From Cans To Cash to Oysters, The Great Journey
The
water quality, and clarity, of the Rappahannock River has drastically decreased
as time has progressed. During the time of John Smith it is said that
the water was so clear, a person could see the bottom at depths of up to
twenty-five feet; it is also said that the oyster reefs were so massive that
they rose out of the water during low-tide, and that a ship could not navigate
the rivers due to the massive oyster reefs. This high quality of water, due to
the oysters, allowed fish to grow to massive size, and populations; it is said
that a person could simply hold a frying pan over the water and catch enough
fish to last him weeks. Sadly these facts no longer apply in this current time;
however this problem can be fixed.
Christchurch
School is a co-educational boarding school in Urbana, Virginia; many of its
classes focus on the environment and sustainability. However one class, Local
and Contemporary Environmental Issues, taught by William Smiley is completely
centered on environmental issues, and sustainability, and how to create a
better world. There are many focuses of this class, which include composting,
reducing waste, recycling, gardening, and cans for oysters. Cans for oysters is
a student-run program which focuses on oyster restoration in the Rappahannock
River. Cans for oysters’ uses a very interesting system.
Christchurch
and its’ partners, (a local church, elementary school, Middlesex Women’s Club,
and the Kiwanis club), collect aluminum cans, once they have a substantial
amount of cans collected they place the cans into plastic bags, load them into
a truck, and take them to Middlesex Metals (a local recycling business). Once
there the cans are weighted, (one pound of aluminum equals forty-five cents), and money is
paid to Christchurch based off of the weight of the cans. Christchurch then
uses this money to buy oysters (Christchurch has calculated that one can equals about one oyster). Christchurch
then places the oysters in a tub filled with water and spat, (spat is an organism
which lives on the oyster and filters the water). Once the spat has attached
themselves to the oysters, Christchurch students place the oysters into bushel
baskets, and then they reintroduce the oysters into the Rappahannock River!
Cans
for oysters is able to help improve and sustain the local economy, and
environment. It also improves local equity. Cans for oysters’ supports the
local economy by increasing the amount of money the school obtains; due to the
fact the recycling company pays money for the aluminum cans. The school uses
the majority of this money to buy oysters’, thus helping out the people who
sell these oysters. It also supports the local economy due to the fact it uses
a local business to recycle the aluminum. Cans for oysters improves the local
environment by creating fresh water (one oyster can filter up to fifty gallons
of water every day), creating a safe habitat for marine animals by creating
oyster reefs. It also decreases the amount of cans in landfills; due to the
fact the cans are recycled through Middlesex Metals. Cans for oysters improves
local equity due to the fact it educates Christchurch students, and the local
community about the importance of recycling, and preserving the environment. It
also allows the community to reverse the damage it has done to the river. It
allows Christchurch students, and other members of the local community, to work
together in order to build oyster reefs and recycle aluminum, thus helping the
environment. Community members at, and beyond, Christchurch collect cans and
donate them to the school. They are helping improve local waterways by donating
their cans to Christchurch. Christchurch has partnered with a local church,
elementary school, Middlesex Women’s Club, and the Kiwanis club in order to help
increase the amount of cans it recycles; thus increasing the amount of oysters
they buy.
If
you are interested in Christchurch School, or helping advance the cans for
oysters program please email, John E. Byers (headmaster) (jbyers@christchurchschool.org),
or William Smiley (sustainability coordinator) (wsmiley@christchurchschool.org).
Written by: Bryce
Norvell
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