Peter FranciscoEider Cove · West Bath
<div>The family owned oyster farm is located in the New Meadows River a sparsely developed arm of</div><div>the ocean on the eastern end of Casco Bay. Long known for superb tasting clams, quahogs and</div><div>lobster its clean cold plankton rich waters also produce plump succulent oysters. One can taste</div><div>this magnificent body of water in every oyster.</div><div>Eider Cove Oyster farm is situated at the base of a 75 foot ridge comprised of granite ledge and</div><div>boulders, imbedded with quartz and tourmaline and covered with Norway and white pine trees.</div><div>The ridge is part of a salt water farm dating back to the seventeen hundreds where a variety of</div><div>crops and livestock have been raised for most of its existence. Several thousand feet of stone</div><div>walls traverse the property. Middens of clam and quahog shells give evidence of the farm’s</div><div>relationship with the river. Prior residents included a sea captain, boat builders and fishermen.</div><div>Several are buried in the small cemetery on the property.</div><div>Our oysters are grown entirely in bags on the surface except during the winter when they are put</div><div>in cages and placed on the bottom as the estuary usually freezes over for a few weeks most</div><div>winters. The site feels the brunt of both southwesterly and northwesterly winds. These winds</div><div>tumble the oysters through much of the day forming a deep cup and strong shell.</div><div>Wildlife abounds in and around the Eider Cove Oyster Farm. Fox, deer, mink, and fisher</div><div>frequent the near shore. Seals are frequent visitors and on occasions harbor porpoise swim here</div><div>too. As the name suggests we have lots of eiders. A variety of gulls are ubiquitous. Bald eagles,</div><div>ospreys, blue heron, terns, cormorants, loons, egrets, kingfishers, ravens and many others wade,</div><div>swim and feast on the abundant marine life.</div><div>My wife, Beth Carlson, is a sporting and animal portrait artist working in oil. We live on the</div><div>farm with our two dogs, an Icelandic horse and a borrowed Donkey. We grow a large garden,</div><div>and cultivate raspberries, blueberries and pick apples from over twenty antique and wild apple</div><div>trees.</div><div>It is our goal to provide a quality oyster for our customers and to help build a robust and high</div><div>quality oyster growing industry in the State of Maine.</div>
