https://land8.com/members/heathersmith/activity/ Activity feed for Heather Smith. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:50:42 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v=6.0.0 en-US 30 hourly 2 7b64f80373fb48742891d9c4c342f1c2 http://land8.com/forums/topic/at-a-crossroads/#post-156269 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:52:14 +0000 But can you pay back your loans with the pay you will receive at entry level?

]]> 0 a26665e203a69ba761097a27ed1a8fa3 https://land8.com/forums/topic/visiting-nyc/#post-156249 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:49:08 +0000 Thank you so much! I will definitely add these items to my list. I have several of them, but hadn’t heard of a lot of them! I am super excited!

]]> 0 72b492d7737e3a20bedc8b7ddb538f44 http://land8.com/forums/topic/at-a-crossroads/#post-156273 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:26:02 +0000 I would branch out away from any degree that has you specializing in something that requires a kickin’ economy. That would definitely lead me away from Resort Planning…unless you plan on saving a lot of money when it is bustling! 🙂 Even Urban design…all of that is contingent on a healthy economy. I guess I would lean towards an MBA.
I would…[Read more]

]]> 0 5c59dfa689b544c3079777edd0c7097a https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/4/#post-156559 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:14:53 +0000 I see what you are trying to say now, Andrew. Yes, not ideally but pragmatically.
I agree with someone that posted that a lot of the green growth is in tightening up door leaks, insulation, new windows, etc. When I worked at the City of Moscow it was my job to measure the energy use, costs and carbon footprint. I actually found it very…[Read more]

]]> 0 3f9ca380699af9c22ff6227c08bfaa59 https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/4/#post-156563 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:36:20 +0000 I don’t see it as failing. And I disagree with the notion that the government shouldn’t invest in green energy. As with business, investing in new technologies is inherently risky. The government in general has been the one to pave the way when it comes to researching new ideas.
People are being hired, it has been slow growth but that was…[Read more]

]]> 0 baa6af8dac61b0bd1df4492670c8fbee https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/5/#post-156568 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:28:22 +0000 Just read an article on Homeland Security spending and how little of that money goes towards fighting terrorism. I found it frustrating to see the consensus that we shouldn’t expect the funding to be cut because of the political power it brings to the representatives of each state. Both democrats and republicans are guilty of this. I do think…[Read more]

]]> 0 d18435c8015189676254737e809a5480 https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/5/#post-156573 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:45:22 +0000 Thanks Rob…Super Pac spending is not even close…although Obama is picking up some. At one point Romney Super Pacs were raising money 7-1 and then 5-1…probably in no small part because democrats actually hated the Citizens United case. Obviously though, the rules have changed and a candidate could handicap themselves by not playing by the…[Read more]

]]> 0 772e2b58cb0bbd56f8f2ac19e9a67603 https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/5/#post-156576 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:19:21 +0000 I didn’t notice if anyone said a third centrist party was out of the question? I don’t see why we shouldn’t but I also don’t think it is a magic elixir. We are imperfect people…if you have three parties, four parties or 100 parties they will all be jockeying for money and influence. You can buy a lot of “speech” these days. The two parties do…[Read more]

]]> 0 76944292d1a6264fb8e132db69d28f6b http://land8.com/forums/topic/strange-question/#post-156686 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:44:04 +0000 We need to learn how to develop this in our staff…just finding hard, reliable workers is challenging enough. :/

]]> 0 5a0d1c86243af913e4b73c7b4f2d657f https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/6/#post-156580 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:18:40 +0000 I am sure many of us think that…and I know that many of the people that would be involved in making an actual difference don’t have time to post about it on Land 8 Lounge. The world has no shortage of people willing to sit back and point out what needs to happen, what we need are people who will go out to local government meetings and become…[Read more]

]]> 0 cabee5d435f0f0f03da786eba2ec717c https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/6/#post-156582 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:53:50 +0000 Because sharing our opinions on land 8 lounge will change the world? Oh boy.

]]> 0 a07a8a4383289d647ea19bae7523a6bd https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/6/#post-156583 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:18:41 +0000 I think a lot of the independents you see could be moderate republicans jumping ship. I was in fact a republican in 2000 and am now a registered independent that is decidedly more democratic leaning.

