Raw materials are the foundation of your economy. These include: Logs (from Foresters or clearing), Stone (from Quarries or clearing), Iron Ore (from Mines or clearing), Coal (from Mines or trade), and Herbs (from Herbalists). These are used directly for building or processed into other goods.
Managing the supply of raw materials is a constant challenge. Logs are renewable with Foresters, but stone and iron are finite. Plan your Quarries and Mines carefully, as they leave permanent scars on the landscape and require significant labor. Trade becomes essential for long-term supply of finite resources once local deposits are depleted.