Episode 212 with Mike and Isabel Osinski, Founders of Widows Hole Oyster Farm

Today I’m joined by Mike and Isabel Osinski, founders of Widows Hole Oyster Farm in Greenport. Before launching one of the North Fork’s most recognized oyster operations, both Mike and Isabel spent years working on Wall Street, careers far removed from the working waterfront they would one day call home.Drawn to the North Fork’s beauty, community, and slower pace, they eventually settled in Greenport, where the historic Widows Hole cove sparked an unexpected new chapter. With little direct aquaculture experience but a shared sense of curiosity and purpose, they began farming oysters, and soon gained attention for the distinctive character and quality of their Widows Hole oysters.In our conversation, Mike and Isabel talk about the careers they left behind, how Widows Hole Oyster Co. began, and how the business has evolved as more oyster farms have appeared across Long Island. We also discuss the crucial importance of clean water for the future of aquaculture and the North Fork, and their hopes for the community they’ve become a part of.