handfull of oystersBe an Oyster Gardener!

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with several of our water steward organizations, is encouraging watgerfront property owners to become oyster gardeners. The Magothy River Association and the Spa Creek Conservancy are recruiting. See below.

The purpose of these programs is to grow spat for one year and then plant them in sanctuary sites where the oysters enrich the local ecology.

Did you know that a mature oyster can filter as many as 60 gallons per day!

If you do not live on the Magothy or on Spa Creek, contact your civic association or local Riverkeeper to see if there is a program near you.

For general information about the MGO program click here.

Magothy Oyster Gardening

magothy river associationThe Magothy River Association, in conjunction with the state sponsored "Maryland Grows Oysters" (MGO) program, is recruiting oyster gardeners for the 2009-2010 season. If you have access to a pier on the Magothy River, and can spare a few minutes every week or so, you can do this! The MGO program is free to all participants.

This is at least a one-year commitment. The oysters you grow will be placed on restored oyster reefs in the Magothy River late in the summer of 2010 and gardeners will be asked to take a new batch of oysters at that time to start the process over again.

To sign up, send an e-mail to magothyriversavers@yahoo.com with your name, address, phone, e-mail, and preferred number of cages (4 minimum). A picture of the cage is seen here.

The oyster pickup is tentatively planned for a weekend in September. Details will be sent as the program evolves. For more information click here.

Spa Creek Oyster Gardening

spa creek conservancyThere's still time to become a Spa Creek oyster gardener. The cages containing baby oysters will arrive at the Annapolis Maritime Museum at the end of August reach for pick-up. The Spa Creek Conservancy will contact those on the list about when to pick up cages. Home owners may still join the list by emailing burnellv@verizon.net. 

Condo associations and commercial docks and other dock owners will be accepted as supplies last. At the time of pickup you will receive a short briefing and information package on how to care for your oysters. 

The Conservancy is inviting two levels of volunteers to participate. We need owners (or renters) of piers on the creek, and we need volunteers to help distribute the cages of spat.

There's still time! If you are interested in joining the Conservancy in this exciting work, or if you have questions, please contact Burnell Vincent burnellv@verizon.net.

severn river associationSevern River Oyster Gardening

The Severn River Association is devoting its next meeting, on August 18, to the Oyster Gardening Program. See their website for info.

CBFOyster Gardening

cbfThe Chespeake Bay Foundation has an oyster gardening program as well and provides individuals with oyster spat and all the material needed to grow your own. Learn more.