Educational, interactive, and fun way to champion the fight for clean water
Calusa Waterkeeper invites you to sign up for its highly anticipated Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) Workshop scheduled for July 27 from 2 to 3:30 PM at the Historic Iona House at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium in Fort Myers. This popular community outreach initiative is part of Calusa Waterkeeper’s ongoing efforts to restore water quality in Southwest Florida, a need that has become even more critical due in part to climate change, increased pollution, and harmful algae blooms.
Oysters play a critical role in maintaining healthy estuarine ecosystems. They create habitats for a variety of marine life, support shoreline protection by providing a base for mangroves, and serve as a vital food source for fish, birds, crabs, and other animals. Remarkably, each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, significantly improving water quality.
The VOG project involves educational and hands-on instruction to create DIY vertical hanging oyster gardens using recycled oyster shells from local restaurants that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. These shells are strung onto wires and suspended from docks, providing surfaces for juvenile oysters to attach and grow. Prior to stringing, the recycled shells are stored outdoors at the FGCU Food Forest for several months to eliminate any pathogens.
Join Calusa Waterkeeper in this vital project to help restore and protect the waters of Southwest Florida. Your support and participation are crucial to its success. Space is limited to the first 30 registrants. A tax-deductible donation to Calusa Waterkeeper of $25 per participant is requested to cover the cost of time and materials. Each guest will get to take their VOG home to hang from their dock. Additional oyster gardens may be purchased at the event for $25 each while supplies last. To register, visit calusawaterkeeper.org/vogworkshop.