Heather Smith

Looks like pondless water features I’ve installed.  Very simple.  I just dig a basin, lay liner down, place a pump in a permeable reservior, and fill with gravel.  To increase volume, place structural objects like cinder blocks or drain tile in with the gravel.
 
A couple questions:  How will you keep fines out of your reservoir?  And how will…[Read more]

I do agree with this though. If you can keep yourself from freaking out in the slow times. 🙂 My husband definitely makes way more then he would working for someone else…at least last year.

Hhmmm…I thought the most telling statement indicating that you don’t know how bad it really is out there was your statement about “small potatoes” and larger firms not batting their eye at it. Uh…they most certainly are going for these potatoes here! My dh pulled together a team to put a proposal in on a project in rural Idaho that is not that…[Read more]

That sounds really tough. On one hand it sounds like they are being shiesters…on the other hand it could be that they are just getting the ball rolling and need this new person to really bring in some real earnings that can be used to lift everyone. Unfortunately they have left you all in the dark…and that makes room for disgruntled workers. I…[Read more]

That is fantastic! Congratulations! 🙂

Phil,
I am fine with designing gardens…at this point whatever pays the bills. And if it is your passion go for it! But I am wondering if you know what landscape architects do? I am truly not being snarky, maybe I missed another post somewhere…but I just wanted to verify that you know what landscape architecture programs cover. Most of it is…[Read more]

This is good news! I wish you a lot of luck and hope you land one of the jobs.

Super cute website! I commend anyone for stepping out of the box and making new connections.Just because I know how to use InDesign doesn’t make me a graphic designer any more then a person that takes a plants class is a landscape architect. So not sure what the knickers in a bunch crowd is so worked up about. I appreciated what you had to say…[Read more]

Officially no. I guess I tend to think more of an interdisciplinary group of people working together to win larger projects.
One part of the true co-op idea that does appeal to me is the idea of mentor ship and help. I know Mark Hoverstein (hope I didn’t butcher his name) the head of the College of Art and Architecture at UI spoke about what his…[Read more]

For newbies like us I think a coop offers the chance to bid on projects we wouldn’t have the chops to get on our own. It also gives the team the chance to go up against the big guys. Personally for us, the chance to even write proposals and bids is an experience a new landscape architect can’t get on their own. Wait…I should say write correctly.…[Read more]

My first reaction was…you found jobs to apply for? 😉

I think you bring up a good point.  Aside from learning the “basics’  students are now required to learn all the new digital modeling techniques.  The bling.
 
When I was in school, I saw many students who were distracted by all the bells and whistles of digital modeling and as a result had very poor design process and outcomes.
 
You cant poli…[Read more]

I graduated in 2008 and aside from my design business, I work as an instructional assistant for the University of Idaho’s College of Art and Architecture.  That is to say, I run the tech. shop (wood shop) evenings and weekends.
 
What I see today is what I experienced as a design student and as an English teacher (long ago). 
 
Simply put, wha…[Read more]

Heather…
 
You’re a big dork.

Just for the record I am typing the correct word! Just realized the site thinks the middle part of the phrase is a bad word. 🙂

John Smith,
Did you go to UI?

I was just doing a search…general…and then poke around on Indeed…etc. Actually didn’t even go to ASLA! haha

Wanted to add… I have no idea how this “magna+!@#$laude” came out like that…haha. I just noticed that and thought…, “Wow, Heather simmer down!”. I meant magna cum laude.

Thanks Tanya,
 
I totally get you with the “ours”  degree. I woke up this morning and thought…EE sounds interesting…for me. haha. That said, math is really challenging for me…but I am tempted to enroll for a calculus class just to see if I have the chops for it. 🙂 I too wonder about my own gap…ahhhhh!!!! We will definitely look into the t…[Read more]

Thanks for your replies. We both have degrees from UI in Landscape Architecture…but Jon has his license and I take care of the kiddos.
Andrew, You are right…we have a very hard time feeling content because this isn’t how we planned on it working out. But you are right that it is a great community for kids and that is what has kept us here. I…[Read more]