This winter, the Yellow Farmhouse Education Center in Stonington will dive into the history of oysters in New York City and coastal New England, and consider the role that shellfish might play in a sustainable food future.

It’s part of the Dandelion Series, an annual adult educational series now in its fifth year.

The first program is a virtual Community Reading Project Jan. 8-30, focused on Jessica B. Harris’s “High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America.” The 2011 book tells the story of African American cuisine, including its origins in African cuisine, regional adaptations, and ongoing evolution. The Yellow Farmhouse will donate copies of the book to the Stonington Free Library, the Mystic Noank Library, the Groton Public Library, and the Public Library of New London. Copies of the book will also be available to 10 Connecticut Family & Consumer Science teachers who want to deepen their understanding of African American cuisine and bring this information into their culinary classrooms.

The second is a virtual presentation from Ben “Moody” Harney of The Real Mothershuckers from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 7. Harney’s black-owned mobile oyster cart and catering business based in NYC was inspired by the story of Thomas Downing. Downing was the son of freed slaves, an abolitionist and activist, and a successful restaurateur known as “the Oyster King of New York.” During his presentation, Harney will explain how overfishing and water pollution affected oyster beds in New York Harbor in the 19th century and led to the shift of oysters from street food to luxury food in the 20th century.

The final program is an in-person oyster shucking class with Stonington Farms Shellfish at the New London Community Meal Center from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 10. Participants will learn more about how the Stonington Farms Shellfish people got started in aquaculture, their experience as a small-scale female-led farm, and their perspective on the future of oyster farming in Connecticut. The cooking portion will be led by chefs from the New London Community Meal Center to benefit an upcoming community meal.

The two virtual programs are free to attend. The shucking class will use pay-as-led pricing ranging from free to $40. Visit www.yellowfarmhouse.org/adult-programs to register.

The Yellow Farmhouse Education Center, a non-profit organization located on Stone Acres Farm in Stonington, connects people to each other and to where their food comes from through food and farm-based education. The Dandelion Series is funded by a grant from the Connecticut Humanities.