Our Beautiful Tables and Chairs

Last year I went in search of picnic tables and found some really badly made stuff. I am not a fan of box stores or the cheap goods and large footprints that hail from them. Having a hunch there could be a local artisan who would build us tables that would last through our heavy farm traffic, festival, events and weather, I posted on the Thetford listserv.

Willy Barnes replied saying he could meet the need and within weeks brought me a sample table better than any others I had seen. He made us ten tables and then went on to create a custom Adirondack chair to our specifications. He made us four of those. We love them! They’re so sturdy and beautiful. Now everyone wants to know where they can get them too.

Willy has now started a business called Wilderwood. He makes picnic tables, adirondack chairs, and other artisan crafts. His website says:

I am located in central Vermont. I have been working with wood all my life. I am 13 and in 8th grade. In designing and building my products, my first goal is to make functional and durable goods.  Using quality craftsmanship and local materials I hope to make beautiful objects. When I’m not wood working I like to play soccer and ski.

I have a lot of faith in kids. I learn from them every day that I work with them and they endlessly inspire me. The last thing I expected when I posted on the listserv was for a kid craftsman to turn up. We could not be happier with the results. Willy is very talented, smart, professional, and easy to work with.