NYC DEP Contract Grow
From 2015 to 2025, we cultivated thousands of native plants under contract with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, supporting riparian restoration in the Catskill watershed. Starting at Common Ground Farm and moving to Lost Creek in 2019 for greater capacity, we grew containerized trees and shrubs from regionally collected seeds. Using organic methods, these plants helped maintain clean drinking water for New York City while promoting biodiversity. After completing the contract, we concluded our operations at Lost Creek, relocating key plant materials to our demonstration garden.
We operated a satellite farm in Bloomingburg, NY—known as "Lost Creek"—which complemented our Garden Center and nursery in Beacon, NY. Lost Creek was situated on a former dairy farm, bordered by the Shawangunk Kill, a river set back in a wooded area and separated by a meadow, giving the farm its name. Prior to establishing operations at Lost Creek in 2019, we were based at Common Ground Farm. We moved to Lost Creek to increase the scale of our operation and better support our growing needs. The site played a crucial role in our mission to grow thousands of native plants, supporting our construction projects, retail nursery, and large-scale ecological restoration efforts. Following the successful completion of our contract with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection in 2025, we concluded our operations at Lost Creek.
At Lost Creek, we used three high tunnels—large, unheated greenhouse structures—to nurture native trees and shrubs until they were ready for their intended uses. We expanded our propagation efforts within these high tunnels to increase both plant size and species diversity available at our Beacon retail nursery.
Our Bloomingburg farm also included an enclosed area as a center for bioengineering efforts, where we cultivated live stakes of Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), Hybrid Poplar (Populus deltoides), and multiple native Willow (Salix) species. These live stakes enhanced our nursery inventory, provided bioengineering material for wetland remediation, and supported rewilding projects. As we expanded this area, we continually increased native biodiversity and sustainable plant offerings. After concluding our operations at Lost Creek, the in-ground live stake nursery was harvested and relocated to our One Nature demonstration garden, ensuring the continuation of its ecological benefits and would be available in the future for cuttings.
From 2015 to 2025, our nursery operations supported a key contract with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP). During the first several years of this period, we operated at Common Ground Farm, growing thousands of containerized native trees and shrubs from seeds collected within a 200-mile radius of the Catskill region. In 2019, we moved our operations to Lost Creek to increase scale and capacity, continuing to fulfill the same contract. These plants, nurtured using organic methods, were delivered to multiple locations throughout the Catskill reservoir region, where they were used to enhance riparian buffers and improve water quality. With the contract now successfully complete, we concluded our use of the high tunnels and wrapped up our propagation activities at Lost Creek.
Looking back, we are proud of our contributions to ecological restoration and sustainable plant cultivation. Our work at Lost Creek supported native biodiversity and conservation throughout the region. Through our commitment to growing high-quality native plants, we helped foster a healthier, more resilient environment while providing valuable resources for landscapes, restoration projects, and the broader community.