It was 2014 and we were busy raising two young kids (our third arrived in 2016) and running our organic farm, Greenbriar Market Garden. We grew flowers, veggies, and dye plants for several southern Oregon farmers' markets. As anyone who has done that work knows, a farmer works for 12 months a year and gets paid for 6. At least that was the case with us. So as a supplement in-between market seasons, Paige opened an Etsy shop and started making Waldorf-inspired natural toys. Our first offerings were building blocks made from driftwood, playsilks, and custom painted peg doll sets.

In our early days of toy making, we would make the drive to the Oregon coast, and with one baby in a sling and the other in a backpack, hike down to the shore and pick through huge piles of driftwood. Steve would cut driftwood on the beach, load it onto a packframe, and pack it up to the car 60 pounds at a time. Back home, we would take turns cutting and sanding the blocks on our back porch. Between the demands of the farm and raising tiny people, Paige shepherded the Etsy shop into a success that had the potential to grow into a full-time endeavor. 

With the 2017 market season over, we decided to put the farm on hiatus so we could both focus on the toy business. Starting in 2018 we renamed our Etsy shop Myers Natural Toy Studio and started designing and making toys full time. The next several years were a blur of activity as we poured ourselves into building an efficient professional studio that would allow us to produce the highest-quality toys available anywhere.

In 2020 the need for our own website became apparent, so in July of that year we launched MyersNatural.com. In the years since, we've had opportunities to expand to a bigger studio and hire employees or to outsource some of our production but the decision to keep it small is an easy one. We love what we do and don't want to get burned out. That love carries over to our work in ways that are unmistakable and that are just not possible with mass production. The limited amounts that we are able to produce are the highest quality possible, and we’re very proud of that.

Thanks for visiting our shop. We're glad you're here! Take a look around and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Warmly,

Paige and Steve Myers