Art of Blacksmithing Taught During Summer Classes at West Virginia Business

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. Its the worlds trade that helps build other trades. We make the scissors for the tailor, the knife for the chef and so on.