You, too, can become an oyster gardener and keep the bay clean

Efforts to keep our water clean are underway, and you can contribute to the cause. You just have to become an oyster gardener!

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation says they need gardeners so oysters can continue to play a big role in the Bay: filtering water. In fact, adult oysters can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, the foundation says.

The foundation hopes encouraging people to become "oyster foster parents" will help the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance reach its goal of adding 10 billion new oysters to the Bay by 2025.

WATCH: Chesapeake Bay Foundation plants record number of new oysters

Chesapeake Bay Foundation plants record number of new oysters

The role of an oyster gardener isn't hard, the foundation says. Here are the basics:

• You'll get two cages, a line and a reusable zip tie. You'll also get cleaning supplies for the crate. And of course, you'll get live oysters to take home.
• You can raise them from a dock or a public growing space, like marinas or parks the foundation partners with.

The kit costs $35.
The foundation is hosting workshops throughout the summer to teach people everything they need to know about oyster gardening, from how to get started to maintenance and future planting.

"When we give our new gardeners their presentation to kind of tell them how to take care of these live animals for a year, we like to joke and say oysters are one of the easiest pets you can own. They have everything they need in the water," said Jessica Lutzow, an oyster restoration specialist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Once the oysters are in the water, they become living water treatment plants in the Bay.

WATCH: Chesapeake Bay blue crab population holds strong; harvesters encouraged

Chesapeake Bay blue crab population holds strong, harvesters encouraged

The foundation will be hosting its oyster gardening seminars over the next couple of months, including in Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester County, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

Registration closes two days before each seminar.

To sign up for a seminar, click here .

More environment stories

• You, too, can become an oyster gardener and keep the bay clean

  Kelsey Jones

  6:44 AM, Jun 20, 2024

• East Palestine train derailment spread pollutants to 16 states, research shows

  Alex Arger

  9:21 PM, Jun 19, 2024

• Climate activists spray England's ancient Stonehenge monument with orange paint

  Alex Arger

  5:35 PM, Jun 19, 2024

• Manatee spotted in Western Branch of Elizabeth River

  Web Staff

  3:57 PM, Jun 18, 2024

• Dominion offers up-close look at progress of offshore wind farm project

  Colter Anstaett

  5:04 PM, Jun 17, 2024

• Pollinator's refuge: VDOT promises 135 acres of land for conservation efforts

  Foster Meyerson

  11:30 AM, Jun 17, 2024

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to address fuel concerns in Buxton

  Sammi Bilitz

  5:04 PM, Jun 13, 2024

• Elizabeth River Project receives funding for last phase on Money Point cleanup

  Conor Hollingsworth

  10:30 AM, Jun 11, 2024