There are not many opportunities in this world to confidently say that an investment you make is both low cost, minimal time and effort, yet high reward and FUN!
Well, in my experience I can tell you that perfectly describes oyster gardening. I have had the pleasure of being a foster parent to baby oysters for the past 3 years through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation oyster gardening program.
It has been really satisfying to watch them as they grow from spat (oyster larva that has attached to a hard surface – in this case old oyster shells) to bundles of oysters attached to each other. Over time the initially light weight cages become heavier and heavier as the oysters grow larger and larger to resemble small rock formations.
So how does this work exactly? Well, all you need to do is obtain the spat and cages from the CBF, suspend the cages from a dock (minimum 1 foot of water at low tide), and clean them at least 2x a month in the summer and once a month in the winter to ensure good water flow. Easy peasy!
This one-year investment will foster the oysters’ growth until they are mature enough to be returned to CBF and put to work in our waterways. Since a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in one day, these oysters will be instrumental in cleaning our water for us and all the other species that rely on a healthy environment.
In addition to the personal satisfaction I get from seeing them grow I also gain the sense that I contributed to a valuable part of improving our local environment. It’s also great motivation to learn more about oysters. For example, did you know that all oysters are protandric – they start out as male but most eventually become female?
If you are interested, the next CBF oyster spat distribution is on Saturday, June 15th from 9:30-11am for returning gardeners (it only takes a few minutes) at the Barrier Island Center, 7295 Young St., Machipongo, VA. The new gardener seminar begins at 9am. You must register for the event by June 13, 2024.