There's a black walnut that stood near the east trail at Fernwood Hills for close to eighty years. Last spring, a windstorm brought it down across the path. By the time we cleared the trunk, we had enough hardwood for two hundred coasters, a dozen wall art rounds, and a stack of cutting boards that are still drying in the workshop.
That's the origin story for most of what The Forrest Co makes. Not a supply chain — a forest.
How a Tree Becomes a Keepsake
Selection
We don't harvest healthy standing trees. Our material comes from windfall, storm damage, and necessary removal — trees that have come down naturally or that need to be taken out for trail safety. The forest manages the supply. We work with what it gives us.
Milling
Logs are milled on-site into slabs, rounds, and dimensional stock. A portable sawmill does the heavy work. We air-dry most of the wood for 6–12 months depending on species and thickness. Some pieces — particularly the large wall art rounds — are stabilized to prevent cracking while they cure.
Engraving
A CO2 laser engraves the surface with whatever design the customer has approved. The laser burns away a thin layer of wood, creating contrast between the engraved and natural surfaces. No paint, no ink, no stain on the engraving itself — it's the wood's own colour change under heat that creates the image.
Finishing
Coasters and cutting boards get a food-safe oil and wax finish. Wall art pieces are sealed with a matte protective coat. Keychains are left with a light sanding — the natural wood grain is the finish. Every piece gets a QR code on the back or underside.
The QR Story
Each product includes a small QR code that links to a provenance page. Scan it and you see: the species of wood, where on the 40-acre property the tree stood, the date it was harvested, and a photo of the source log. It's not a gimmick — it's a record. When you buy a coaster from us, you know which tree it came from. When you give a wall art piece as a gift, the story travels with it.
What We Make
The laser handles everything from fine text to detailed illustrations. Current products include coasters, keychains, bookmarks, wall art rounds, cabin signs, and custom pieces designed through the Design Studio. The studio uses AI to generate layout options from your description — you approve a proof, and we engrave it.
For wedding couples and retreat organizers, we do bulk orders with per-piece personalization. One design template, custom names or messages on each piece.
Why This Matters
In an era of mass-produced, identical goods, there's something grounding about knowing exactly where a physical object came from. Not a country-of-origin label — an actual tree on an actual piece of land that a family has cared for since 1966. That's the point of The Forrest Co. Not just handmade, but traceable. Not just local, but rooted.