Out on the Farm in Yarmouth, Maine
This blog post was written by Lexi Doudera, founder and executive director at Saltwater Classroom.
On a brisk October morning, we met at the boat launch in Yarmouth, Maine. A winding road over two thoroughfare bridges brought us to this launch on Cousins Island—a holdout for the working waterfront and local harvesters and growers amidst the million-dollar homes and second homes. Alicia and her younger sister Amy were waiting for us at the launch. Alicia owns Nauti Sisters Sea Farm, an oyster farm and entrepreneurial business based in Yarmouth. Her sister, Amy, serves as the farm manager and oversees most of the day-to-day operations.
Alicia and Amy Gaiero aboard their boat, Tidal IX, addressing the camera for our Video Field Trip introduction. Photo credit: Austin Mills, Saltwater Classroom.
It was late in the season, one of their final harvest days for the year, and they had kindly agreed to let the Saltwater Classroom crew tag along. We’re collaborating with Nauti Sisters and Maine Sea Grant on a special set of lessons and activities focused on aquaculture literacy, supported by the eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grant program. We’ve known Alicia for many years, initially connecting through the New England Ocean Cluster, but this was our first time truly collaborating—and our first time visiting their farm! Our Saltwater Classroom crew included me, Parker, who leads grant writing and Phase II development, and Austin, a talented filmmaker we’ve partnered with on many projects to bring our vision to life.
The curriculum we’re building with this support will be featured prominently on Saltwater Classroom’s innovative Online Ocean Literacy Platform, an engaging resource for learners of all ages. While we continue developing the platform, we’re focused on expanding our curriculum base—and this aquaculture literacy module is one we’re particularly excited about!
But back to that brisk October morning. We unloaded some supplies from the Nauti Sisters pick-up truck and Austin’s camera gear and headed down the ramp to the dock. It was low tide, so we braced ourselves against the steep decline. On the dock sat a small dory–a small boat with high sides and a flat bottom–that Alicia used to row out to their moored skiff. Within minutes, Alicia returned with their boat, Tidal IX, and we were ready to set out.
The five of us motored out to their work barge. But this wasn’t your standard work barge. It has an impressive array of solar panels on a structure above it that not only acts as a roof to cover their gear but also as protection from the sun during the more steamy days out on the water. These solar panels power batteries that run the water pump, the oyster tumbler, and an electric motor for when the barge needs to move. This electrification is done in part with the help of Shred Electric, a start-up also based in Yarmouth that seeks to electrify working waterfronts to move away from polluting, noisy, and imperfect gasoline and diesel-powered motors and generators.
Alicia shows off the tumbler on their work barge. Different-sized holes in the rotating tube sort oysters based on size. Above, see the solar array that powers their barge. Photo credit: Austin Mills, Saltwater Classroom.
Our plan for the day was to film three video lessons: first, a Video Field Trip covering a Maine oyster farm; second, a Day in the Life of a Maine Oyster Farmer (starring Alicia); and lastly, a short video on oyster anatomy and the restorative benefits of oyster aquaculture. For the next hour and a half, we filmed these lessons with microphones clipped to Alicia and Amy’s foul-weather gear. We captured footage of every step of the process—the lines, cages, pontoons, barge, tumbler, and more. Of course, we took breaks to enjoy some freshly shucked oysters, pulled straight from the cages and bursting with briny flavor.
Amy pulls an oyster cage from the water to check the growth and biofouling. Photo credit: Austin Mills, Saltwater Classroom.
Check out that beauty! A lovely oyster with a halo of fresh growth along the edge of the shell. This fresh growth will be worn down slightly during the tumbling process. Photo credit: Austin Mills, Saltwater Classroom.
As the day came to a close, we double-checked our shot list, making sure we covered each element of this sustainable oyster farm operation. Satisfied with our content, we prepared to head back to the dock. The wind was chilly, cutting through our wool sweaters and fleece jumpers—a reminder that another season of growing for Nauti Sisters was coming to a close. Soon, they would be sinking their cages, letting the oysters hibernate almost on the muddy seafloor until April or so when a SCUBA diver will head down to retrieve them.
Filmmaker Austin Mills said of the day: “Being able to go out on a boat on a crisp October day to watch Alicia and Amy work their oyster farm was an unbelievable experience. Witnessing them endure the elements, flip around oyster cages, navigate an ever-changing seafood market here in Maine, and do it all with a smile on their faces is incredible. The oysters were delicious, but meeting these two sisters was the highlight of the trip.”
For our Saltwater Classroom team, smiles spread across our faces, having had the opportunity to get out on the water, experience Amy and Alicia’s day-to-day, and learn some things ourselves. We’re eager to share this information and the experience with others through Saltwater Classroom’s Online Ocean Literacy Platform and are deeply grateful for the support of NOAA and NAAEE through the eeBLUE program, which has made this collaboration possible.
Alicia, the farm’s proud owner, at the helm of their skiff, ready to set out for the farm. Photo credit: Austin Mills, Saltwater Classroom.
For more information about our day on the water, the Online Ocean Literacy Platform, or any other questions, please visit saltwaterclassroom.com or contact me, Lexi Doudera, at lexi@saltwaterclassroom.com. Stay up to date with us on Instagram, too! Thank you for following along!
With the eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grant program, NAAEE is driving significant change for a second time! We are supporting partnerships with the common goal of aquaculture literacy set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Education, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the National Sea Grant Office. The nine mini-grants awarded will provide more than just financial support; they catalyze innovative educational experiences focused on aquaculture topics and promote public aquaculture literacy in eight states. These grants empower nonformal learning institutions (like aquariums), the aquaculture industry (such as shellfish, finfish, and seaweed farmers), and NOAA partners to make a tangible impact on our understanding of aquaculture. From "Agriculture in Aquaculture” to "Empowering Ocean Stewards," these grantees are helping to support a blue planet!