Friendly
Forest derives its name from the many trees that have been "adopted" in
recognition of special friendship and respect between the owner
/ operator / artist, Gerald Regnitter,
all the living inhabitants of Friendly Forest and the person granted
an adoption certificate. (Check "Adoption
Story" for details.)
Friendly
Forest is located on 120 acres / 48 hectares of forest and water
in the transitional boreal forest of north-central
Saskatchewan, Canada, near the Prince Albert National Park. It
has the same animal and plant life as the National Park.
The
forest home in which I live has a history of its own. Long before
I was given the opportunity to become its caretaker in 1986, a large ice ball was rolled over by a glacier and gouged out
a space in the till. When the glacier melted, it left a glacial kettle
which became the pond in the forest. The ridge of clay, rock and
gravel along the one side has become the site for my home overlooking
the pond. There has been a long succession of beaver lodges built
on the pond. When I first saw the area, two lodges were active, and
all of the aspen and birch near the pond had been felled and spread
out like so many toothpicks. The "mess" the beaver left this time,
and times in the past, opened up the area near the pond for the growth
of a ring of spruce and larch. About 35 years ago most of the large
spruce were logged out. Their spaces have since been occupied by
birch, aspen and young spruce trees. What were trees too small to
harvest then, have now become large in their own right. I have been
most fortunate to have been given the privilege of sharing this sacred
space, [ for that is what it is], and I have vowed to respect and
preserve what I have been given.
Friendly
Forest is the home of "FRIENDLY FOREST PRODUCTS", a home-based
business making "functional art products & wood furniture." What
would be more natural than to take wood, the gift of the forest,
and craft it into functional works of art and special furniture
pieces? Local woods are often used in combination with exotic hardwoods
from around the globe, with special attention to harmonizing the
unique and special properties of each kind of wood. Many items
have relief carving with images from the forest and nature, and
can be personalized to make a special, one-of-a-kind gift for yourself
or someone else who would value a unique gift from the forest.
