Eliza Lawdley founded Panther Creek Forest Farm in 2014 and has a passion for farming, agricultural design, and education. Eliza has a Master’s degree from North Carolina State University in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, with a focus on agroforestry. Eliza also has a graduate certificate from North Carolina State University in Disaster Resilient Policy, Engineering, and Design with a focus on the effects of climate change on agriculture. Eliza was the North Carolina State University’s graduate recipient of the 2021 Olmsted Scholar Award, which denotes distinguished student leadership in landscape architecture by the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF). Eliza is also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) as a trained Outdoor Educator. She has worked for many years as a farm/outdoor educator for Durham Public Schools, Bee Downtown, Green River Preserve, Triangle Land Conservancy, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, and the DPS Hub Farm.

Eliza founded Panther Creek Forest Farm as a place to practice styles of farming that rebuild habitat, capture carbon, filter water and air, and build vibrant places for community. Eliza offers farm design consulting, educational opportunities, and guided experiences of the farm year round. Eliza has also had the opportunity to work closely with consulting forester Mark Shepard to study Keyline water management and agroforestry since 2015. Eliza has a particular interest in the oak savanna biome here in the piedmont region of North Carolina.

When she is not working on the farm, Eliza oversees Agricultural Operations for Bee Downtown. Her favorite past times include swimming in the Eno River, camping, cooking and hanging outside with friends and family.

Clay Bordley

Clay Bordley is our very own “Johnny Appleseed” and keeps the farm running year round! Clay’s favorite things on the farm include planting trees, feeding goats, mowing grass, collecting acorns, and various carpentry projects.

In this spare time, Clay advocates for more trees to be planted in Durham, especially in communities lacking urban canopy. He actively partners with Keep Durham Beautiful (KDB) and Leaf & Limb’s Project Pando to collect native seed, raise young trees and give them back to the community. If you visit Panther Creek Forest Farm for a workshop or tour, you are bound to meet Clay and his dog Raydo!

Clay’s off farm job is working as a pediatrician in the Duke Pediatric Emergency Department. PCF provide him the balance he needs to do this often challenging work. Medical students hound him to come to the farm! They created what has become a semiannual tradition, the Big Dig. Volunteers of all stripes help pot up the newest batch of seedlings in preparation for finding them new homes!

Clay also happens to be Eliza’s dad and the two work side by side. Since 2014, Clay has been working tirelessly on making Panther Creek Forest Farm what it is today! When he is not busy farming, Clay’s past times include playing soccer, fly fishing, and hiking the Mountains to Sea Tail. He would love to be in touch with you if you have a passion for trees and helping out on the land!