Re-growing ancient history

 From miniature model cars and airplanes to life-size statues of movie characters, enthusiasts of all genres find ways to replicate what they love.

In 2007, a Dutch contractor named Johan Huibers opened the doors of his life-size replica of Noah’s Ark to the public. According to an Associated Press article, Huibers, a creationist, built the ark to one-fifth the size described in the Bible. That equates to two-thirds of a football field in length, standing as tall as a three-story house.

Here in High Springs, another sort of biblical replica is being built.

Last Saturday, a group of about 12 volunteers met at The Oasis, 25914 NW 182 Avenue, a 26-acre tract of land that serves as the international headquarters of The Biblical Botanical Garden Society.

They came to help with the on-going project of replicating a first-century village.

According to Sonny Edmondson, an affiliate of the Bethlehem Celebration Association, the director of the High Springs Bible Gardens at the Oasis, Dr. Ed Bez, has a vision of maintaining the village replica as a permanent feature of the gardens.

The decision to re-create a biblical village goes back to fall of 2009, Edmondson said, but the first work day didn’t start until March.

Volunteer workdays, like the one last Saturday, are pre-scheduled at least once a month, and the village should be complete by December.

Come Christmas time, the plan is for the Bethlehem Celebration Association to host a live nativity at the newly constructed, “ancient” village.

Edmondson said the event will be free and open to the public, and the organization is not affiliated with any one church or denomination. “Everyone is welcome.”

And they’re always looking for more volunteers in the meantime, he added.

Bez said the next workday will be Saturday, July 17.