. But do we know where it truly originated? Do we understand how that food was harvested? Satisfy your craving for family fun this Spring Break and delve into the history of everyone’s favorite subject — FOOD! Journey through 100 years of farming, cooking and playing on the farm the way of your ancestors during the George Ranch Historical Park’s Spring Break: A Farm to Table Celebration March 7, 10 – 14 and 17 – 21.
Plan to stay the day traveling through four time periods from the 1830s through 1930s, explore historic home sites and interact with first-person, costumed interpreters as you try your hand at farming and ranching. Bring your entire herd over to Cookie’s Chuckwagon and refuel at our daily Chuckwagon Lunch (additional fee/reservations recommended). Get hands-on plowing experience at the 1830s Jones Stock Farms. Discover the magic of herbs at the 1860s Ryon Prairie Home. Learn about food preservation at the 1890s Sharecropper Farm from “Uncle Bob,” and end your food history adventure with a live cattle demonstration in the 1930s!
Daily Spring Break Events
1830s Salt Curing – How did our ancestors preserve meat on the home front? Take a look firsthand at this interesting process!
1860s Chuckwagon cooking – Join our very own Chef Nick Castelberg, also know as “Cookie,” as he prepares tasty Pan de Campo (camp bread).
1860s Butter churning and “cow” milking – Until the 19th century, the vast majority of butter was made by hand, on farms and provided income for working farmers. Venture to the Ryon Prairie Home as one of the GRHP’s costumed interpreters guides you through the steps of butter churning, and try your hand at milking a cow at our dairy production simulation station.
1890s Food Preservation – The Ranch was organic long before organic was “in.” See how residents preserved their food through this interesting fruit drying demonstration.
1930s Cooking Utensils – Wander through the 1930s kitchen of the elegant George Home and see these vintage cooking gadgets.
Special Spring Break Activities
- 1830s Plowing – 10 am & 1 pm daily.
- 1860s The Herb Garden – 11 am & 2 pm daily. Explore the magic of raw herbs grown on the farm through touch, taste and smell!
- 1890s Earn Your Keep At the Farm – 9:30 am & 4 pm. Visit our lovable “Uncle Bob” at the Sharecropper Farm. Help him out with his daily chores around the farm while hearing his remarkable stories of surviving and thriving off the land.
- 1890s Cattle Drive at the Railcar – 11:30 am & 2:30 pm (March 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 & 21 only) Watch our cowboys in action as they bring in the Longhorns and load them up in the 1890s Railcar.
- Petting Zoo – 10 am – 4 pm (March 11, 13, 18 & 20 only) Get to know the farm animals, snap a few pictures and make new friends!
- 1930s Cattle Demonstrations at the Arena – 10 am, 1:30 & 3:30 pm (March 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 & 21 11:30 am, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 pm (March 11, 13, 18 & 20)
Historic Chuckwagon Lunch served daily at 12:30 pm
Chili, Pozole, Cornbread, Pan de Campo, Peach Cobbler, tea and water. Plus, “Cookie” will serve up samples of Pan de Campo (Camp Bread) all day. Stop by, say “howdy” and grab a tasty treat. See below for lunch ticket prices. Reservations are recommended.
Tickets, Hours & Location
Tickets are $10 for adults; $10 for children ages 5 to 15; Free for children 4 and under. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday – Saturday. The George Ranch Historical Park is located at 10215 FM 762 Rd, Richmond, Texas.
Historic Chuckwagon Lunch Prices & Reservations
Adults and children 13+: $14; Seniors 62+: $13; Children 5-12: $11; Children 4 and under; $4; Members receive $1 individual lunch tickets. Advanced reservations recommended. Call (281) 343-0218 ext. 410 to reserve or purchase tickets online.
For more information, visit www.GeorgeRanch.org or call (281) 343-0218.
