Oyster Farming With Less Plastic - Episode 318 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

There is every possibility that watching this video could lead one to become an oyster farmer. This week, after motoring out of Rockland to escape the heat, Steve pays a visit to an oyster farm on North Haven Island.
Adam Campbell of North Haven Oyster Company has been working on getting his 25-year-old oyster farm to operate plastic-free wherever possible. In the process, he's found that the oysters really appreciate his efforts.
If you are looking to explore oyster farming yourself, our good friends Scott and Jack have teamed up to make the Atlantic Cedar oyster crates seen in this video available to the public. Check out oysterhavencrates.com to find out more.
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat-sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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[@StumpCreekSentinel]

Steve, it's nice to see you giving Adam's innovating oyster farming ideas a voice.

[@johnfitchyouttube]

Great video, and an example of how this 'channel' can continue to entertain for years with more than just 'boat stuff'. Very enjoyable as always. Best wishes and thoughts through the stormy seas.

[@matt2021_a]

my exact thoughts!

[@qwerty16310]

I think keeping plastic out of the oceans is important, but reducing the amount of plastics out of our food supply is even MORE important, which makes Adam's operation even more impressive and inspirational!

[@shiraz1736]

Pity the oil industry stops politicians from mandating and legislating the reduction in the use of plastics. As battery vehicles reduce oil usage, I think we will sadly find more plastic material being manufactured.

[@stencilled]

A master class in video editing. Applause from the cheap seats.

[@AirmanJack]

Take care of yourself and your family, we'll be here when you get back!

[@russwabuda1556]

steve, please be assured that you have been the focus of supporting thoughts this last week. although this is a trail so many of us must face, it remains one of the most difficult times of life. after watching the channel for so many years, you have become an important, familiar aspect of my routine. heartfelt unspoken sentiments, there are no words.

[@PBarrPrince]

You just spoke for me.

[@uncleed8192]

Hear! Hear! Well said Good Sir and I thank you for the words I could not come up with. Tis a solemn sentiment indeed.

[@MidtownSkyport]

I really like this format of mini documentaries

[@russellcameron9035]

So many pluses here. Natural, grows better, grows bigger, cleaner and hopefully lasts longer!

[@robertd.lantry1554]

Need more people like Adam

[@kenmcmanamy6809]

Good luck with everything Steve. Take care of yourself. Thanks for all of the great content.

[@lbh002]

Steve, getting into someone else's dingy to bail it and move a water line, reminds me of times and or places gone by. I remember a time, or place, that, if you saw someone had left their headlights on when parked, you would pop open the door and turn their light off as a neighborly courtesy. After all, not everyone could afford a Sears Diehard battery, but that is a comment for a different video. 😁

[@seanym67]

I don't think you can get a better oyster than one grown in Maine. They are magnificent. Thinking hard about you and your mum, a tough journey to be sure.

[@timothyhoyt8215]

This was a top notch vid not that they all aren’t but I really loved this one. It was just so interesting to watch. All the Best to you and your family Steve.

[@garretvantrease]

It’s been a couples weeks since you posted hope all is well for your family in this time of sorrow and hopefully your mother has some peaceful last moments with you guys. Wish everyone the best of life

[@anthonya.gentry8882]

Wow! It's kinda neat to see the plastic industry "take a real shelling" with using traditional/technical alternative solutions.

[@Ruby1848]

Chin up mate, i have been there too with my mum. Cancer is an awful disease. My heart goes out to you.

[@benfromalbuquerque6083]

I had no idea oyster farming was so freakin awesome! A2A could have a whole separate thing about other people’s sea stuff and we’d all watch it.

[@Michael-cx5qf]

We’ll be here when you’re ready. I’ll probably re-view the build from the very start, so take your time.

[@stevelansdowne]

Great video. There’s more to life than just watching boat videos!

[@rexmyers991]

How refreshing to learn of such an eco friendly oyster farming system. I stopped eating oysters years ago due to concerns with possible toxicity. I would eat these oysters with no hesitation. I pray Steves mom is resting with no pain.

