About

My name is Blake McCall (he/him). I’m a settler currently residing in Hamilton Ontario, lands governed by the Dish With one Spoon Wampum Agreement. I have been interested in building and repairing for a long time, and in 2021 I started this project, The Discarded Workshop. It is my intention to repair, restore and build new quality furniture from the discarded goods around us such as pallets, thrown out renovation materials, and furniture left on the side of the road.

Being able to create something new and long-lasting out of old and new materials fills me joy and purpose. I care deeply about the land and see trees as sacred. They offer us so much and too often we only take from them. My process of design is thoughtful and slow, and attempts to bring intention and use value to each and every piece I build.

I’m not a big fan of the buzzword “sustainable” which essentially means whatever someone wants it to. For me, I think about the words of Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer Leanne Betasamosake Simpson: am I creating the conditions for more life. Life of the trees, water, the land, the insects, the birds and humans? In the efforts to rebuild and restore, reuse and repair to make products last longer and have less reliance on disposable new goods I hope that I and the Discarded Workshop can help build an ethic that values living with the land.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, commissions, or would like to donate a piece of furniture. I would love to hear to from you.

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