Since 2018, I have had the beautiful and unexpected opportunity to study coal-forge blacksmithing, and have been deeply touched by the craft, the community, my teachers, and the elemental, gritty, transformational, frustrating, and gratifying nature of the work.

I owe so much to Matt Haugh, Warren Wilson Blacksmith Crew Boss and Faculty, for setting me on this path, Tod Kershaw, neo pre-postapocalyptic blacksmith of Baby Eggberts Ironworks, for his mentorship in hand tools, dumpsters, and “free”dom, and to Tal Harris, for turning me into a traditional joinery snob.

Keep the old skills alive!