[@JoesWebPresence]

Allergic to shellfish, but still glad to be along for the journey.

[@gilray1977]

Awesome mini documentary ! Regarding cedar. I had a guy work for me building houses (in Hawai'i). He was a North West lumberjack for many years. He told me that working for the big lumber or paper companies, that for a cpl decades he and most crews would clear cut and harvest the desired wood. They didn't want the cedar, so they would take a D-9 and bury huge piles of cedar. He surreptitiously logged and mapped the burial sites. He considered his note book his future retirement annuity :)

[@singerap]

I hate plastic. I am so glad to see this. It's really cool.

[@bauerdad]

I painted that little house on the other side of the dam the summer after high school. 1977. We put in a good two or three hours a day before going off swimming and sailing. It took three of us all summer to paint that house. I think I wore shoes once all summer. That was to go to a concert. And only because it was in a church.

[@GenuineAussie1]

Steve. Do what u need to do We will be here when u. Get back All the very best from Melbourne Australia

[@bobgcampbell]

Very different content from the past, but I love it. Between you and Tally Ho, I was able to learn how to jack up my kitchen and scarf in 3 big (4x9) beams to replace rotted wood holding up my second floor!

[@jefftrag1956]

In that photo of Kiva it looked like she had a big round red float attached to her back for a second. Hahahaha

[@AngusJohnson-ei1kk]

Wonderful content and wish more sailing KZbin channels would promote this type of education.

[@christinelowrie5227]

Thanks North Haven Oyster Co. for the safety details regarding plastics.

[@AgiHammerthief]

thanks for saving that little boat.

[@ryan_mcme]

Happy Friday, 'bella fam! ☕ Love the support for Maine fisheries and farms! ❤️

[@user-gi3uf6lj5o]

Wow. Such a great show. Thank you- and I agree plastic is the enemy of us all. Love this show thank you

[@gilray1977]

'Minister creek' a favorite, sweet 'hidey hole' ! Last season (or season before ? ((Blur)) I rounded between. White and Hurricane into Hurricane sound just to take a look,see and reminisce about my younger days teaching climbing for H.I.O.B.S, in the quarry on Hurricane. As the water front came into view, there sat the schooner 'Heritage' on a lunch break / lunch hook, with a 3'rd main up as a riding sail. Such a glorious sight ! So easy to squint and think you had been blasted back, over 100 years in time. A time when the isle was bustling with schooner loading freshly quarried granite encounter to cities like NYC and Philly. Once again awesome footage and editing, thank you guys so much for that !. Once again have concern for your family and mom's health, but gratitude that you can be there in Granby at this time... even if it puts time.on Arabella on hold. Your elder woman (mom) and contemporary, Robin are your true blessings right now. Your youngest lady 'Arabella' fully understands ! God bless, God speed Steven and Robin :)

[@shiraz1736]

That flashing screen does my head in every time I see it. 😂

[@musicbro8225]

I'm not a patron cause I can't, but take all the time you want Steve & co. I'm my view you're a freebird, but always know that you touched my life with your extraordinary character and determination. Sail free with your lady and your companion, Akiva, and be your moms son first of all. Be grateful you have a home and people who love you, that, above all is special - even beyond Arabella and Victoria. All the best young man! Haha! Kia Kaha.

[@gordoncrain739]

Just the sort of story/community/cycle I hope Arabella brings us in the travels and years to come. Peace to your family.

[@philparmenter53]

Sympathy and good wishes to you all involved with A2A from Plymouth UK

[@bp-ob8ic]

What a great explanation of what he is doing. I especially like the floats that eliminate the need for styrofoam. That cant come soon enough.

[@michaelmauldin59]

great video, it's nice to find alternatives that help our planet. It's even nicer not to be beaten over the head and TOLD what to do. Way to keep it interesting !

[@patmancrowley8509]

Awesome oyster crates. GOD Bless Stephen's mom.

