| Let's Build a Barge |

It helps to have friends who can build and fix just about anything.  Andy is our go to guy.  When we saw an old boat that was about to be scrapped we decided to save her, cut her down, and turn her into a barge.  Here are some pictures of the process.  We now use her for shell planting mostly.

Formerly the "County Doc"

Preparing for decking

Addition to the bow to add square footage

Ready for decking

Ready for fiberglass

Hatches are on the way

Fiberglassing

Messy work

Almost complete

Drying before painting

Floating and ready to work

| Planting Shells |

When we shuck our oysters we save the shells to put them back overboard.  Some of the shell pile goes to our own shore that we lease while other shells go back to people who hire us to dredge their shore.  It's important to put the shells back overboard because this gives something for the eye larvae to "attach to" or "strike" when the time is right.  This process grows new oysters!  Typically, the strike is in June and it occurs once per year.

We have a barge that we made out of an old boat that we decked over.  Her purpose is to haul shells to whatever location we are planting at.  The conveyer {see how we brought her home here} is loaded with shells which then drops the shells onto the deck of the barge.  Once we get the barge to our location, we use a fire hose to spray off the oyster shells.  We've improved the process since this round of pictures that you'll see below but you'll get the idea!

Getting ready to push

The help

Locked and loaded

Leaving Penny Creek with the crew

Is this thing on?

Before we got the pressure correct on the hose we were using a shovel to make work easier

Team work

Almost done

Working hard and still smiling

Home Port

At last count we have put well over 2,000 bushels of oyster shells (and still counting) back into the Great Wicomico River.  If you ever have oyster shells that you'd like to add to the pile, just let us know!  Someone is normally around to accept them or you let us know and we can come get them from you.

| Dredging on the Molly Anne |

Dredging for oysters on public shore one morning in the Winter of 2016.

| Saturday Work |

Did you know we can provide dockside delivery service? We packed up a couple of bags of oysters, the wife and the kids and headed over to Tiffany Yachts on the Molly Anne for a special delivery. Thanks Taylor and Sara....hope you enjoyed your oysters!

| Conveyor |

We picked up a new (to us) conveyer today.  Planting shells should be a little easier thanks to this piece of equipment.  It was quite an undertaking to get it into multiple pieces in order to get it back to the creek.  After a lot of thinking and brainstorming we made it home without any hiccups!

Conveyer

Taking off the legs to get the conveyer on the trailer

Bracing the conveyer in order to move it

Removing the brace

Almost ready to move it on to the trailer

Pushing the conveyer on the trailer

Andy and Forrest inspecting their work

She's ready to be strapped down

The (very) patient onlookers

Securing for transport

I think he's thinking, "Shew, glad that's over!"

Some of the brains and muscles behind the conveyer acquisition 

Pulling in to home base

Time to get it off the trailer

| Start 'em young |

One of the younger members of the family wanted to come to work on his Spring Break. He was a pretty big help! Hopefully his love for oystering will continue as he grows up!

| Planting Shells |

Did you know we recycle? We plant shells on our shore to encourage natural strike. These shells came from our shucking house as well as the leftovers from an oyster roast we had on St. Patrick's Day!