From Tree to Table: A build-your-own board experience
Craft Your Own Artisan Charcuterie Board at Ottercreek Woodworks
Discover the Forest and Your Creative Side at the Award-winning From Tree to Table Experience
Tucked away in rural Oxford, woodworker David Schonberger has deep reverence for the forest ecosystem and the wood that is found in the heart of the Carolinian Life Zone. As the founder of Ottercreek Woodworks Inc., David creates a vast array of charcuterie boards in his workshop using local, sustainably harvested wood.
While the time and energy that goes into each board is clear from the finished product, Ottercreek Woodworks is now opening its doors to offer an exclusive experience to visitors wishing to deepen their own reverence for the forest while at the same time crafting a beautiful live-edge charcuterie board with 1-on-1 guidance from David himself.
Tackling nature deficit disorder head-on, Ottercreek's Tree to Table Experience offers guests the opportunity to unplug and reconnect with Mother Nature...plus sends them home with a killer board. Winning the Culinary Experience of the Year for the entire province of Ontario, the Innovative Experience of the Year in Ontario's Southwest AND a Sustainability Trailblazer award, this popular hands-on experience is one of the most immersive adventures you an do in the area and you shouldn't miss out!
Ready to book? Reserve your spot.
The day begins on a quiet rural property where you'll be greeted by David around an open fire as he introduces himself and his family-run business while sharing stories, vast knowledge and deep connections to the Carolinian Forest.
After getting to know each other, the forest calls! David will help you discover the Carolinian ecosystem and reverence for wood. Learn about ancient fungal networks and tree relationships while you touch, taste and smell your way down the trail. You’ll also learn how to identify unique parts of trees and how David sources his wood sustainably as he shows you the imperfections that set his boards apart from the rest.
Heading inside to a warm woodshop and heaping piles of handcrafted boards, you'll have the opportunity to select the raw wood you'll craft your board from. Making note of colour, grain patterns and rare oddities, you'll have a chance to select from smooth, classic woods to downright quirky.
Once you've picked the perfect piece, David will coach you in the finer points of conceptualizing and drawing your board on the raw wood which takes shape, bark and grain patterns all into consideration.
Once the board is cut, David will guide you through the nitty-gritty of creating your board. With more that 15 steps, you'll have a chance to get your hands on a variety of tools (including David's grandfather's hand-tools) and truly experience the detail and care that goes into crafting each board.
Watch the woodchips fly as you sand, cut, drill and shape with David's guidance every step of the way.
The final step of oiling your board takes it from 'cool' to 'WOW!' in just a few minutes.
Watch the colours pop as your board soaks in the oil and you add your own custom tag to your board. Heading home, you'll feel inspired to get back to the forest and reconnect with Mother Nature in the very near future once more. At Tree to Table, it is so much more than building a board!
If you'd like to sign up for this one-of-a-kind experience, head over to OttercreekWoodworks.com . You can sign up for select available dates or book for your bubble with lots of available options.
How many people can book into an experience?
My partner and I would like to share a board. Can we just make one?
Yes, that option is available. Please see our booking page for details on pricing.