About

I began my blacksmithing journey in 2008 when I took my first class at the Historic Forge at Carroll County Farm Museum.  I later learned from many great artists like Mark Aspery, Nol Putnam, Mike Tanner, Elmer Roush, Nicholas Kimball and Dale Morse.

Although I did not know it then, history was to become a large part of my blacksmithing journey which later took me to a spot working in the forge at Mount Vernon and to performing many (sometimes 18 weekends per year!) Colonial blacksmithing demonstrations where my family and I taught the guests about the special mysteries and beauty of the craft.  

Throughout this time, I discovered my love of teaching and was so very fortunate to be able to share these moments with my amazing wife Caitlin Garvey and our two wonderful sons, Lucas and Liam.  We performed together at historical events across the Washington, DC area at incredible places like Claude Moore Colonial Farm, Historic Blenheim, Old Wye Church, Benjamin Banneker Museum, Prince William Forest Park, Saint Albans, Liberia Plantation, Jefferson Patterson Park Museum and Stratford Hall. 

In 2022, my son Liam and I completed the 12-month blacksmithing certification program held at the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing in Waynesboro.  This program was simultaneously a challenge and a joy and we both learned more than I could have ever imagined.  For me, it was a fantastic experience to go deeper into many of the basic skills I had used since I started but had never had time to practice much during my public events.  For both of us, it was a huge accomplishment to complete all the project requirements and to graduate along with the great group of folks we got to know along the way. 

Liam and I now operate Black Forest Iron Works together at our farm in Mount Jackson, VA, along with our family mascot Maggie, two other cats, 3 energetic Cairn Terriers, 20 chickens and always a few horses. 

Liam also operates a very robust firewood business called the Little Red Barn Firewood Company selling cords and bundles as fast as he can produce them.

Caitlin is a professional photographer and her work can be seen at www.caitlingarvey.net.