I just received my very first 2 hand forged tools today. The Merlin Carving Axe was hand crafted by the fine people at Thornwood Forge (in the land of my ancestors with Sheffield steel).

The spoon knife was hand forged by a renowned knife maker from Sweden named Kay Embretsen.

I am really excited to put these exceptional tools to use creating practical and beautiful objects using wind fallen logs and branches in the future.

This is technology that I can use whether or not I have access to electricity and when combined with the great book I got from Samuel Alexander on Green Wood Carving, I can learn to use it without the internet too :)

My great great grandfather was a knife maker that worked with Sheffield steel, so working with a tool like this axe (with materials that are of the same land which was the home of my ancestors) lets me connect with and honor my ancestral lineage while also making art and objects that can be gifted and travel into the future. Receiving the gifts of the wind and the trees, transforming their branches and fallen limbs into bowls, spoons, fermentation vessels and many other practical objects will allow me to stack yet another function within my food forest designs when planting specific species of trees.

The carving axe especially is a creative tool is something I intend to care for and use regularly for the duration of this life (before passing it along to someone I feel will put it to good use after I am gone).

Tools such as this that can last a lifetime (or longer) have intrinsic value as they offer pathways to use a combination of imagination, pattern recognition, arboreal awareness, sweat, blood, patience and love to transform pieces of wind fallen wood into purposeful objects which tell a story and are useful in everyday life. This intrinsic or innate value is retained in any and all situations (drastically increasing in a situation where one is off grid) and such tools also empower one to boycott the corporate throw away culture of walmart made in China plastic objects by creating irreplaceable place based objects with love and uniqueness infused into every facet.

I look forward to sharing more on my journey to learn to carve wind fallen wood with hand tools in the future.