Learn to cultivate these seafood gems!
ADULTS & YOUTH AGES 16+
Discover the fun and satisfaction of cultivating your own oyster garden on your beach. Learn about suitable beaches, gear, oyster types, and health and environmental considerations. You will assemble gear for your garden and receive oyster seed to begin growing oysters. The 3-day class will include a visit to an oyster garden and classroom time. Gardening experience is very helpful and will help you understand the attention required to maintain your oyster garden. Participants should have access to a private beach suitable for oyster growing, either through ownership or agreement with the owner.**
Instructor: Kurt Johnson has spent over 30 years in the shellfish farming industry from owning a mussel and oyster farm to developing nursery and grow-out systems for mussels, oysters, scallops and geoducks in the US, Mexico and Canada. Email:
Location: A private residence in Freeland and SWPRD Building, Room 111
A 3-day class:
Sat | May 4 (12-3pm); May 11 (1pm-4pm); and Jun 1 (10am-12pm) | $50*
*Fee is per household. Additional materials fee of $180, to be collected after determining suitability of your beach for an oyster garden. Materials fee provides oyster bags, oyster seed, and gear for securing bags to the beach.
**Suitable beaches have a firm gravel or cobble substrate at the 0 to +4 foot tide level and are not exposed to excessive wave action. Sandy beaches are less suitable but can grow oysters for a gardener determined to put in more work. Many suitable beaches are found in Holmes Harbor and Saratoga Passage.