A Deeper Appreciation
Last week I wrote about ice cream, this week I want to talk about oysters!
Being landlocked in Colorado, I typically only indulge in oysters when I’m near the ocean and we can get them fresh. During our summer trip through New England, we stopped at Glidden Point Oyster Farm on the Damariscotta River in Maine to learn more about how oysters are cultivated and raised. It was a stop that far exceeded my expectations.
The Damariscotta River is one of the major oyster-growing regions in Maine, and we got a firsthand look at how much work goes into something I've always just enjoyed eating.
We learned how the oysters are moved into larger cages as they grow and how farmers regularly flip the cages to control algae and other growth while improving water flow. We learned how the water they're grown in affects their flavor and that oysters are incredible filter feeders, with a single oyster capable of filtering up to 50 gallons of water a day.
Hands-on history, a little shucking lesson, and a table full of fresh Maine oysters. Nothing builds appreciation like getting your hands dirty and doing the work yourself, especially with family.
But the highlight was learning how to shuck our own oysters. I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated. Our chefs at Footers do the shucking when we serve oysters, so despite eating plenty of them over the years, I had never actually learned how to open one myself. I was especially impressed (and terrified) when they encouraged the kids to try too.
After shucking and eating the oysters included with our tour, we decided to order two dozen more and opted to shuck them ourselves. We started to get pretty good and opening them up and they tasted amazing!
The experience gave me a deeper appreciation for something I've enjoyed for years. We learned where our food came from, met some of the people responsible for growing it, understood the work that went into it, and then had to put in a little work ourselves before we could enjoy it.
It got me thinking about how often this happens in other areas of our lives. The more we learn about something, the more we tend to appreciate it.
A meal tastes a little different after you've met the farmer who grew the ingredients. A piece of music sounds different when you understand what it takes to play it. A job looks different when you've spent a day doing it. Even a place you've visited many times can take on new meaning when you learn about its history.
As we gain experience, it's easy to assume we already understand how things work. But there's tremendous value in continuing to ask questions, trying things ourselves, visiting new places and learning from people whose experiences are different from our own.
I went to Glidden Point because I love oysters and we were looking for an experience. I left appreciating a whole lot more than what was on the plate.
What could you learn more about that might give you a deeper appreciation for something already in your life?
