My name is Liza Friedman. I am an ecological gardener, designer, land steward, and native wildflower super fan working in the Hudson Valley and NYC. In another life, I spent many years working in advertising as a video editor, creating a final product that often felt empty, and only served to remove us from the things that really matter. I wanted to put my energy towards work that was tangible and meaningful. I wanted to contribute to my neighborhood, my community, and leave this beautiful land better than how I found it.

I returned to school, studying at the School of Professional Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, and jumped right into the field. I’ve since spent years working in organic invasive species management, forest restoration, native garden design, and have been busy planting thousands and thousands of native trees, shrubs, and flowers.

I realized very early on that this is the work I want to do for the rest of my life. I care so deeply about the birds, butterflies, bees, and countless other creatures that depend on this land. At the end of the day, we depend on them, so why aren’t we living more symbiotically? We may not be able to change the world overnight, but we can make meaningful change right in our own backyards and neighrbohoods. Our personal gardens are one of the few places where we can actively create habitat and restore ecological function today.

American Wild Mint is a local bussiness based in Newburgh NY that aims to do exactly that. I want to bring my horticultural expertise and genuine passion for making beautiful, sensory, healthy, pollinator friendly gardens to your home. I look forward to working with you and creating a beautiful future together.

Please check out the “services” page to see some of our pre-existing service packages.