The Freezer in the Woods: What Eleven Families Gave Up

The Freezer in the Woods: What Eleven Families Gave Up Imagine finding a chest freezer bolted to a fresh concrete pad in the woods, containing eleven mason jars of salted fish, a laminated card reading "TITHE OF THE THIRD CATCH," and a single size seven canvas sneaker. This chilling discovery on a public trail outside Portsmith Landing, Maine, points to a hidden system, but what did eleven families give up before anyone found it? In this episode, we uncover the story of the Tidal Covenant, a supposed fishing cooperative that operated for years, collecting boats, wages, identity documents, and the confidence of its members. We follow Sarah Stroud, a meticulous bookkeeper, as she uncovers the truth behind the cooperative's ledgers and the mounting debt that trapped its members. Person: Connie Faber Location: Portsmith Landing, Maine Organization: The Tidal Covenant Item: Chest freezer Discovery Date: November fourteenth - A dog named Bucket found the freezer on the Earl Berry trail. - The freezer contained eleven mason jars of salted fish, hand-labeled. - The laminated card inside read "TITHE OF THE THIRD CATCH." - Sarah Stroud, a bookkeeper, was hired by the Tidal Covenant. - John Ramsey, the cooperative's founder, was 51 years old. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].