News Archive

It's the "Year of the Chicken" - Why Not Raise Your Own? 2/11

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 13:56

Have you been thinking of raising your own chickens and enjoying your own fresh eggs?

Our annual Backyard Homesteading workshop on raising backyard chickens is a great way to explore the idea. This session, scheduled for February11th from 9:00-11:30 a.m. is designed for people interested in learning how to start a backyard chicken coop and grow healthy, productive chickens for years of enjoyment and fresh food. After the indoor portion of the workshop, there will be a tour of the coops and chicken tractors on site, so dress accordingly.

Suggested donation for the workshop is $20; $15 for members.

Please pre-register by calling 617-333-0924 x22.

2017 Backyard Homesteading Series Kicks Off with Propagation 1/28

Tuesday, 27 December 2016 11:47

We are kicking-off the 2017 Backyard Homesteading Workshop Series with our first-ever winter propagation class! This class will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10:00 am-12:30 pm. Winter in New England is a time when our deciduous trees and shrubs are dormant. But gardeners don't need to stop because of the cold! There are always things that can be done in the garden. Instead of purchasing expensive new plants to add to the home landscape, gardeners can use winter downtime to propagate woody vines, shrubs and trees without a greenhouse. This workshop will give instruction on how to build a winter propagation bed, basic winter ID techniques, harvesting cuttings from our extensive woody plant collection, preparing the cuttings for propagation and successful winter propagation techniques. 
Cost $35 non-members; $25 members. Space is limited; call 617-333-0924 to register.  A portion of this class will take place outdoors - so dress warmly and bring hand pruners if you have some.

 photo courtesy of mikesbackyardnursery.com

2017 Stone Soup Launches Wednesday, Jan. 25th

Tuesday, 27 December 2016 11:33

This year’s Stone Soup & Speaker Series, held the last Wednesday of the month from January-April, will look at several key periods in our local history to highlight stories of our past that reveal important connections to our present and future. The series will cover the time of pre-European occupation, the colonial and Industrial Revolution periods, and concluding with a review of the area’s natural and environmental history over the 20th century.

The series kicks-off on Wednesday, January 25 with a talk by DCR archaeologist Ellen Berkland, titled The First People: Their Legacy and Our Collective Future. This place we now call Milton has been home to people for thousands of years. Ellen will share stories and insights about how this area became the heartbeat, home and eponym for our common wealth of Massachusetts.

Ellen Berkland has been a practicing professional archaeologist in New England for over 30 years. Before joining the Department of Conservation and Recreation as staff archaeologist, Berkland served as the Boston City Archaeologist for 15 years and worked on almost all of the Big Dig archaeological campaigns. In addition to acting as the review and compliance agent for a half million acres of below ground resources in the Commonwealth, Berkland is dedicated to educating DCR staff and the public on the people, land-use history and fragility of our non-renewable cultural resources.

Space IS limited. Pre-registration is required. To RSVP or for more information, please call 617-333-0924.

Catch the Holiday Spirit Our Annual Holiday Open House Dec. 8th-14th

Monday, 28 November 2016 12:16

We hope you will join us at our annual holiday open house Dec 8th through 14th. It's a chance to get into the holiday spirit and see the historic Davenport Mansion decked out in beautiful greens and holiday decorations. The Holiday Open House will kick-off with a reception Thursday, December 8th from 4-8 pm with light refreshments and hot drinks; suggested donation for the reception is $10.

The holiday open house will continue daily from Friday, December 9 – Wednesday Dec 14, 11:00 am-3:00 pm. This year’s theme celebrates the “Animals of the Wakefield Estate,” both domestic (including Jack the Llama) and wild, and will have special appeal to families. A free wildlife ornament making activity is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th at 11:00 am, offering the perfect opportunity for families to enjoy the open house, visit the animals, and have fun. Handmade wreaths will be available for purchase throughout the open house hours to help get you started on your own holiday decorations. Admission to the open house is a suggested donation of $5, members are free. Group rates are available. To rsvp or arrange a group visit, call 617-333-0924 x22.