Hi, I’m Lisa, the founder and plant tender behind Duke Plant & Design. 

I am a tinkerer and I love to fix, save, repair, reuse, upcycle as many things as possible. Because of that, I started Duke Design through serendipity. An interior staging company in my neighborhood had many plants that needed rescuing and I took on as many as I could nursing them back to health, I learned a ton about plant care and it broadened my understanding of what different plants need. As an environmental enthusiast I’ve created a lush garden in my home with a rain catchment system as well as solar. I have spent time farming with my son and love to garden. In my free time, I also do ceramics and sewing. 

For my business, I use as many repurposed materials as possible. I don’t use packing materials in deliveries, I use bins instead; and I return all the nursery pots to the farm be reused.

In the past, I was motorcycle mechanic, welder, antique restorer and a tenured professor at the CCSF Automotive/Motorcycle program. I loved working with students and did a lot of work in alternative education focused on sustainability, inclusion and building student success. I  also created workshops focused on empowering women. I have a MA in Environmental and Social Justice Education. I am very focused on social and environmental issues.