Students Learn to Grow Oysters

As part of the Marylanders Grow Oysters program, volunteers monitor growing oysters in cages that hang from piers. It's so easy to grow oysters that even kids can do it.

Students from recently placed wire mesh cages into Whitehall Creek, according to a release from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Along with the Oyster Recovery Partnership, DNR reportedly delivered 20 cages of oyster spat to the Chesapeake Montessori students at Hollywood Farms in Annapolis.

“This is a perfect project for Chesapeake Montessori School,” said Head of School Deborah Bricker. “As a Maryland Green School, this project enhances that mission and most importantly, the project will help our students appreciate the interconnections of the work they are doing. A project with science, history, culture, real work and service to the community truly highlights our goal in Montessori education of showing children their relationship with their world."

The primary care needed for the oysters is to keep them clean and to keep them from freezing by making sure the cages remain underwater. Students will periodically rinse the cages and oysters will be collected before the summer, near the end of May into early June.

Residents interested in growing oysters can find out more by reading Broadneck Patch contributor 's article about that gives some history along with some local resources. In addition, there is information on the Marylanders Grow Oysters website about how to get started and a PDF attached to this story with details about the program.