A Shocking Discovery:
How Widow’s Hole Oyster Farm Began
When Mike Osinski fell into the waters of Peconic Bay when his dock collapsed, he had no idea the luck he fell into. He called the local dock builder and they began to rebuild but in order to have new pilings put in, he needed a permit. A DEC officer slapped him with a $2000 fine and Mike got smart and headed to a lawyer.
Bad luck turned to good when his lawyer pulled out an old map of Peconic Bay and Mike’s property. Apparently and unbeknownst to him, his property included 5 acres of underwater ‘land’. He knew the history that this area of Long Island used to be the oyster capital of the world and since he was newly retired and hating it, oyster farming seemed like a great option.
So that’s how it all began. Mike and his family became the first in the wave of oyster farms in Peconic Bay. It is an ideal location for oyster farming because of the strength that rocky, sandy bottom. The current keeps a constant flow of oceanic tide kept the oyster growing strong. In his first year, Mike went from selling 400 his first month to 2500 by October!
Having come from the world of software, Mike was all thumbs and as green as they come on the water. But he put all he had into learning everything from how to tie knots to battling mother nature and all the ways she could destroy his precious oysters. It became an unexpected passion for him and his family.
Now on Peconic Bay, there are over 50 oyster farms. There is plenty to go around though, as the location and ecosystem can support all of them and their crops. Mike and his family certainly are living off the fat of the Peconic Bay!
Visit the Widow’s Hole Oyster Farm Website
by LA DiNardi
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