As we've mentioned on our site and social media, we've had the privilege of participating in the Hyannis Artist Shanties this summer of 2026. These quaint spaces have given us a way to bring our brand to life and show our boards amongst the bustle of tourists, ferry-goers, and visitors of all sorts around Hyannis Harbor.
Since our launch last October, we've been presenting our work in our online store, working to spread the word and do justice to our creations through our photography and digital presentation. We also turned on our shop phone (774-840-WOOD) — and almost immediately, we got the sense that our customers were just flat-out cool people. Given the level of interest in seeing boards in person, our gears started turning: we went looking for a space where we could show our boards and tell their story, and ours. And most importantly, a chance to meet our customers face to face!
After two of our three Shanty stints, we're newly inspired — not just about our craft, but about getting to know whose kitchens we're so privileged to be a part of. We've gotten to know many of our guests as people and, of course, heard all the thoughts, questions, and intrigue around cutting boards.
So we wanted to put together a bit of an FAQ — an accounting of those wood anecdotes.
Browsing the boards
Wow, I wouldn't want to cut on these boards! We are so flattered, but using them is the fun part. Chopping is just a better experience with thick butcher block boards.
What kind of woods are these? We primarily stick to domestic hardwoods as our palette. They're sustainable and plentiful in all sizes, so we have a vast selection of high-quality lumber to find just the right pieces.
Do you make these? We make them from scratch — from large pieces of rough-cut lumber that we individually select, all the way to the final coat of our finish (Jack Wax, which we make in-house as well).
Are these models you can re-create? Generally not; we focus on one-of-a-kind pieces. We make straightforward patterns that carefully arrange the grain patterns and color contrasts of naturally interesting cuts of hardwood. Through a series of cuts, we let the natural patterns that emerge in the end grain guide us toward a final piece that looks cohesive and natural. Finally, we name it based on the character of the piece that emerges!
Where are you guys from? Mashpee — originally from Tennessee (Aaron) and California (Bryce).
It smells so good / like wood in here! Probably our favorite comment. We love it too.
Touching the boards
These are so smooth! Yes, they are. Every board is sanded at least seven times, including a process where we lightly wet the board ("raising the grain") to ensure it stays smooth through chopping and cleaning.
The handles are great. We make two varieties of handles and love both: generously sized finger grooves (typically for smaller boards) and our 3/4" deep scoop handles (which we love for heavier boards).
Wow, these are hefty. We believe in old-fashioned quality: thick, heavy, end-grain boards. They stay put on the countertop, are much more resistant to warping, and have plenty of room to sand and re-finish over years and decades of use.
At the Jack Wax display
Is this what you use to take care of them? Yes. For regular home cooks, a quick buff of Rapid Rub every few sessions should keep your board well protected and hydrated. For restorations or daily use and cleaning, use our Jack Pack: oil your board first, then wax.
Which one of you is Jack? We are Bryce and Aaron. Jack is the very astute, wood-loving jackrabbit on the bottle.
What is in the wax? Simple, food-safe ingredients. Each blend is anchored around beeswax to provide protection, shine and water resistance, with coconut oil and food-grade mineral oil to hydrate the wood fibers.
Come see us one more time!
At the time of writing (August 2026), we have one more appearance on the calendar; September 24-28th. We'll be at the Bismore Park Shanties for this long weekend (Thursday through Monday) with official hours of 10am-5pm.
Given the humbling amount of support for our August appearance (we nearly sold out!), we'll have an almost-all-new display of unique, one-of-a-kind butcher block creations. And for those who don't know, late September is a classically beautiful time to visit the Cape, with (typically) nicer weather and fewer crowds. The locals call it second summer and we'd love to be a part of that experience!
