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
There is sooooooo much potential here. If you're ever on the west coast, go to any farmers market and you are likely to see vendors with tables full of mushrooms. Why not here!? Let's cultivate an east coast mushroom revolution!
Start with the easiest of all; the oyster mushroom. Or try the almost-as-easy wine cap or lion's mane. (Supplies and varieties vary.) We carry affordable packs of mycelium-infused dowels and sawdust ready to inoculate logs , coffee grounds, or almost any organic, carbon-rich substrate. You could be feasting on your own mushrooms within weeks. It's easy, fun, educational, and tasty (which also makes them a great gift for both kids and adults).
A packet of 50 dowels sufficient to inoculate one 4-foot log costs around $10.00, and other inoculant medium (usually sawdust) are available. If you also need a log, we usually have some on hand from $20.00 to $35.00. Stop by for your supplies and you will leave Agricultural Hall knowing exactly what you need to do to get your mushroom crop up and growing.
Workshops co-hosted by Agricultural Hall and one of several area experts will occur whenever possible. Stay tuned by visiting our Workshops Page, or send your email asking to be notified when the next mushroom workshop comes along.