Transform Your Outdoor Space

with Expert Design &

Stone Installation

Our Services

Stonework & Hardscape

We offer a range of stonework services, including consultations, comprehensive hardscape design packages, earthmoving and land clearing services. We ensure lasting, high-quality installations. Our work is designed to endure, using crushed stone for drainage beds, compacted stone dust for patios, and mortar techniques for walls and stairs that resist deterioration for decades.

Organic Farming

Common Hands Farm has been a community-driven organic farm serving Columbia County for over 14 years, providing fresh local produce and other farm products. While we’re primarily focused on farming, we also operate a stone art & hardscaping team as part of our efforts to support the farm and our broader community projects. Every dollar from our stonework services goes directly back into supporting the farm, helping fund various community and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Our Crew

Dan McManus is co-owner of Common Hands Farm and CHF Design Co. LLC and brings over 20 years of experience in stonemasonry along with our team of highly experienced employees.

Dan oversees all key stages of each project to ensure quality to meet our high standards. If Dan is unavailable for your project, we have a highly expereienced team of who will be led by a designated foreman to ensure the same quality standards. Any on-site concerns can be addressed directly with the appointed foreman or Dan himself.

Our team also includes journeyman masons who are enthusiastic and quickly learning the trade. They handle much of the site preparation, cleanup, and backend work. Journeymen are available to discuss project details or changes in collaboration with Dan and the client when needed. All employees are covered by workers' compensation, and we carry full insurance for all jobsite activities. A certificate of insurance can be provided upon request.

Dan McManus, owner

Dan McManus has been a stone mason for over 20 years as well as an organic farmer, founding and operating Common Hands Farm in Columbia County, NY. Dan learned stonemasonry as a teenager under local Philmont stonemason, Tim Smith. Dan’s talent was further developed on projects all over the world, working under Johannes Matthiessen who was a mentor and teacher, while they created stone art and social sculptures. Dan grew up in both upstate New York and south Australia and is a dual citizen. He studied Regenerative Community Design at Goddard College in VT, a focus that also lead him to manage a community garden project in low-income areas of Detroit. He also studied tracking and primitive skills in VT and holds a certificate in Permaculture Design.

Dan’s talent lies in his natural ability to build beauty and art with stones, his deep knowledge of the land, and the ability to manage both unique and functional hardscape installations.