I am still in the black forest as well. I have no iron yet. I do have turnips. I sniped 3 seeds from the edge of a swamp and just farmed those up to a good patch. Here is a pic of my base. Karve in a box and workbench on the dock. Tower behind with bed, cooking stations and workbench, forge area is shed out back, garden and bees out front, and off in the woods a dwarf spawner I am using for stone/wood gathering and weapons skill-ups. It will be sad to leave it, but "The Elder awaits."

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2817747392