Bio for Dustin & Tara Stohler

Dustin built his first pond when he was 16 and still lived at home.  From there, Dustin worked for his uncle’s landscaping company in Lebanon during the summers while in high school and college.  While waiting for his new bride to finish college in the spring of 1999, Dustin took a job with “Watergardens by Tharpe” where he installed ponds in VA, NC, SC and TN.  Once Tara had finished her degree that spring, she and Dustin moved to Myerstown, PA where Dustin started working for Country Market Nursery in Mechanicsburg.  Dustin was hired as the “pond installation foreman” for two years and gained a vast amount of knowledge that he will be forever grateful for.  In the spring of late 2000, Dustin & Tara spread their wings and opened Dreamscapes Watergardens. During that first year, Dustin was a one man show.  During the day, Dustin would do the pond installations by hand with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, and Tara would do the books and return phone calls at night, as she had a full-time job at Milton Hershey School. Dreamscapes rented space at a storage facility north of Myerstown for several years.  Throughout the next couple of years, employees were hired and in 2005 Dustin & Tara purchased a 12 acre farm 2 miles north of Lebanon.  In the winter of 2006, Dustin & his employees remodeled their late 19th century bank barn into what is now their retail showroom and aquatic center.  Late 2006 was also a time of great joy as Dustin & Tara became the proud parents of Chase Walker.  The following spring, Dustin & Tara took another leap of faith and decided that Tara would quit her full-time job and went to work for Dreamscapes full-time. It is now 2011 and Dreamscapes is one of the largest pond installation companies in the US.  We look forward to what each new day brings, and we look forward to working with you!

 

Dreamscapes Accomplishments:

• PA Garden Show – “Best Waterfeature” 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• PA Garden Show – “Best of Show Silver Medal” 2008
• PA Garden Show – “People’s Choice” 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010
• Berks County Home Show – “Most Beautiful Landscape Exhibit” 2009
• Lebanon County Builder’s Show – “People’s Choice, runner up” 2009
• PA Farm Show – “Best Commercial Exhibit” 2010

 

Certified Aquascapes Contractor Program:

Since 2002, Dreamscapes has been a CAC through Aquascapes Inc.  Aquascapes is the leader in pond filtration manufacturing.  To become a CAC, contractors have to go through many hours of hands-on instruction as well as classroom seminars.  The contractor must meet the quota for the number of waterfeatures installed, must submit referrals and pictures of completed work, and ultimately the contractor’s request is brought in front of the CAC review board.  Throughout the United States, there are approximately 62,000 contractors who designate that they install ponds or waterfalls.  Of those 62,000 contractors, only 300 are Certified Aquascape Contractors.  If you choose a CAC to do your work, you can feel confidence in the fact that you are getting one of the best waterfeature installers in the US.  CAC’s have the extensive training to get the job done correctly the first time. CAC’s must have an outstanding customer service record, and with continuing education benchmarks, CAC’s get the latest and best building techniques on the market. When you choose a CAC, you choose the “best of the best.” Dreamscapes is proud to be a Certified Aquascape Contractor!