MONTH WITH AN "R"? YEP, TIME TO HARVEST LOCAL SHELLFISH!

Okay, so maybe that's a myth – but nobody can deny that generally shellfish safer, firmer and generally "better" in the cooler months. Want to harvest your own bivalves? You are in luck! Each year, state biologists perform population surveys to stock public beaches with oysters and clams – ready for the harvest!

You will need a license, boots, bucket and a guide to public beaches. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/ places-to-go/shellfish-beaches or doh. wa.gov/shellfishsafety. Clam and oyster season are beach specific and may change annually. For a quick list of local beaches, visit shellfishtrail.org.

Pay attention to beaches that may be closed due to toxins, Read posted warnings or call the Marine Toxins Hotline 1-800-5625632 for a recording before consuming product. If you harvest clams or oysters, keep them on ice or eat them soon after harvest. Heed the rules for each beach. Oyster shells are required to be returned to the beach for baby spat to settle on.

If you prefer to have the harvesting done for you, head over to a local farm retail store for a fresh selection. Taylor Shellfish, south of Shelton has a full service retail store open seven days a week, Farther north, Hama Hama's retail store in Lilliwaup is a great spot to grab fresh from the beach oysters and clams. In Hoodsport, the recently re-opened (finally) Fjord Oyster Bank serves oysters, mussels and clams harvested from their farms on Hammersley Inlet. They also have fresh shellfish available for sale by the dozen or pond.

October 5-6, make your way to OysterFest in Shelton, where you can try an array in one place!

Artist Profile

PAT DENNEY, SHELTON

Each year OysterFest in Shelton hosts a contest for area artists to design the artwork for their commemorative poster. This year's selection (above) was local artist, Pat Denney.

Pat enjoys expressing herself through art. Originally from Centralia, Denney was raised on a farm. Her father was a painting contractor and a farmer, "paint was always available for young experiments in art," she recounts, and as any art is influenced by our life experiences, and with so many interesting things to do, I have many interests: working with horses, helping deliver lambs and goat kids, baking breads, and, of course, trying many mediums and mixtures in artistic creations."

Pat is a founding member of the Peninsula Art Association. PAA was formed 30 years ago, a gathering of local artists, aimed at learning, encouraging each other, and sharing our work with the community.

"I have been a part of that, as well as with other art venues and many instructors along the way, " continues Pat, "art really doesn't count if it isn't shared with others, so our club puts together a show each Spring for Mason County.