History Behind the Collective
The inspiration for the Forest Collective grew from Amy’s early experiences as a mother of two. In the early years of motherhood, Amy had a specific group of women she would meet with weekly or even more. While the focus was to bring the children together to play, the deeper value was in having someone to do life with, a circle of support, friendship, and shared experience.
When her youngest was two years old, Amy formally created Nature Song, and began shaping the idea of a mutual aid in a more intentional way. She started taking visual steps towards creating something for others that could one day be reproduced by people. A Facebook page was created, a website was made, the makings of a business.
A business but not really a business.
For three years, Nature Song was as a free community for anyone to join and participate in, and the relationships nurtured during these early years became a foundational support in Amy’s own life, carrying her through the many changes and transitions that came.
Over time, Nature Song began to grow beyond the intimate circles, gaining a presence on social media and developing more structure, while still remaining deeply rooted in personal connection and mutual support.
This had become a space for experimentation, reflection, and learning, where Amy could explore what a true village might look like and how it could be offered to others. She started offering paid workshops and camps for kids, hosting storytelling events and leading women circles.
After the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy recognized the devastating impact that this time had on families. Rooted in Nature Song’s values of interconnection and mutual support, she began experimenting with forming small pods for mothers. She met with them for six weeks, guiding them as they built connection, and then gave them the opportunity to continue growing their own pods independently.
The outcome of this experiment was far bigger than Amy could have imagined, and this is where you enter the story. What began as a small offering has grown to include more than 30 families, becoming a living ecosystem of connection and support.
This is where Amy places her hope for the future. In a time that can feel disconnected, this work is both a life purpose and an invitation, a reminder that we can build something different when we show up for one another.
For a long time, Amy struggled has charging money, wanting this to remain accessible and community-rooted. She’s hoping to creating a hybrid business, recognized that this kind of work takes considerable amounts of time, energy, and care to sustain. Financial support allows this to continue and grow. At the same time, this is not something one person can carry alone. It asks for shared investment, through presence, participation, and a willingness to build something together.
This is not being created for you.
It is being created with you.
With that, a different approach is being taken. One of collaboration and experimentation, of giving and receiving and of creating a structure for belonging that is deeply needed in our lives today.
