Lisa Taranto
Lisa Taranto is an explorer of ecology and the dynamic elegance of nature and natural systems. She holds more than three decades of study, practice, curiosity, and adventures in ecology, art and design. Currently she is the Head of Horticulture at Menla Retreat Center, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Menla is nestled in 320 acres of diverse and secluded wild land. For six years she has been physically engaged with this remote valley, learning from its wide range of ecosystems--from the highly cultivated to the pure wild. She has initiated ecological restoration work, bringing the land back to a more balanced state, allowing the native seed bank to flourish, and planted hundreds of saplings. She has implemented highly designed and efficient systems, from plant propagation to exquisite gardens. She has guided and taught hundreds of guests and volunteers. As an artist, once upon a time, she was awarded a residency at the prestigious Anderson Ranch in Aspen, Colorado. She continues to creatively work with a variety of media, including the land. Strong of imagination, she works towards a world where all ecosystems are restored, and humanity lives in a kind and interdependent dance with nature, and individuals are connected to their places. Lisa has worked in the philanthropic, public, and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.Upcoming Programs by Lisa Taranto
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 2
May 28 - May 30, 2021
The Big Picture: What is Soil? And what is our relationship with it--the good, the bad, the wasteful? The Garden Topic: Understanding and improving garden soils. The Action: Hands on experience with starting a garden, observation skills. The Knowledge: A diversity of gardening and agriculture methods, bio-regional contexts and techniques. Join us for the second […]
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 3
Jun 18 - Jun 20, 2021
The Big Picture: What is the relationship between Ecology and Economics. What is Ecological Economics? The Garden Topic: How does a garden and your home economy create and contribute to a reciprocal economy? And, medicinal plants and flowers! The Action: Continuing to engage and work with the gardens and landscapes of Menla, from the wild […]
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 4
Jul 02 - Jul 04, 2021
The Big Picture: Water and Hydrological Cycles The Garden Topic: Smart water use in your gardens and homes The Action: Continuing to engage and work with the gardens and landscapes of Menla, from the wild to the highly cultivated, connecting to ourselves and capacity for quiet physical work. Flowers! What role do they play in […]
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 5
Aug 13 - Aug 15, 2021
The Big Picture: Cities and Suburbs The Garden Topic: How do gardens and the urban canopy contribute to bio-diversity, storm water management, clean air, cooling, and health in an urban environment? The Action: Continuing to engage and work with the gardens and landscapes of Menla, from the wild to the highly cultivated, connecting to ourselves […]
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 6
Sep 17 - Sep 19, 2021
The Big Picture: Forests & Grasslands, Biodiversity & Trophic Levels, Keystone Species The Garden Topic: Bird & Insect ID, Intergrated Pest Management The Action: Continuing to engage and work with the gardens and landscapes of Menla, from the wild to the highly cultivated, connecting to ourselves and capacity for quiet physical work. We will spend […]
Dirty Hands & Deep Ecology: Session 7
Oct 08 - Oct 10, 2021
The Big Picture: Eco-literacy, Biomimicry The Garden Topic: Putting a garden to sleep, seed saving, thinking about spring The Action: Continuing to engage and work with the gardens and landscapes of Menla, from the wild to the highly cultivated, connecting to ourselves and capacity for quiet physical work. End of the season tool care, repair […]
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