A Season of Firelight: Holiday Gatherings, Small Batch Gifts, and What Is Coming Out of the Heirloom Fire Workshop
- James
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Thanksgiving came and went in a rush of firelight, long hours, and an unbelievable outpouring of support. This year was our largest Thanksgiving to date, and if you took home one of our meals, I hope every bite felt deliberate, cared for, and worth the wait. We cooked hard for you, and we loved every minute of it.
Now we turn toward the next stretch of the season. The holidays are coming fast. The workshop is humming. The oak boards are stacked with drying bottles, warm spices, jars of tallow, and the tools we use to make the kind of objects you do not find on shelves. This is the time of year when we get to offer more than dinners. We get to offer craft. And connection. And gifts that tell a story.
Below is a look at everything we are preparing for December: Christmas Eve pickups, small batch pantry releases, handcrafted knotweed pieces, and the long awaited return of Field Smoke.
THANK YOU FOR A RECORD BREAKING THANKSGIVING
If you supported us this Thanksgiving, you fueled the fire that keeps this business alive. This was a record year, the largest number of families we have ever cooked for.I am grateful for every person who trusted us with their holiday meal. Cooking for a single table is intimate. Cooking for hundreds is a different kind of responsibility, one we take seriously.
And yes. We will be back for Christmas pickups.
HOLIDAY PICKUPS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
The holidays should feel like a celebration, not a chore.We are bringing back Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner pickups so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with the people who matter.
From ember roasted meats to winter vegetables to preserved pantry items that hold up beautifully, the goal is simple.Give you a holiday meal that feels warm, intentional, and stress free.
Whether you are hosting family, sharing an intimate dinner, or treating yourself, we will have options that travel well and reheat cleanly. Add a little fire to your Christmas without having to light anything yourself.
HOLIDAY PARTIES IN OUR TASTING ROOM
If you are looking for a staff celebration or a small holiday gathering, our Heirloom Fire tasting room is available for private parties.
You book the night.You show up.We cook the entire experience, including drinks, appetizers, and dinner.
The space is warm, candlelit, and built for small groups that want something memorable.There are very few slots available, so reach out if you want us to design something for your team or your family.
FIELD SMOKE BATCH NUMBER TWO
Field Smoke batch number two is almost ready.
This run includes fifteen bottles. Each one is mixed, bottled, labeled, and etched entirely by hand.If you missed the first ten bottles, here is your chance.If someone in your life appreciates fragrance with real depth and quiet reverence, this is it.
Once your bottle is poured, you will get your private link. We ship immediately.
Reserve yours now.
FAT OF THE LAND TALLOW BALM
We spent the summer collecting beef tallow from farmers we trust.After weeks of slow rendering and refinement, the new batch of Fat of the Land is complete.
This version is smoother, richer, and more nourishing.It includes:
• Grass fed tallow• Oatmeal for gentle soothing• Vegetable derived squalane for hydration• Roman chamomile for calm and recovery
It is creamy, restorative, and perfect for winter hands that see real work.
WORKING WITH JAPANESE KNOTWEED
You have likely seen it. Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive plants in the Northeast. It spreads aggressively and overtakes everything in its path.
But we work with what the land gives us.
In spring, we harvest the first tender shoots and preserve them for The Forager’s Pantry. We use the fresh green stalks in cocktails. In winter, we dry the canes and use them for smoking.
And now we are carving the dense rhizomes into candleholders. The final forms are dictated by nature. We only refine what is already there. No two pieces will ever be the same.
A portion of every sale is donated to The Trustees of Reservations, an organization that protects natural lands, farms, and historic properties across Massachusetts.
Each knotweed candleholder includes one Field Smoke tallow candle.
FORAGER'S PANTRY HOLIDAY RELEASES
This week, we are releasing a small group of Forager’s Pantry items for your Christmas cooking or gifting. These will ship in time for Christmas and will include:
• Seasonal preserves• Fire kissed vinegars• Pickled wild ingredients• Winter condiments
These items do not stay in stock long. If you want them for stocking stuffers or your own pantry, keep an eye on the shop when they go live.
THE RETURN OF THE FIRE KEEPER COLLECTIVE
(formerly the James Gop Supper Club)
Last year, members received a quarterly pickle box, two tickets to any two public events, and a personal gift from the workshop.
This year, we are expanding the idea.
The Fire Keeper Collective is a small private circle for those who want to support the work we do and receive the items we are most excited about.
Members will get:
• A seasonal Forager’s Pantry drop• A handcrafted item made by James• A rotating creation such as housemade liquor, essences, tools, or small batch beauty products• Two tickets to any two public events
Insert link here.
It is not a subscription box. It is an inner creative circle that keeps the fire burning.
CLOSING
This season always feels like a blur of firelight, jars, carving tools, and late nights in the workshop. We work hard because we love this time of year and everything it demands from us.
Thank you for letting us cook for you, craft for you, and be part of your holidays.Here is to the season ahead.
