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KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. (AP) -- Southwood Farm Forge is holding special blacksmith classes throughout the summer for students interested in learning about the trade.
Eric Johnson, owner of Southwood Farm Forge and participant in the Over the Mountain Studio Tour, helps people of all ages learn how to work with metal.
Johnson became interested in blacksmithing when he was around 10 years old after seeing his father and grandfather work with metal. When things would break, his father would always try to fix things by himself.
After graduating college years later, Johnson began working in a forge for the National Parks Association. Since then, his love for the trade grew. He now owns a farm and forge where he makes all his own tools.
"I love the history of it," Johnson said. "It's the world's trade that helps build other trades. We make the scissors for the tailor, the knife for the chef and so on."
Eighteen years ago, Johnson began taking on apprentices and taught them the basic of blacksmithing one on one. Soon after, he saw the need to start having classes.
"Many people started talking about how they missed having shop class in schools," Johnson explained. "Very few schools still have shop class, and they wanted to find something that combines math and art in a practical sort of way."
Johnson currently runs a beginner's class for students ages 14-18, where a small group of students can learn about safety and the basics of blacksmithing, such as joining two pieces of metal together. He created all the tools and lesson plans himself. He also has classes for students from ages 10-13 and classes for adults on Saturday. This year, Johnson decided to have a class during the summer to allow more students the chance to participate.
Many homeschoolers participate in the classes, but Johnson hopes this new session will attract more public school students as it works better for their schedules.
Johnson uses his blacksmithing skills to create art, build tools and restore old items, and through these classes, he hopes more young people will learn about the trade and enjoy it as much as he does.
"There is currently more of a drive toward art with blacksmithing today," Johnson explained. "You can also use it in reproduction or restoration. That's where my love for blacksmithing comes from. I love restoring old artifacts, and though the art market is good, it's not stable, so it's hard to make a career out of it. I do a mixture of all three."
All the classes are held outside, where students can focus and learn how to work safely with fire.