News & Events
* UPCOMING *
Maple sugaring: Agricultural Hall and the Boston Nature Center will co-host our annual Maple Sugaring Demonstration at the Nature Center (500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan) on Sat., Feb. 17 & again on March 2.
Sugaring (tapping trees, collecting and boiling-down sap) begins in early February in eastern Massachusetts, but 'global weirding' has been pushing the start date earlier, faster. To that end, try to bike, walk, use public trans, or carpool to get to the Nature Center.
As for beekeeping, early Spring is all about ramping-up for the season ahead. If you're jus starting out, now is a perfect time to enroll in a bee school, and the Boston Area Beekeeping Association's 6-week+ bee school starts February 5th! Visit BABA's website to register; BostonBeekeepers.org
For upcoming Ag Hall workshops & happenings, check the Workshops calendar here.
Agricultural Hall?
In 1818, the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture built the original Agricultural Hall on Dighton Street in Brighton. It served as the hub of the Brighton Fair and Cattle Show, one of the earliest and largest such fairs in the country. In 1829, "a 17-pound turnip, a 19-pound radish, and a bough on which pears hung like a cluster of grapes were among the outstanding exhibits of that year." In 1844 the building was moved to its present location at the corner of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Washington Street.
Dr. William P. Marchione &
The Bostonian Society
Agricultural Hall
245 Amory Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-388-7378 / e-mail Ag Hall
Open daily by appt. Calling ahead is always a good idea.
New Block
Thank you to EVERYONE who helped create a warm and wonderful...
2019
Urban Agriculture Fair!
* The fair will return in 2024! *
Approximately 200 neighbors and friends stopped by, and 15 presenters covered almost every facet of urban agriculture... and then some:
Kannan from Eastie Farm covered composting;
Chris (formerly of Groundwork Somerville) tapped his maple sugaring knowledge;
Peter Montigue & Larry Vandeventer showed off Boston Area Beekeepers Assn. bees;
Alvin shared his limitless insights into plants and seed-saving;
Jenny from Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy advocated for public-space gardening;
James brought one of his beautiful and sociable chickens;
Melissa brought two of her cute-as-a-button button quail;
Daniela from New England Acorn Cooperative demonstrated Acorn harvesting and processing
Tyler shared his profound knowledge of mushrooms and other fungi
Orion Kriegman & Babette from Boston Food Forest Coalition discussed Food Forests & Permaculture
Paige Academy shared herbs and herb knowledge from their nearby gardens
Nina Calabresi led a "Jams & fundamentals of canning" workshop
Everyone who attended gained a greater appreciation for, and knowledge of, the untapped potential of agricultural activities that can be done here in an urbanized metro-Boston. Maybe they'll be presenters next year!?
This year's fair will be bigger and better. Please call, text or email Bill(at)AgHall.com if you're able to help.