What is Oyster Gardening?
Oyster gardening is growing oysters non-commercially in your backyard, or at least in the rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay. next to your backyard. It’s fun, not too hard, and good for you and the environment. Oysters provide filtration for the Bay waters, food for Bay animals, and as reefs, homes for much of the life in the Bay. By growing oysters in a float at your dock, you can see a mini-oyster reef, with a variety of species. You can grow oysters to eat, or to be planted on restored oyster reefs in the Bay. You may even be able to participate with VIMS researchers through the GREEN program. How did Oyster Gardening start? In the mid 1990’s VIMS researchers suggested that private citizens grow oysters at their homes to help clean up the Bay. From a handful of individuals, the ranks of gardeners have swelled to over 2000 people in Virginia and Maryland. Gardeners have formed associations dedicated to promoting oyster gardening and educating members. Organizations such as the