Liz Luc Clowes

Engagement & Construction Director

liz@bostonfoodforest.org

Liz joins Boston Food Forest Coalition with a strong background in landscape design and community engagement. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and is one of 10 recipients for ASLA’s Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program recipients for 2023-2025.

Liz’s role with BFFC is to support neighbors in acquiring land and building new food forests in their communities. She does this by listening to community member goals, working through City processes, attending and guiding community meetings throughout the design process, and managing the construction of each new project.

Liz is trained as a landscape architect and has been engaged in various roles related to sustainable design for two decades. During this time she has served in a variety of roles across the field: Sustainable Agriculture Director at a youth development agency; designer and project manager at landscape design and build firms; Conservation Commissioner focused on open space; residential designer; Board Chair of Speak for the Trees, a non-profit working to expand Boston’s canopy; climate committee organizer of landscape architects; and as a small business owner with MWBE status (Minority and Women owned Business Enterprise). Liz also serves on the Climate Action Committee of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects.

Three years ago, Liz designed Boston’s first microforest at Codman Academy Charter School in Dorchester. This experience led her to work on additional projects in Boston — including several with the Boston Food Forest Coalition. She remains dedicated to working with her community to build resilient, regenerative landscapes.

Liz believes that the climate is changing rapidly and that we need to build a sustainable future in all neighborhoods. Although she grew up in Somerville, she has the same background as many of the residents she works with in Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury. She understands the joys and challenges of people like her and those who share a similar immigrant upbringing.  Liz wants to make a difference by transforming outdoor spaces into community resources that bring shade, food, clean air, and joyful places to gather.

Outside of work, Liz is a mother of three interesting children.  One is in college, and two are in high school. They study science and art.  Raising them means she happily takes deep dives into robotics, science fairs, piano, and dance. Liz also loves to garden. At home, she has a couple of fruit trees, a few vegetable beds, and some interesting ornamental plants. Consequently, she reads gardening and sustainability books and websites to learn new techniques. She tries to keep things simple by taking walks in the woods, doing a little bit of sewing, and enjoying swims at the Y.