Oysters to the People Events.....
can also be called "Community Supported Mariculture - CSM" or "Grower Direct" or "From my Oysterbeds to your Lips". What these names all have in common is a desire to build an intimate relationship, with you, the Oyster Lover. I want you to experience the freshest, tastiest and most memorable shellfish imaginable. (read more)
An Oyster without the Rrrrrrrr ?
While attending and participating in the 22nd annual Cortes Island Oyster Feastival" aka "Seafest" something feels wrong, desperately wrong, when the ........"RRrrrrr" is taken out of the words Raw Oysters. Yes, the evolution of the Cortes Island shellfish culture and sub-culture, (which over the past 50 years has sold and sent out millions upon millions of oysters, of all shapes and sizes, and almost as many pounds of clams, scallops and mussels to markets all over the world) .....is one that is constantly changing, evolving for better or for worse and growing greyer with each passing year.
Thank GOD, that an exquisite tasting last minute presentation of spot prawns, filled in for what has traditionally been "The Raw Bar", always presented in the finest form IMAGINABLE, that is, same day fresh oysters pulled out of our waters the morning of the festival and then shucked and proudly presented by the Cortes Island oyster farmers that grew and harvested them, for an appreciative crowd of more than 600 seafood loving aficionados.
How does the Bruce Cockburn song go?????...."THE TROUBLE WITH NORMAL IS IT ONLY GETS WORSE"..... when red tape and regulations get in the way of "Lusty Bits of NOURISHMENT"...... on your lips.
I am SADDENED and INSULTED...... though I must admit, I did find some raw oysters, "behind the scenes", that were PERFECTLY SHUCKED. God, did they taste wonderful as they sent me ...... leaping OVER THE MOON!
John Steinbeck
These profound words of my hero, the late, great, John Steinbeck, are so indelibly etched into my mind's eye, that when I too am working in my tide pools, collecting oysters, digging for clams, or just LOOKING and TOUCHING....... I FEEL ..........."RELATED TO THE WHOLE THING". When working in such a state of mind,… Read More »
Warning
"Between the experience of living a normal life at this moment on the planet and all of the public narratives being offered to give sense to that life, the EMPTY SPACE, the GAP, is ENORMOUS". R.I.P. John Berger (The Shape of a Pocket) Folks, BC oysters are just fine to eat. Believe me! .... not the main-stre… Read More »
Smoked Oysters
Cortes Island Food Book
May all people at all times have access to good food. May we reclaim local ownership of community food systems and develop food self-reliance by sharing food, information, skills, and resources. May food be celebrated as central to culture and community. May the land, air and water be preserved for future generati… Read More »
Clam Gardens
For many years, archaeologists were unaware of the ancient clam terraces at Waiatt Bay, on Quadra Island. Author Judith Williams knew no differently until she was advised of their existence by a Klahoose elder named Elizabeth Harry (Keekus). By liaising with other observers of clam gardens in the Broughton Archipelag… Read More »