About Our Farm
Winnegance Oyster Farm is located on Maine's New Meadows River. Our aim is to grow high quality oysters and edible seaweeds using techniques that are good for the environment. We chose the New Meadows for its clean water, its ability to support abundant sea life, and its proximity to the Portland market.
Jordan, Winnegance Oyster Co's owner and sea-farmer, spent much of the last ten years working in wildlife biology. His background in environmental science, the food industry, and horticulture led him to the world of aquaculture.
After several years of study, planning and permitting, Winnegance Oyster's first crop is due to be planted this spring. Because oysters are slow growing, the first crop will take 18 to 24 months to reach full size. Our first seaweed crop will be available in the spring of 2015.
For more of our story, visit: winnegance.blogspot.com
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Jordan prepares for the inaugural launch of the rehabbed Muffin II- May 2013.
A view of Winnegance Oyster Farm from shore.
"It was a windy evening when I visited the farm site. The tide was WAY LOW and all the clam flats that surround the channel were exposed. There was still about 15 feet of water at the farm site. You can see me point to it in the distance towards the end of the clip." -Jordan
Delicious Maine Oysters
Maine oysters are some of the finest in the world. Oysters from Maine are fresh tasting, clean, and briny, even through the summer months when southern oysters lose much of their flavor.
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Our CSA-
Community Supported Aquaculture!
As soon as our oysters are ready to harvest, we'll be offering a CSA with pick-up in Portland. Much like a traditional land-based CSA, Winnegance Oyster Farm will offer subscriptions for crop shares. It will allow us to offer oysters directly to customers at an affordable price. We hope to use the CSA as a way to connect people with their food and as a venue for aquaculture-education.
Environmental Benefits
Shellfish farming, unlike some other forms of aquaculture, is not only environmentally friendly, but provides an environmental benefit! Oysters do not need to be fed or treated with antibiotics or colorants. They eat only the natural plankton in the water.
Unlike wild-harvested shellfish, farmed shellfish do not require disruptive dredging to harvest.
Farmed oysters filter water and serve as seed populations for over-fished wild oysters beds. Aquaculture equipment even creates cover-habitat for juvenile fish and crustaceans.
What We Need
At this juncture, oyster-growing cages are our biggest need. The cages (which look like flattened lobster traps on floats) will allow the oysters to grow safely away from predators near the plankton-rich surface. The cages that we plan to deploy can be flipped-over to expose oysters to the sunlight- cleaning off barnacles and seaweed without fuel-intensive pressure-washing.
We will also be purchasing 36000 tiny oysters from a hatchery in midcoast Maine, sea anchors, long-line ropes and and many other tools of the trade.
As the year progresses, we will be expanding our seaweed growing operation to include a drying-space and smoker compliment our existing dehydrator.
You Can Make the Difference
Starting an oyster farm has been slow-going. We've jumped through the regulatory hoops, rehabbed a workboat, and exhaustively searched the coast for the right place to farm. These oysters take time to grow, and we're ready to get our feet wet! With your help we'll be able to get the farm fully up-and-running this spring- instead of dragging the process out over the next few years. Your contribution will help us get the right equipment- that gets oysters to you the fastest and at the best quality.
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It floats!!! The launch of our workboat.