[@dutchcanuck7550]

This was great, very informative, I learned a lot of new info about oyster farming. Stupid me, I didn't even know oysters were farmed! I just thought the fresh oysters at my favourite cocktail bar were pulled out of the mud at low tide and dumped into a bucket. But I guess that doesn't really scale ... Blessings to your family. We will be here when you get back.

[@petermurphy9669]

Great episode I would love to see more like this in the future

[@howardmarshall5713]

Hello. I hope that everything is ok. Prayers to all and your Mum Steve. 🙏

[@pparker5113]

Wonderful story about both industries. sending you all best wishes.

[@glassgoat9601]

I’ll be looking forward to your return, best wishes for you and your family.

[@PaulJohnson-lm3if]

Glad to see you have discovered Penobscot Bay. We go up each summer to a small Island (Cranberry) just South of Friendship.

[@stevereinhart4067]

Great video as usual. Keep up the great work.

[@padraigAZ]

Steve, I lost my mom to cancer when I was about your age. I wish I had advice for you. But losing your mom is very hard. It will hit you when you least expect it. condolences and best wishes.

[@bobschimmel9411]

You put a ring on her finger. Good on yah.

[@joecioe8566]

Great video with good information. Good luck with your family.

[@olivier2553]

North of Bangkok, there is a temple where the stupa is made of those big oyster shells, like 7 or 10 meters high. (Wat Chedi Hoy in Ayutthaya province).

[@garycassady746]

What a great video. So interesting and informative! Thank you.

[@mikerenshaw7867]

That place is pretty cool!

[@donwilliams3626]

Thanks for sharing a part of life from these coastal waters.

[@rick91443]

Friday, and here as always. Hang in there...rr Normandy, Fra.

[@MaShcode]

Oysters are amazing. The Hudson River oyster beds start as seed in the fresh waters above Nyack NY and float down to the slightly more brackish waters around Manhattan and start feeding off the fixed submerged pylons. Google the Million Oyster Project on Governors Island for more info. The earliest European explorers reported Oysters so thick they had to cut their way through the beds to sail up the North (Hudson) River.

[@adamcurrey4456]

@Acorntoarabella. I We are here for you, i just hope she feels good enough on a good weather day, maybe take her sailing for a couple hours. nothing big. record it and keep it. Prayers out to yall.

[@baileybriggs9482]

God's speed and God bless...

[@philcamp8621]

I see miss hollywood with her 🕶 smile for the camera LOL Steve is a lucky man💌😎

[@promielex]

Ben, your music is sublime as always, ❤

[@rowlandisbeautiful]

What a lovely discovery!

[@coloradosean2005]

Thank you.Your video brings me peace and joy.

[@ZigZagMarquis]

This was a very interesting video, thanks. Steve, I hope things are going as well as can be expected.

[@mcc19606]

A really really informative and interesting video. Another great step in the journey part of the title. Mike 🇦🇺

[@ElleKendra]

Adam is the man!

[@Beowulf395]

Great…. Love this

[@gerryh49]

Enjoyed the episode, thanks Steve

[@kevinhall2266]

Very interesting and enjoyable to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@David_Walker16-3-51]

Fascinating video, thank you.

[@Tillersweep]

Butter Island is neat. Climb to the top, the view is great.

[@JCDiamond]

What a fantastic video!

[@keg1dog]

Thinking of you.

[@warrenmaxxon1305]

I hope other oyster farmers will join Scott in efforts to reduce plastic use.

[@phil4203]

I agree, but I wonder about attaching a big slab of plastic to the cedar box.

[@jeanberthiaume6631]

Great video, verry informative.

[@barry2585]

Steve, I’m told I often think strange, but I find the following statement strangely comforting. It’s not meant to minimise grief, more to normalise it. “We are all going to die. Some of us just get to know more about the how and the when”. Blessings to you and yours in the midst of the pain.

[@paulbrown2971]

Inspirational!

[@nostromo526]

- believes in a natural environment - frying in Crisco - pick one All joking aside, I love what this guy is doing.

