Blanketing opinions that I'll probably regret soon.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

I'm going to become an oyster gardener.

My love for raw oysters is no secret. That's why it's going to be extremely hard not to devour the oysters that I plan to "raise" for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation this fall.

I've signed up for a workshop on how to be an oyster gardener. The task includes devoting a year of my time to tending my "crop" of crustaceans which will be hanging from the dock in 18-inch cages where my sailboat is stationed. After a year, when the oysters are large, the ones that can avoid Tabasco sauce and my salivating mouth will end up on a reef built by the Foundation.

In case you don't know, the Chesapeake's oyster industry has been decimated by disease and overfishing in the past 100 years. At present, there are very few left that don't get eaten by the god damn cow nosed stingray. So the program is to encourage people with access to a dock to grow them, and when they've matured, to slowly restock the Bay.

More info here.
Comments:
I hope you dont get some guy to come along and pull a "Kramer" by taking the cages out and taking the oysters to return home to become the hero.

Unless, of course, that person is YOU
 
That's cool but what if there's a pearl in there? you could be giving up some loot.
 
very noble of you. especially if you don' eat any. let me know if I can help. I have a little workroom remember. Bus would be proud
 
Cool, I'll help, Are they giving you Cassostrea virginicus or the hybrid?
 
LX:

I have no clue, but apparently I have to tend them for one year. You're welcome to help.
 
You should find out, I know they have been working on a cross strain with the Japanese oyster to make a more disease ressitant oyster, It would be interesting to see if that is what they are seeding.
 
What is the expected yield and what % of that yield will be yours?
 
At first I thought this was going to be a dirty post. Now it turns out that it's not.
 
LX: I highly doubt they're using that hybrid oyster anywhere in the Bay outside of controlled scientific testing areas. I'm sure it's the same oyster that's been harvested in the Bay for a hundred years.

Shrubs: CBF suggests that the gardeners do NOT eat the oysters, I'm sure for liability reasons. I know I won't be able to resist trying a couple. I have no idea how many they're going to give me. The workshop is on Sept 17th, so I'll post an update then.

Cuff: Wait, this isn't a dirty post?
 
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
 
Bad news for the bay, I predicted these back in 93!

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=598&sid=870957
 
What about Rocky Mountain Oysters?
 
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