To Do

Foraging

By: Margot Lystra

Sense, with your small self, the massive livingness of the world. Here are some ways you might begin.

Lay down and press your belly to the earth body. Relax and rest. Let boundless tranquil soil soak its gritty coolness into your skin. Press your nose to leaf litter under a tree. Slow-inhale the soft damp of woodland.

Catch with your warm in-breath what’s there: wormy humus flavors, heat of decay.

Tuck yourself close to a big rock (any kind will do). Know its weight as your bonethreaded softness meets its rough dense form.

Belly to earth, nose to leaf, skin to rock: touching with attention and care. Being bodies alive and together. This is the point and the purpose. Do this give you something that words can’t catch? If yes, then good. Share this with others. Do it more.

Recipe for the Ultimate Restoration of Urban Oyster Habitat

by Mara G. Haseltine

For the past 16 years I have been working on a book with Meredith Comi of the NY/NJ Baykeeper which will be a handbook on sustainable reef restoration methods. Our experiments and findings will be published along with a how-to illustrated guide. The recipe below is our initial guidelines for what the book will be about which could change slightly as we repeat some experiments and try others, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the initial chapter which we are creating in fairytale style!

This recipe must be implemented in early spring when the water temperature gets warmer. Typically, oysters spawn in mass on the first full moon of the season. Find a spot with strong current from which oysters can receive the maximum amount of nutrients and oxygen possible. Keep the structure out of the general public’s way.

One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. Since New York’s estuaries are polluted; oysters will be toxic for consumption for at least the next 40 years.

The most crucial ingredient, calcium carbonate–the substance a shell is made of–is the basic building block for oyster reef. This recipe is designed for areas where reef no longer exists, so solutions must be made for naturally occurring shell.

1) Submerge metal in seawater. Add low volts of electricity. Any kind of renewable energy source will do. If grown slowly the calcium carbonate is three times the strength of concrete and is naturally self-repairing.

2) Collect shell. Shell must be from waters north of New York City as southern shell is riddled with disease. Do not use restaurant shell.

3) Coat hard fire ceramic such as porcelain with calcium carbonate or pure lime. Other forms of calcium carbonate may be used such as aragonite, chalk, or even crushed marble.

4) Mix calcium carbonate into molten glass to create textured foam. This can be cast in any shape.

5) Create netted forms with natural fibers such as hemp rope, the least water-soluble fiber. Fill the nets with young oysters attached to substrate. Oysters will grow to fill the net with reef. The net will naturally disintegrate over time leaving no toxic residue and a healthy reef.