History
The Green Briar Jam Kitchen began business in 1903 under its founder Ida Putnam, who ran the business until her death in 1950. At that time the business was purchased by her long-time employee Martha Blake. In 1979 Ms. Blake sold Green Briar to the Thornton W. Burgess Society, a non-profit educational organization founded in 1976 in Sandwich, MA. The Burgess Society established the Green Briar Nature Center to carry on the pioneering conservation work of author/naturalist Thornton Burgess [1874-1965], who was born and raised in Sandwich. The Society decided to continue the operation of the Green Briar Jam Kitchen as a supporting arm of the nature center's many programs. The kitchen is a popular attraction for visitors to Cape Cod, who come to view the old-fashioned cooking process first-hand.
Specialties
Green Briar features natural history and art exhibits, small live animals including rabbits, turtles, snakes, hedgehogs and a working bee hive plus a wildflower garden and walking trails. The historic jam Kitchen is a living museum producing jams, jellies and relishes the old-fashioned way for over 100 years. The unique gift shop offers all the kitchen products made right here as well as a wide variety of nature related items, books and toys. All sales support the environmental education programs of the non-profit Thornton W. Burgess Society and its Green Briar Nature Center.