Barlows Oyster Co

Thank you to everyone who supported me the last couple of days. I took some home and ate about 3 dozen raw tonight. I will be grilling some tomorrow for mother’s day.
Being an oyster farmer (and new to it) isn’t for the faint of heart. The last few days I’ve had boat mechanical problems but still Jerry rigged it enough to produce orders. On top of that, every farmer is dealing with tons of dead loss from, I suppose, low salinity and the “spring kill off”. It’s always discourage after tending to them so much and many many hours of maintenance and husbandry all flushed down the drain.
I estimate I’ve lost somewhere from 40-50% of all my oysters in the last few weeks. Salinity staying below 10 ppt for much over a week or two or three stresses the oysters and kills off many of them. This is happening after and epic spawn of barnacles that started sometime in mid or late winter that have still been covering all of our gear and oysters while we all work hard to try to keep up with the fast growth of these “pests”.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Mother’s Day and much respect and love to all women who have bore or raised children.

I have been overwhelmed with projects the last few weeks but I will be harvesting this Friday and Saturday. I have 3” plus ones(probably more like a 3.5” average, great for grilling as well as raw), or if you prefer smaller oysters I have plenty just under 3”. All are Triploids which are great to eat year round.

Though the salinity is about 9ppt at the farm, just inside at point cadet the salinity is extremely low and I suspect the outflow of fresh water will reach the farm soon. I will not be harvesting this weekend. I will be keeping an eye on the salinity and hopefully will announce a day late next week when I will harvest.

Harvesting oysters tmrw. 3-3.5”+ in size on average. Pickup at Biloxi small craft harbor from 5:15-6:15pm or at my house near latimer community center from 7-7:30pm. You must be able to pickup your oysters at these times. Text or call to pre-order 228-861-8535. Will take orders until noon tmrw. Thanks!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter Sunday. Next harvest day will be this Thursday April 4th.

Last call for your Easter weekend oysters. Harvesting today, pickup from 5:15-6:15 at Biloxi small craft harbor or immediately afterwards at my house near Latimer community center.
100 count - $90
50 count- $50
25 count-$25
Text or call 228-861-8535 to preorder. I only pull what is to be picked up for the day.
Thanks

Simplicity is perfection. Though I do enjoy them grilled with the goods on them, it’s hard to beat them raw with hot sauce on a cracker.

For all you half shell lovers we have salt! The salinity has tripled since last thursday. To me: 12ppt salinity and below you don’t detect salt in the oyster. 15-20 the oyster tastes salty. 20+ the oysters are super salty.
I will be harvesting oysters tomorrow Thursday March 21 with pickup time from 5:15-6:15pm at Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. I will also be harvesting this Saturday March 23 with pickup times from 4-5pm at the harbor. For Easter weekend I will be harvesting on Thursday March 28 with pickup time from 5:15-6:15pm. Additionally you can pick them up from my house near the latimer community center as soon as I get home after those pickup times. You must be able to pickup your oysters at those times, I do not hold oysters overnight.
Also, here is a price change running through Easter:
100 count-$90
50 count- $50
25 count-$25

I have some really nice oysters right now for those of who like them on the bigger side, which I believe is 99% of y’all. 3-3.5” average size. If you prefer smaller ones have those also at request.
Text to order 228-861-8535 and text or call if you have questions. Thanks to all of those who have helped support me.

My after work rainy day snack today

Well the weather ran me in early today. If you would like oysters tomorrow (Saturday the 16th) let me know by noonish. Not super salty right now but I just devoured a few dozen raw. They are super fat right now and overflow a cracker to the perfect extent where you get a mouthful. Of course if you prefer smaller ones I can grab some. In the future I will have random days pop up where I can harvest them for you, it just all depends on weather and my schedule and if I’m working on the farm or preparing gear at home. Remember, if you’re not eating a Deer island oyster from one of the many farmers you are not eating a Mississippi oyster.

Good morning. I am out here splitting some baby Oysters today and working on some gear at the farm. If anybody wants to order oysters for pickup today or tomorrow, I can harvest some for you. Pick up will be at Biloxi small craft Harbor in the late evening or on my route home or at my house afterwards near Latimer community center. 228-861-8535

Taking orders for this Thursday! If you are a chef, in the restaurant business, or a distributor etc and have interest in Deer Island oysters give me a shout.

Some pictures of customers enjoying their oysters. Thanks to all for the support. Next harvest is this Thursday March 14. Also, if you are in need of a special order or a larger quantity of oysters give me a shout.

I will be harvesting off bottom Deer Island oysters every Thursday during March! Get your oysters when you are off of work and eat them on the weekend! I do not pull extra oysters and only pull what is pre ordered. Now and in the future I am only pulling oysters of at least 3” in length. Currently, as I’m sorting them, they are averaging 3”- 3 1/4” and are fat, full of meat, and growing. I want to provide the best quality oysters that I can. I hope this pickup time fits in with most people’s schedules. Pre-order by text up until 9am on Thursdays. Pickup time from 5:15pm-6:15pm at Biloxi Small craft harbor. Text to pre-order 228-861-8535. Thank you all
100 count- $100
50 count- $55
25 count- $30

I will begin making weekly harvests starting with a last minute one tomorrow Saturday March 2nd. The remainder harvest dates for March will be every Thursday (weather dependent).

For future use, What would you consider the most convenient pickup time for yourself on a Thursday or Friday? 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, other?

Locally made oyster knives in stock at Ellzey's - Biloxi - Est. 1914

Got a small replenishment in. Hopefully getting a bigger order filled soon.

Tip of the day. I took two of my grandfathers old rusty oyster knives and cleaned them up and seasoned them. Steel can be seasoned just like cast iron. I cleaned them well with mostly steel wool knocking off all the rust I could off. I slightly sharpened them and smoothed the burs off. After applying a few drops of canola oil spread evenly to coat them I held the blades over my gas stove top and would evenly heat both sides of the blade until I just started to see some smoke from the oil. I let them sit and recoated and seasoned them 2 more times. A few hundred oysters have been shucked since and no rust. I would add a light coat of oil for storing.

Breakfast of champions? Maybe it’s my new tradition.
I have to get caught up on work at the farm splitting babies and adding cages. It will most likely be a while before I make a big harvest again. In the meantime, please support all the great local oyster farmers in our area. Thank you to everyone that has purchased oysters from me so far. Right now is just the beginning, but I hope to have them year round before long.

Big shout out to my longtime friend for drawing me up a logo. If you need any artwork done from logos to illustration and much much more give him a shout!

Making my first oyster harvest this Friday. Salinity has been extremely high the last few months and the oysters are delicious.
Taking pre orders now. Can be picked up in Biloxi Friday afternoon. Will be making rounds most likely to Gulfport as well and back to my house in the Latimer area. Text for orders.

Avoid at all costs

Finally got everything moved to their new home on my lease before winter. Can’t wait to start harvesting what I have and to watch the babies grow up and expand.

Just the beginning. Lots to come!!