Heather Smith

Because children don’t use playgrounds for what they are planned for. As a previous poster mentioned…children don’t simply use the equipment in the traditional sense. Go to a park and watch children play…often times you will see them playing with wood chips(which aren’t the main deal!)…throwing them in the air or at each other, sliding them…[Read more]

Hhmm…well I don’t think I sense a tone of superiority. Like I mentioned…we do design/build and my husband is licensed and enjoys what he does…we aren’t working on anything earth shattering here. I am not licensed and don’t feel like less of a person…I help with designing, we are a good team. Being licensed is simply another way to move his…[Read more]

I would say there was a time when people were able to get their foot into a profession without formal education…and I think in many ways this is a preferable route. Plus, a little easier on the pocket book. :/
We could look at Olmsted…was he licensed? But we consider him the father of landscape architecture. Up and coming lawyers also used to…[Read more]

Also, something else to consider with playgrounds and any sort of edging is that kids will tear it up. If you use the sort of edging that Andrew is talking about…it could be a disaster.

If it is what I think you are talking about Andrew…yes, it is hideous and everywhere here. Kind of like the black plastic people lay on slopes that have bark sliding off of it.

I think this sounds accurate and explains what you do.

Is the playground surrounded by grass? Sidewalk? I have kids…and am wracking my brain, I go to a lot of parks/playgrounds and don’t really think of using edging like you mention at all.
Oftentimes they will have the edge of the playground raised(wood/plastic)…you step up and over the playground…or down into the playground. I have seen cement…[Read more]

why don’t you make yourself a duke or princess?
Darn…you mean we can’t? haha.
This discussion isn’t about whether an unlicensed professional can be wonderful, talented, and creative. We do design/build there is nothing wrong with that…my husband is licensed and I am not…it doesn’t make me feel worse, nor does it make me feel I need to i…[Read more]

No worries Craig. I just wanted to throw another option out for other entry levels like us that haven’t been able to find work. I am sure that regionally there are big differences in regards to marketing, etc. Being in Northern Idaho…the market of So. Ca sounds amazing! haha. Well, that and the plant palate. haha. 🙂
I am sure you have great…[Read more]

Also, wanted to add that I totally  understand not wanting to get stuck! We have really fought against being “stuck” and it has been very frustrating. My husband graduated in ’08 and I did in ’09…we have been here for six years. NOT part of the plan. We are beginning to realize this is our home. I would take another look at So. Ca and perhaps…[Read more]

I don’t necessarily agree that design/build is impossible unless there is a high end market. The area we live in is nowhere what I would call high end…but we have done more then survive for a couple years in our college town. Yes, it is stressful…but for us…with a young family there is nothing more stressful then not having enough money to…[Read more]

I do think it is a good idea to reevaluate your time table. My husband took and passed all the tests…it is possible to pass more then one section at a time, especially the three multiple choice tests. He studied for all of them at the same time and passed all of them at once. Then he took the design and grading exam and passed one…then…[Read more]

it does…but the clock is ticking then…six years for our neighbor Washington State…if self employed and licensed elsewhere.

Move to Idaho! haha…you can take your test here without working under anyone.

I think you could make more money having your own landscaping business! Seriously! We live in a very small area and we do have competitors. We made more money last year then we would have working at a firm. In a recession. Perhaps you can use your connections at the nursery to capture a few small design/build projects. Your overhead is very…[Read more]

I let Martha have the last word for me…
“But Schwartz said that “the design school is a difficult place for woman designers to succeed.” Getting things done requires “force,” but “it’s damn unladylike to have an opinion to have an ego, it’s antithetical to get things done,” she said. “I’m a bit of a dancing bear.”
 

You know what bothers me the most about the responses in this post is that someone can post the blanket statement that all women are backstabbers. Literally. Typed that. Can you imagine if I typed something similar and sweeping about gay men, black men or Asian men? I wouldn’t. Because I am not that type of person…and I don’t make sweeping…[Read more]

I am really surprised at the anger that is directed at you BZ Girl. I didn’t realize that there was a competition for most discriminated against. 😉 I will say though that the worst thing you could be is a black female I think it is in regards to worker discrimination…maybe a black, lesbian female would REALLY take the cake. I am a little…[Read more]

Trace,
You were the one that used basketball as an example of being a team player.
I tried to use the B-word to describe how people like you view women that are assertive. Land 8 inserted all the little doo dads.I would say when you say women are back stabbers that you are saying they are b-words. Wouldn’t you? You certainly aren’t saying they are…[Read more]

I have to say that it is pretty ironic that my response is “aggressive”. What would yours be? I am speaking up for myself and other women. I get along well with other people and love working in a team environment. Forgive me if I don’t have time to go shoot hoops and neither does my husband. I hardly think that makes us less of team players.
The…[Read more]