Juniper knives hot-selling item on Fogo Island
JOE BATT'S ARM — They say necessity is the mother of invention, and it was through need that the Fogo Island Inn came up with its newest, bestselling product — the juniper knife.
The Fogo Island Inn is a social enterprise founded by Shorefast, a registered Canadian charity that aims to promote cultural and economic resiliency for Fogo Island. As part of this social business, the Woodshop on Fogo Island was created.
According to its website, during the design and construction of Fogo Island Inn, collaborations on the design and production of the furniture, textiles and furnishings were made with local residents. The pieces created in this process so delighted the inn’s guests that they are now available for purchase through the Woodshop on Fogo Island.
One of the signature pieces of the Woodshop on Fogo Island is the punt chair. This chair, says the woodshop’s operational manager, Nathan Ball, is a key part of the line showing the pivot point from boat building.
“Using the naturally curved wood to make various components of both the boat and the chair shows the connection between our local knowledge to our current economic development,” says Ball.
Many pieces of furniture focus on not creating excessive material waste in the production, explains Ball. The punt chair, unfortunately, does create some waste during construction.
Not wanting this material to be cast aside, Ball says Shorefast’s designer, Kingman Brewster, came up with an idea that would solve the waste problem, as well as another problem the inn had.
In an effort to reduce noise in the dining room of the inn, and as a way to bring more wood elements to the dining experience, they came up with the idea for the juniper knife, Ball says.
Made entirely from juniper wood, the business says these small knives will hold steady when perched atop a side plate, won’t slip or slide around a charcuterie board, and don’t disturb the peace if they do happen to take a tumble onto the dining room floor.
And best of all, the knives are made from the waste cut-offs from the punt chairs.
Since the product was introduced earlier this year, Ball says, reaction to the juniper knives has been overwhelmingly positive and the inn developed a new problem — struggling to keep them in stock. The product is selling like hotcakes.
“Although we strive for consistency, each knife is made by hand,” explains Ball. “While using it, you can feel the hand of the maker."
The Woodshop on Fogo Island currently employs five people full time, year round, with plans to increase in the coming months and years.
Although the bulk of the production is making furniture with a modern esthetic that feature elements of outport design, says Ball, there are plans for a new collection as well.