[@stevencarpenter8841]

Really interesting video, thanks Steve and Ben. Great drone work as well. Really like it all. Prayers continue for Steve's Mom. Don't worry too much about us. We will be here.

[@tedmiles2110]

That was the Heritage; the newest of the maine cruise schooners. She is neat with Captain Douglas Lee of Rockland. The Heritage was built in his North End shipyard. TM Retired but likes schooners

[@randolphfriend8260]

90?! Out on the water?! Maine?! 🙉 😢 💙

[@AcornToArabella]

This summer in New England has been…different. Hotter earlier and incredibly humid. Thumbs down.

[@plfreeman111]

I know this is a bit different from your normal content, but I LOVED this video. Adam's innovations are awesome and I loved learning about them. So cool to see a community of people finding a better way to do aquaculture.

[@RIDICULOUSLOGIN]

Love this content.

[@christyhanlon554]

Our thoughts and prayers and love are with you here in Ireland ❤

[@michaelmckee6804]

That early close up of Robin made me think of the saying “a face without freckles is like a sky without stars. “

[@boblister665]

We always called the Jumbos Gaggers. Thanks for the aqua culture tour. We have acres of then in Barnstable but never knew the workings.

[@AcornToArabella]

There’s a video somewhere on the internet of Michael Douglas taking one of those down in one go. It’s pretty horrifying.

[@kathywrightjohnson6804]

Great video as usual. The coffee was hot and sweet. Let your mom know my prayers continue. Make as many memories as possible and take tons of pictures. There is plenty of time to sail around the world. Give Akiva a nice scratch and a belly rub. Maybe even a treat.

[@GriffonriderTom]

Hoping to hear about the Sea-B-Queue and some of the newer editions I've seen on the boat the last several episodes.

[@chrisfrench8323]

God bless!

[@Ayns.L14A]

Hopeful Friday Everyone, all our Love to your family Steve.

[@randolphfriend8260]

💙 Lovely! Now, . . . to get rid of those plastic ropes. 🤔

[@phil4203]

And the Styrofoam float.

[@rossfudd256]

Akiva's credit should have said: Does The Cat Want To Play Akiva

[@shadetreewelding]

Prayers for Mom.

[@TedHouk]

Oysters are on the list of oily seafood that cuts the risk of stroke and heart attack at least fivefold. We should all do 400 g or 0.88 pounds a week to cut a risk as much as possible. My MD UWSoM’89.

[@user-lk2cj2qs1d]

great vid One of the old style boats I would thing would be intersesting to have are the old Oyster smacks Any of the old boats No multi for me yuck!

[@user-di4kv9yk3g]

i used to make lobster pots, prawn and crayfish - i learnt that crayfish or anything living in fresh water are hypersensitive to anything plastic because of the toxins they give off as the deteriorate - we noted that lobsters do a similar thing, they are constantly testing their surroundings, because they are larger, if a plastic pot moves as the step into it, they are scared off, and don't like the smell, however the oil from the rotting sardines etc is too much not to give up, so some will be caught, traps are generally well designed to have two areas, the first has two entry points, will be off set and point to the centre as most critters will wonder round the walls to find a way out, the second area is the parlor or storage area, where most lobsters take the food to eat - i had a guy using small plastic traps with a tin of cat food, he might have one or two crays in there the following day, and thought he was doing well - i lent him one of my traps wire mesh with a special coating, 18x24 inches by 12 high with a central bait tube full of sardines (any oily fish will do) when he pulled the trap in there were 92 inside - if you want descent wire mesh for traps, see Riverdale or Sheppard Wire in the US

[@AndrexT]

That was really interesting, I love oysters. What a lovely man. Ben, when you mention 'places' any chance of putting a thumbnail map in the corner for 15 seconds? Continued prayers for the family.

[@youngbloodbear9662]

Im not sure if the oyster man is right, but he seems like a great guy

[@m0n3m655]

Akiva trying to make friends @21:00

[@paulturner1535]

Nice video. Do you post oysters to Florida?

[@bartrainer3916]

And lots of Avocados come from Chile. Now they are more expensive than chicken here.