A few miles down a dirt road in Woodstock, you’ll find a workshop unlike most others. At Meb’s Kitchenwares, every cutting board, spoon, spatula and set of salad tongs is handcrafted from sustainably harvested New England hardwoods.

But it is not just the products that make this business unique.

“It’s about a mile from the last house,” owner Tom Viciulis said.

Tom and his wife, Meb, moved to the property about 25 years ago, starting in a small cabin with only the basics.

“We were just camping out,” Tom recalled. “Our first introduction to solar was a little inverter and a car battery. We’d bring them out here and watch a little TV in the cabin.”

That simple setup eventually grew into a fully off-grid home and workshop powered entirely by solar energy.

“Everything here is totally off-grid,” Tom said.

Today, solar panels power everything from band saws to sanders, helping Tom create the one-of-a-kind kitchenware that has become his trademark.

“First of all, we try to use interesting wood,” he said. “Everything we use has got some kind of character to it.”

Over the years, their creations gained a loyal following at shows in New York City and Nantucket. Now, much of the business is done through Etsy.

“It took a lot of years to get the name up and get a reputation for doing nice work,” Tom said.

But two and a half years ago, Tom faced a tremendous loss when Meb died.

“I went through a year and a half to two years of mourning and feeling bad for myself,” he said. “Now I’m getting it back together slowly.”

Rather than walk away from the business they built together, Tom chose to continue it.

“Why do something else?” he said. “It’s all set up, and I like what I do. I like where I am.”

For Tom, the workshop is more than a place to make kitchenware. It is also where he finds comfort and purpose.

“I enjoy making those things,” he said. “As I’m working, I just get lost in it. It’s very enjoyable for me.”

And with every handcrafted piece that leaves the shop, Tom is keeping both a tradition and Meb’s legacy alive.

For more information, visit Meb’s Kitchenwares on Etsy.