We are gearing  up for our 2nd year of oyster growing here at The Chesapeake  Bay “Advance & Protect” Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative, and we are so glad that you have decided to grow this year! In the first year of our oyster deliveries, we delivered 33 cages to growers in the area. In our second year of oyster deliveries, we will be delivering  106 cages! Whoooo hooooo! We are thrilled with the growth that our program has made in just one year! We couldn’t have done it without you and your dock!

The delivery date for this year is: Friday, September 28th 2012

On the morning of the 28th, the folks with the Marylanders Grow Oysters program will show up at our business office, located in Easton, Maryland, with bags of spat on shell and empty oyster cages. Part of our job that morning will be to distribute the spat on shell into the oyster cages where they will live and grow for the next six to eight months. After the spat on shell is in their temporary home we will then start the process of delivering the cages to docks throughout the local area.

As you can see, with having  106 (Whooooo hooooo!) cages to distribute this year we could use a few extra hands. We are asking any dock owner who is able and willing to come out and lend a hand or two!

We encourage anyone who has a truck and would be willing to deliver a few cages come out and volunteer some time. Can’t lift heavy objects?  That’s okay, we could use someone to open bags of spat or help count stacks of cages. Got the kids or grandkids that day? That’s okay, bring them out and we will help you tire them out so you can all get a nice afternoon  nap that day. Any and all help is welcome and appreciated.

We will provide a continental breakfast  to all those who can volunteer their time. Please call me at (410) 822-9143 or go online at  www.oystersforthebay.com to sign up.

We will call each grower individually to inform you of the approximate delivery time for the 28th.

While it is preferable, it is not absolutely necessary for you to be home during your delivery time.

We are looking forward to another successful year of growing and making a difference in the Bay……. one oyster at a time!