News & Events
* UPCOMING *
It's all about the Urban Agriculture & Climate Justice Fair right now! No need to register. Just come to the Nightingale Community Garden in Codman Square on 9/28 between 11 and 3 for fun and interesting displays, games, food, ...and did I mention fun? Check out the flyer here, and consider entering the Judged Competition for a chance to win prizes and bragging rights!
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
For those of you looking to enter your honey in the Judged Competition, here's some guidance sent to Judges to help them work through the nuances of honey judging. You may find it useful.
Keep in mind that your honey will be opened and tasted, but Judges will be instructed NOT to double-dip: You will be able to take your jar and what's left of your honey home once judging ends (...or you can donate it to one of the Judges, ...hint hint).
Wax, comb honey, and any other product of the hive should be entered in the General Produce category. Maybe next year we can judge each of these specific categories.
Good Luck!
Honey Judging Tips
Honey is typically judged at the big county fairs in three categories: Light, Amber, & Dark. Today, you will judge all shades of honey the same. (As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is bolder.) Also, the jar shape & size should not affect your final score. Please don’t be influenced by a cute jar.
When judging today, your score should be based on:
1. The Appearance of the bottle:
o Cleanliness of the bottle and lid inside and out;
o No honey, fingerprints, stickies on glass or lids, and no imperfections in glass or lid;
o Generous fill – not over or under-filled.
2. The Appearance of the honey:
o You should see no granulated crystals, bubbles, foam, wax, lint, bee parts or specs in the honey. The more transparent and sparkling, the better.
3. The flavor of the honey:
o Once everyone has judged the appearance of jars & honeys (1&2, above), it’s time to taste the honey! For this, you’re on your own. Thin honey and/or fermented honey are typically scored lower.
Keep in mind that flavor is not as easy to control as appearance.