Clam Digging 101:<(/h1>

Get Down and Dirty

Coastal Life
Growing up in the coastal Northeast, clam digging came as naturally as breathing. My father’s family were fishermen, so summer was island life. The beach was just there. No matter what you did when you got there, whether swimming or taking the dog for a walk, you always had a shovel and bucket. Sure, I’d make sand castles; but the real reason was always just under the surface.

Clams. Oh dear God, yummy, yummy clams. I would dig like a crazed beagle for clams. And I’d do it every day of the summer, until we returned to the mainland.

Not Everyone Does This?!
It didn’t occur to me until years later that this was unusual. Quite a surprise, finding out that I had a form of ‘privilege’. Not everyone grows up dirt poor, happy as hell, and imbued with the innate knowledge of how to get yummy things out of their environment.

Take that, Rich Kids of Instagram.

Ask Questions
Summer is the nicest time to dig clams, but you need to check a few things first. New to the area? Ask at the town hall or tourist center. You’ll get official info about licenses, places to avoid because of pollution or conservation, and the location of public beaches. Also, check the tidal schedules. If it’s underwater, you can’t dig.p>now

On The Shore
Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Rubber boots, too. Grab a bucket and a garden trowel and you’re good to go.

Down on the wet sand, look for holes as big around as a pencil. If they squirt water, there’s definitely a clam in there. Use your trowel to scoop up a mound of sand-about 8” down. Sort through that and find your clam. I like the ones about 4” long or bigger- small ones are tasty, but it takes a wicked long time to get enough to fill your belly.

Keep an eye out for holes- and on the tide and time. Nothing like being the stranded tourist to make the locals roll their eyes. Watch for signage, too. You can find fascinating things, like rare bird nesting areas and private land- avoid trespassing on either one.

Aim for about 20 clams per person for a good feed. Rinse them in clean ocean water before you leave to get the sand out. There’s a couple important things to keep in mind here. Don’t take broken, smelly, or open clams- they could give you food poisoning. Clams are great lean protein, but they spoil fast.Once you get them home, there are a million terrific ways to eat them. My favorite? Again, and again, and again! Check out foodie websites, and prepare to develop a new hobby.

by LA DiNardi with Patty Mason