At Forgotten Lands we are managing land that has been overlooked, overworked, or simply forgotten
Dan & Amy Ott moved onto a piece of forgotten land in 2017 in Turtle Creek. Our 25 acres allowed Amy to stay close to Pittsburgh for work and Dan the opportunity to develop the land. The first few years were spent renovating our house, working outside the home and devising an action plan to utilize our long overlooked site. During the Covid lockdown, a sudden freedom of time allowed Dan to create a small ¼ acre garden in the middle of the woods.
The initial trials in this plot were salad greens and cut flowers and even though there was a deer fence constructed, the deer quickly found its weaknesses. After just one breach, the salad green trials were no more. But the flowers prevailed. The joy fresh cut flowers now bring us and our community inspires us to keep going. It may have been a little bit of an accident, but we love their beauty and the joy they bring all of you.
While we continue to refine the flower growing process, we’re also devoting time and resources to our larger action plan. Check out more info below on our Property. Behind the scenes, we’re focusing on road building, water retention, and perennial plantings on the farm. Developing access and water retention across the farm is something we are continually striving for.
In 2025 we took over operations of Henkel’s Greenhouse; a Turtle Creek staple for annual and perennial flowers and vegetable starts for our neighbors and those who venture to our doorstep. This year marks 100 years of greenhouse operations on this land! Stop by and say hi to Dan, and Al (who'll be around for a few more years) – you'll always find a friendly face and great prices!
Our Property
A hillside property once used to power World War II Era industrialization, our land was left vacant for 80 years. The unmanaged forest was mostly comprised of dead and dying trees with an overgrown invasive shrub layer with little to no active understory.
Goals
Minimize water runoff
By allowing the water to stay on the land longer we are able to better drought proof the properties, lessen the erosion pressures and grow healthier plants in our systemsDevelop a multi-tiered food system that can be accessed by the surrounding community
By cultivating an ecotype informed system of tree nuts, tree fruit, bush fruit, medicinal herbs, perennial grains, mushrooms, and grass fed animals, Forgotten Lands aims to produce foods that become a commonplace staple on tables in the region.Harvest products for income
Forgotten Lands believes that the way to make a lasting impact on the human fabric of the region is to provide well paying and lasting employment. Future sales of these products will help us employ personnel across many fields and skill levels.Beauty and Engagement
Progress
Continually opening the tree canopy though removal of invasive and overgrown trees to provide space for more desirable trees and allow ground cover to stabilize the soil below.
Created market sales for cut flowers and firewood grown on the property.