Phillips Wharf Environmental Center on Tilghman Island, Md. is offering its second course on growing oysters from your own dock on Sun., March 22 from 10 to 3 p.m. Oyster farmer Lawrence Rudner of St. Michaels, Md. will lead the workshop, which includes a shuck-your-own lunch of a dozen oysters. Participation limited, with advance registration required.

“We’re offering this workshop again, after our March 21 session filled quickly,” said PWEC Executive Director Kelley Cox. “This workshop will help you learn to grow oysters for your own use, off your dock, and with minimal effort, all while helping to clean the Chesapeake Bay. Plus, Maryland is offering a tax credit of up to $500 per person for the purchase of new floating oyster cages. This course will help folks use that credit, while teaching the practical aspects of oyster gardening.”

The oyster gardening workshop will cover information on oyster history, biology, and regulations; gardening and equipment options and sources; seed types; processing and harvesting techniques; ways to safely shuck an oyster; and more.

Lawrence Rudner has been growing oysters dockside for more than 10 years, and has recently applied for two aquaculture leases to raise and commercially sell oysters under the Oyster Girl Oysters brand.

All participants must pre-register, with the cost of the workshop at $99, which includes lunch. To reserve, please send a check made out to ‘PWEC,’ along with your phone number, email address, and postal address to: PWEC Oyster Gardening Class, 6129 Tilghman Island Rd, Tilghman, MD 21671.

Phillips Wharf Environmental Center’s mission is to encourage, educate, and engage Chesapeake Bay stewards of all ages through interactive experiences highlighting the Bay’s ecosystem and its inhabitants. For more information, visit phillipswharf.org.