Page 172 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Many people on the Mississippi Coast love oysters, but not in the way that Demi Johnson does.
Johnson, a 16-year-old sophomore at Gulfport High School, tends her garden regularly, but not just any “garden.” She cultivates an “oyster garden.” Oysters attach to a cage that Johnson drops into
the water off Schooner Pier Complex in Biloxi and checks on them every week. She already grew more than 1,100 oysters.
“I’ve been doing oyster gardening since I was in the seventh grade,” the young lady says. “It’s something I do from late August or early September through March. Once
a week, I take them out the water. I look at them closely and take pictures.”
Since Johnson can’t legally drive yet, her mom, Shante Richardson helps. Richardson does the driving and photography besides taking care of a six- year-old.
“I’m not involved in the oysters,”
story by John N. Felsher photos courtesy of Shante Richardson
172 | September 2025
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