What is ‘bloom iron’?

This material begins as iron rich rock that I collect from old mine sites deep in the forest of New England. These are then sorted, roasted, broken into pieces, and finally heated with fire in a clay furnace using charcoal. Using intense heat, chemical transformation, and a little magic, this process removes impurities and brings into being an iron “bloom”. This method is the same used by our ancestors for thousands of years to create forgeable iron from raw earth. The material is different from modern steel and is not attainable through any other method. Each bloom is unique in its character and chemical properties. A balance of calculation, intuition, and observation is the basis of each step. A skilled bloom-smith can guide the process but must also be willing to let go of total control and work with the individual nature of each bloom.