2 minute read
Campfire Ninja
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
Campfires for modern families
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
The roadside sale of firewood has evolved into the creation of a deluxe campfire experience for an Ilderton entrepreneur. Andrea Stuart, owner of Campfire Ninja, is the exclusive dealer in this region for Cowboy Cauldrons, a line of stainless-steel pots for cooking over or containing bonfires.
Stuart had been selling wood left over from heating her home but a trip to the Ottawa Valley, where she encountered a tradition of outdoor community corn roasts, sparked an expansion. She hoped to bring the tradition to southwestern Ontario but discovered the large cast iron pots used to roast the corn weren’t readily available. That led her to the Utah-based Cowboy Cauldrons.
The fire pits, with the pot suspended from a tripod formed by accompanying legs, are available in four sizes, from 24- to 42-inch basins. The pots, which come with grills, can be used for cooking or as a bonfire container. “They’re so versatile. That’s what I love about them,” Stuart says. She has all models set up in an outdoor gallery to demonstrate for customers. “I can light up a fire, and they can experience it. And I wanted them to be able to visualize the sizes.”
The smallest, called The Dude, and the next largest, Urban Cowboy, are popular as the most versatile models. They are easy to transport to the cottage or campground, she says. The largest – Ranch Boss, with its 42-inch diameter pot weighing in at 220 pounds – is attracting commercial buyers, she says, noting they are becoming a trendy addition at Nordic Spas.
Launching the cauldron sales during the pandemic was a bonus for Stuart. “People were looking for ways to get together and finding that spending time outdoors was fun and healthy,” she says. “Even those who had never had a campfire before were buying fire pits. It’s just so relaxing.”
Prices for the cauldrons range from $1,649 to $5,899. “They are expensive, but they last forever,” Stuart says. “It’s a simple design, nothing to go wrong. And being steel, they don’t crack like the cast iron. It’s really an investment, something that can pass down to kids and grandkids.”
Campfire Ninja offers stainless steel cauldrons in a variety of sizes for outdoor cooking and campfire experiences.
ANDREA STUART
