There is yet another introduction to make in Forest and Field. 
This time it's not a new person but purely a new product hand made by yours truly.

Below you'll see me front and center among a group of healers, some of which I spent two years learning herbal medicine with. I completed a basic and advanced course at The School of Traditional Western Herbalism and may someday complete the third clinical year when I've got the resources. 
This is where Forest and Field Apothecary has it's roots. 

The legality of selling herbal medicine for internal use is something I have yet to look into so for the sake of simplicity I am kicking things off with herbal salves. These will be made with my own wild harvested herbs and some organic purchased herbs when necessary. Each will be for a different ailment or skin issue. 
Each of their bases may include the following: 
Cold Pressed Olive Oil
100% Local Beeswax
Coconut Oil
Vitamin E Oil

A new salve recipe I am working on is for cuts and scrapes as well as fungal skin infections. 
I wild harvested Usnea, a lichen which is anti-fungal, out in the forest.
As well as Cedar, also anti-fungal, and Oregon Grape root, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, nearby my house. 

In the next few months we will prepare to launch our online store where you can purchase these along with Johnny's wood crafts. Show me some love if you are interested in these!

-Bailey

The edge between the forest and field presents access to both ecosystems, edges create new niches, new opportunities and more resources for life. There are species who like the wooded forest and some who prefer the open grasslands; both can be found on the edge where these two meet. More edges mean more biodiversity which, in turn, creates greater productivity and stability.

These are concepts of permaculture; a design system that takes into account natural systems. These are things I remember Johnny,  my husband, talking about when he was becoming permaculture certified last year. Two ecosystems coming together in one place intrigued me. It initially reminded me of being married; our two lives and ecosystems coming together, but as I thought about the idea more I realized it was a perfect analogy for life in general and all the things we do. Edges are where two things meet and things happen. Meeting someone new is an edge, collaborating with people is an edge, Johnny's knife carving against the wood is an edge. (I could go on forever) 

This is how I landed on the name Forest and Field. I wanted to encompass that idea in my business; to dwell on the edge where productivity and stability are strongest; working with nature and not against it. To collaborate with my husband and other creatives to create edges with them.
And the most simple reason for my name choice...the aesthetic beauty of forests and fields.

So there you have it.

Packages have been pouring in like it's Christmas in spring. The contents of these packages are always beautifully crafted whether they are brand new or a hundred years old. 
These packages I speak of contain hand tools; hand tools that will be used to bring back the old ways of woodcraft.  

You see,
my husband, Johnny, likes to work with his hands, from pulling shots at Stumptown Coffee to carving spoons; it's no wonder they look aged beyond his years. Covered in numerous cuts and scrapes at any moment, these hands are gaining new skills, and quickly. That's why I wanted to introduce him as an up and coming piece of Forest and Field Creative. 

Using tools such as the Gransfors bruks carving axe, carving knives, spoon knives (hand-forged by him), antique planes, and many more that I am unaware of, he will begin building his skills using simply these hand tools. He will create things such as: 
Bowls. Spoons. Cutting Boards. and Tables.
While implementing some blacksmithing as well.

This is just an introduction.
Johnny is still obtaining the necessary tools and practicing his skills in the backyard accompanied by the goats. Stay tuned.