Who we are

Welcome to Forest Cradle!

Our homestead is nestled in a picturesque Appalachian valley, bordered by the serenity of Cherokee National Forest, and we call it Forest Cradle. We honor and care for this beautiful land, originally belonging to the Cherokee people. We strive to live in harmony with its rhythms and stories, as the natives have done for millennia.

We are Freeman and Alisha, the heart and hands behind Forest Cradle. Together, we’ve built this nature-centered homestead to guide others toward a life that emphasizes a deep communion with the natural world, while keeping modernity in mind.

Our journey began years ago with a shared purpose and a dream to create a space where people can reconnect with nature and themselves. In 2020, we purchased raw land and have since dedicated ourselves to establishing a permaculture-based homestead that nurtures both people and the environment. Every step has been done by hand, without large machinery or harmful chemicals. Living fully off-grid, we’ve learned to embrace the cycles of nature, and we’re thrilled to share this experience with you.

Meet Alisha

Alisha is Forest Cradle’s co-founder, herbalist, and outdoor educator. With a degree in Outdoor Leadership and ongoing studies toward a Bachelor’s in Integrative Medicine, Alisha has been a professional outdoor educator since 2018. Her expertise includes plant identification, backpacking, rock climbing, flat-water paddling, medicine making, and primitive skills. At Forest Cradle, she leads outdoor education programs for homeschool groups, public school classes, and other visitors, offering fun and challenging skill-building experiences on our homestead and local forests.

Alisha also supports people through herbal medicine. Since 2020, she has dedicated herself to herbalism, learning from extraordinary mentors and teachers in holistic medicine. Her passion lies in supporting women with reproductive health conditions, such as endometriosis, to regain vitality and well-being. While women’s health is her specialty, she also works with a wide range of conditions, supporting both men and women with natural medicine and care.

Meet Freeman

Freeman, co-founder and our permaculture design consultant, is the visionary architect of Forest Cradle’s permaculture systems. In 2020, he earned a Master’s degree with a dissertation exploring the connection between permaculture principles and recovery from trauma and addiction—a concept deeply personal to his own journey.

Freeman also offers limited consulting for clients interested in transforming their homes into thriving, self-sustaining systems. Currently, he’s focused on urban yards and properties under three acres. Additionally, he hosts gardening classes to share his knowledge with others. If you’re interested in his expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

Meet the Rest of the Family

Our homestead wouldn’t be complete without our animal companions! Our flock of farm birds and our two adopted dogs, Rosco and Lulu, keep us entertained and grounded—truth be told, they’re the ones who truly run the show.

We’re so excited to connect with you, whether it’s through our educational programs, herbal consultations, or permaculture design services. Thank you for visiting Forest Cradle. Let’s grow, learn, and thrive together!