Lisa Depiano

Lisa Depiano is a Senior Lecturer in sustainable agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, affiliated with the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. She teaches courses in permaculture, carbon farming, and ecological regeneration, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and public installations.

• Master of Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2006)
• BA in Journalism/Public Relations, West Virginia University (2000)

Her research and teaching interests center on sustainable agriculture, permaculture, carbon farming, silvopasture with hybrid chestnuts, food forests on public land, and social permaculture. She integrates ecological design with community resilience, advocating for participatory planning and educational outreach. Her work bridges academic theory with hands-on practice, emphasizing climate change mitigation and regenerative systems.

The recent publications and presentations reflect a strong trend in applying permaculture principles to urban and educational contexts, promoting sustainability through community-based projects, curriculum development, and public installations. Topics include carbon farming, social permaculture, waste-to-resource systems, and the integration of permaculture into higher education and youth programs.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized through several honors:

• Agricultural Hero, The Farm School, Athol, MA (2017)
• UMass Distinguished Teaching Award Nomination (2016)
• Grantee, Center for Teaching and Faculty Development (2015)
• Sustainability Curriculum Fellow, UMass (2013–2014)
• Grantee, Open Education Initiative, UMass (2012)
• Community Engagement Award, UMass LARP (2006)

Lisa Depiano has advised undergraduate students such as Molly Murphy and Joshua Freund on independent studies related to permaculture and horticultural therapy. She has secured grants for permaculture curriculum development and international projects, including establishing a permaculture center in Haiti. Her leadership extends to founding the Mobile Design Lab and co-founding the Western MA Permaculture Guild, demonstrating sustained commitment to community-based research and education.

She leads the Mobile Design Lab, which specializes in participatory permaculture design and installation, and has completed high-impact projects such as the greywater system at Occupy Wall Street and edible food forests in urban spaces. She also serves on the board of the Permaculture Association of the Northeast and is actively involved in regional and national permaculture networks.