Have you wondered how you might get more involved with Lynnhaven River restoration? Oyster Gardening may be just the opportunity that you have been looking for. It takes about an hour of time each month to keep your oyster bag clean and healthy and your baby oysters will help greatly to rebuild our oyster population in the Lynnhaven River.

How does oyster gardening work?

As an oyster gardener, you will receive 1000 baby seed oysters this summer. When you receive them, each will be about the size of your thumbnail. You grow these oysters in a mesh bag in a Taylor float in the Lynnhaven for one year. At the end of that year, each will be between one and three inches in length. Next summer, you will turn them in at an Oyster Roundup. They will be placed on conservation reefs in the Lynnhaven and you will receive a new batch of baby oysters for the coming year.

How do I get started?

1. To get started, you will need a place to keep your oysters. That may be at your own dock if you are lucky enough to live on the water or you may ask a friend, neighbor or a marina if you can tie your float to their dock.

2. Once you have a location secured, you should request an information packet about oyster gardening for restoration by contacting Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Hampton Roads office at 757-622-1964 or hamptonroads@cbf.org. This packet includes general information about the Citizen Oyster Gardening program, the need for oyster restoration, the materials required, and a required State Registration Form. (If you are a teacher, contact our office, 757-962-5398 or hkuhns@lynnhaven2007.com about Oyster Gardening workshops and opportunities for teachers.)

3. Attend one of our Taylor Float Workshops (July 15 or August 26, 2010) to build your own Taylor Float or order an assembled Taylor Float through the LRNow office (757-962-5398 or Taylor Floats).

4. Register and attend an New Citizen Oyster Gardener Workshop (July 21 or August 31, 2010) to learn about oyster gardening and pick up your new seed oysters. Sign up early because space is limited; register at 757-622-1964 or hamptonroads@cbf.org. There is a suggested donation to CBF of $30 per 1,000 oysters.

Next summer you will turn in your one year olds at a Roundup and get your new baby oysters. Please contact our office if you have any questions. This past year, we had a nice increase to 129 Oyster Gardeners in the Lynnhaven. Let’s see if we can increase that number even more this year!

Taylor Float Workshops, Lynnhaven River Now Office, 1608 Pleasure House Road, Suite 108, VB 23455, 6:00-7:30, July 15, 2010 and August 26, 2010. To register, contact: 757-962-5398 or Taylor Float Workshops.

New Citizen Oyster Gardeners Workshop, 6:00-7:30 PM
July 21, 2010, Virginia Beach Oberndorf Library 
August 31, 2010, Great Neck Rescue Squad Building
To register, contact: 757-622-1964 or hamptonroads@cbf.org.

2010 Oyster Round-Ups:
If you have been raising oysters all year, it is almost time to return them to the sanctuary reefs and get a new batch of seed oysters.  Please plan to attend one of our 2010 oyster round-ups scheduled for Saturday, July 24th from 9 – 11 am or Saturday, August 28th from 9 – 11 am at First Landing State Park – 64th Street Boat Ramp.  All those planning to attend a round-up should RSVP to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at hamptonroads@cbf.org