Our Story

John started carving to cure the boredom of working from home…and now it is a full time business. The company is named after John’s two greatest inspirations: his sons, Oliver and Calvin (OC/CO).

At OC Spoon Co., every kitchen utensil is a piece of art. Hand-carved from locally sourced, all-natural wood, each spoon, spurtle, and specialty tool is unique, shaped with care, and built to last for generations. These heirloom-quality companions for your everyday cooking, designed to bring beauty, warmth, and a touch of personality to every meal.

We create tools that are both practical and meaningful, celebrating the textures and grains of the wood while honoring sustainable, thoughtful craftsmanship. Each piece carries the story of its forest origins and the care that went into shaping it, connecting your kitchen to the land and the people who steward it. OC Spoons Co. makes essential, lasting tools for those who value artistry, sustainability, and the joy of cooking by hand.

All of our products come with a lifetime guarantee. If your spoon ever needs a touch up, reach out and we will bring it back to its full glory.

We take custom orders to fill all of your cooking desires. We create packages of spoons to meet any special occasion - including gifts for a chef, a new couple, an anniversary, birthday, holiday, and any last minute surprise, we are here for you.

Take a look through our gallery to view all the possibilities of utensils in a variety of wood types and grains.

Sign up to receive updates and early bird special price packages and discounts. We will soon have our youtube channel up and running. Our aim is to build community and share woodworking knowledge, so keep an eye out for class offerings as well!

Meet THE TEAM

A man with glasses, a black cap, and a gray t-shirt is working with a hammer on a piece of wood outdoors, with a brick wall in the background.

JOHN DOHT

John is an expert woodworker. He is the heart and sweat behind the company. John spends his time looking for fallen logs, carving, sweeping up wood shavings, sharpening tools, and hanging out at farmers’ markets. When not busy ‘spooning’ he spends time with his family, coaches baseball, runs with his dog, watches soccer, and gardens.

A woman wearing a light blue cap, purple tank top, and binoculars around her neck, smiling in front of a flowing river surrounded by lush green trees.

EMILY HITE

Emily spends her days as an anthropology professor at SLU and her free time supporting the business. She enjoys soccer, gardening, traveling, hiking, and being on the water whenever possible. You can find her wrapping your spoons in tissue paper at the markets - making sure they get home safely and in style.

A man with two children stands in front of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, on a sunny day with clear blue skies.

OLIVER & CALVIN

Oliver and Calvin love helping at the farmers’ markets, and stay busy with school and all their hobbies - baseball, soccer, golf, bike riding, basketball, and building Lego.

Close-up of a sleeping tabby and white cat lying on a red and black blanket with a Christmas tree in the background.

NEWTON

Newton is an eighteen year old cat from Costa Rica who enjoys long naps, getting brushed, and eating all day long.

A brown dog with a black nose and floppy ears lays on a plush beige dog bed on a wooden floor in a cozy living room.

BERNARD

Bernard is a 2 year old boxer mix who loves posing for treats, going on long runs, and hopelessly chasing squirrels.

THE PROCESS

Select the wood

John scours parks, streets, and online sources for available wood. Each piece is sustainably sourced - they have been naturally felled, fallen in a storm or cut down for yard maintenance. John scoops it up and brings it home to give it a second life.

A man in a blue t-shirt, beige shorts, and sunglasses carrying a large tree branch in a grassy area with fallen trees and greenery.
A man wearing a blue Saint Louis t-shirt, sunglasses, a black cap, and a watch is laying inside the trunk of a vehicle filled with cut tree logs and green leaves, inspecting the logs.

Processing and carving

A man wearing a blue shirt, beige shorts, and a blue cap is working with a bandsaw in a workshop with a stone wall background. The workspace has various tools and materials on the table.
A man wearing a blue cap, gray t-shirt, and gray shorts is sitting outside on a wooden bench, carving wood with a hand plane. There is a large yellow flowerpot and some greenery in the background.

Next, John processes the wood. This usually starts with chopping it into workable logs, cutting it into a block, and then using a band saw to create a blank (general spoon shape), and then hand carving it into a final product.

care instructions

aka: How Not to Ruin a Perfectly Good Spoon

1. Wash it
Hand wash only. Warm water, mild soap, quick rinse.
No soaking like it’s at a spa retreat—wood swells, cracks, and holds grudges.

2. Dry immediately
Don’t leave it lounging in the sink like it pays rent.
Towel dry it right away and let it air out standing up if possible.

3. NO dishwasher. Ever.
The dishwasher is basically a torture chamber for wood: heat + water + chaos = cracked spoon. Just don’t.

4. Oil it if needed
If your spoon starts to get dry and sad, rub on some food-safe mineral oil or beeswax with a towel. We offer this service free of charge as part of our lifetime guarantee. Reach out to us on the contact form or bring it by a market and we will be happy to fix it up.