Several beginners questions

[Conradus]

I think I have to level up a char for botanist or miner to get the item I desire. But that is just stupidity.
As carpenter I need Elm logs too but I have looked everywhere. Killed several trees (lvl 12 en 21 the ones I have found) but no items I want.
Very very frustrating. Where/ what is the FC bank ??

Elm logs do not, as far as I know, drop from any mob, not even treant types. You must be a Botanist and log them. Most crafting materials that drop from mobs are meats, skins, tendons, horns, animal fibers (like Diremite Webs and Fleece), stuff of that nature. It's actually easier to get stuff through gathering, so I wouldn't moan much about it. It's poor Leatherworker who has to craft from almost exclusively from mob drops that's screwed: his stuff is *hard* to get!