I already mentioned these end-grain cutting boards in today's Quality Linkage column, but they deserve a post of their own. They just fit so well with our philosophy of buying quality items that last.

Here's how they describe end-grain wood and its usefulness on their FAQ page:

End Grain is when the individual boards of wood are arranged so that the grain of the wood (the growth rings) runs vertically (up and down). This puts one end of each board up so that the cutting surface is actually the end of many individual pieces of wood. With the grain aligned in this manner (up and down), when the knife strikes the surface during cutting, the grain of the wood actually separates and then closes when the knife is removed. This accounts for the self-healing aspect of the end-grain surface. The wood itself is not cut, but instead you are cutting between the fibers.

In a way, these boards are like a well-maintained piece of cast iron — if you take care of them (more info on this here), they can last a lifetime or longer! Pass one on to your grandchildren someday and it will be just as useful to them as it was you.

Here's a (https://youtube.com/watch?v=DYu37-vyMLA) behind each of Larch Wood's cutting boards:

The boards are available on Amazon in a number of shapes and sizes:

• Small ($160)
• Medium ($220)
• Large ($270)
• End curve ($140)
• 14" square ($210)
• Carver's board w/ juice moat ($320)