]]> 0 b2884bcd7a0f15be7f2892bec64c7f08 https://land8.com/forums/topic/in-case-of-emergency-what-if-this-tag-team-actually-wins/page/6/#post-156584 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:17:17 +0000 Working my best to be apolitical…I would say not much would change. If the wealthy get tax cuts…does that really increase their spending needs? Have they been holding back on spending? Not so much. And since I am not convinced that keep taxes low or reducing taxes on the wealthy creates more jobs for the middle class, again, not much change.…[Read more]

]]> 0 d8eb826f5282317e34d9a9b40ad527be https://land8.com/forums/topic/just-curious/#post-156436 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:04:42 +0000 I think what he is saying is more about pragmatism then idealism. Of course having the opportunity to work with multiple designers and feed off of each other is wonderful. But when we see post after post of people looking for work, do we finally come around to the assumption that those getting to do it are the ones doing it for themselves? No one…[Read more]

]]> 0 f21412ae52fcd53cd6d19cbee2108def https://land8.com/forums/topic/just-curious/#post-156437 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:02:01 +0000 You do both. Get your hands dirty and do the business work.

]]> 0 d19433f77570d9d00ab0927626b685e2 https://land8.com/forums/topic/client-wants-to-sue-over-weeds-in-plant-bed/#post-157188 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:44:00 +0000 That is written into our contract…if we have to sue them for fees they owe us, they pay lawyer fees as well.

]]> 0 2f40dc452b771b8372fed239a6b532a2 https://land8.com/forums/topic/client-wants-to-sue-over-weeds-in-plant-bed/#post-157194 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:33:58 +0000 I think you should ask him if he also wants to sue you for leaving so much dirt in the bed…and that pesky breeze that kicks up.

]]> 0 e09ab2ca0e3f1c829971d4470c54164f http://land8.com/forums/topic/a-rocky-balboa-recession/#post-157259 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:25:13 +0000 Yep. Raining today. Labor issues were a challenge at the beginning of the season. It is a lot of work, and we never feel like we know enough. We have some people that look for lawn/irrigation by low bid…but for a design if they have called us 85% of the time they want us. We are still working out whether to sub irrigation/seed…we have a few…[Read more]

]]> 0 54565f0a1e4073b43ac9dfb3022200dd https://land8.com/forums/topic/client-wants-to-sue-over-weeds-in-plant-bed/#post-157195 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:20:44 +0000 We had a guy threaten to sue us and picket our house because he took an auger out and punctured his own irrigation line. I kid you not. Insanity. He seemed to realize he was off his nut after leaving several crazy messages. We had a lawyer draw up a contract for us this year and we are ready for crazy. BRING IT ON! haha.

]]> 0 d40dc5a6c687256eca73f76b37954bb4 https://land8.com/forums/topic/anyone-know-what-the-job-market-is-like-for-an-mla-grad/#post-158132 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:13:28 +0000 We have more then one project! 🙂 Design/build.

]]> 0 8a63ede071279b3f874dc91b3349d69d https://land8.com/forums/topic/anyone-know-what-the-job-market-is-like-for-an-mla-grad/#post-158133 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:11:50 +0000 I have a classmate that just took a job in China!

]]> 0 367e9982ded512a02488be3c84f0f54c http://land8.com/forums/topic/a-rocky-balboa-recession/#post-157264 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:04:42 +0000 Yeah and in our neck of the woods they don’t even put out design/build bids. It is always separate. We already do a separate design contract from the build work, so there is no guarantee either way. A design/build firm could still put in a bid that could be compared…I think it is actually a lot more efficient to have the person designing oversee…[Read more]

]]> 0 f2adb7c3d1bc4b0df49c362c7c96cd96 http://land8.com/forums/topic/a-rocky-balboa-recession/#post-157268 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:47:26 +0000 Since we know a lot of design/build business is picking up while the larger design firms are languishing I think it points to the large decrease in public spending and the fact that many private individuals still have money, some of them a lot. In our little town we have very large firms from large cities competing for public projects they…[Read more]

]]> 0 ed949d735e2f769d0a4a92d372a4802d http://land8.com/forums/topic/la-job-market/#post-157220 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:42:02 +0000 Go Vandals!

]]> 0 6873a95bfcbce1c9e17fb0ced654bcf5 https://land8.com/forums/topic/social-media-impact-on-landscape-architects/#post-157442 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:57:09 +0000 I use facebook, we have a much underused blog and a website. We do get business through facebook recommendations and our website. We are the only design/build firm in our area that actually has images of their work online.
I post status’ regarding our projects on Facebook and also share quotes, designs we like, designs we don’t like, tips on…[Read more]

]]> 0 9985b7f8e264def7172bc92a7b792bee https://land8.com/forums/topic/quality-control-of-multiple-garden-landscape-installation-teams/page/2/#post-157425 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:49:13 +0000 I have heard a successful business person tell us not to do profit sharing…just some advice we had passed on to us. They said that anytime you hire a new person or buy a new piece of equipment the other employees see that as taking some of their money, because they don’t understand overhead, etc.

]]> 0 08f03361cd0f38f3c27b9b5a5604f423 https://land8.com/forums/topic/quality-control-of-multiple-garden-landscape-installation-teams/page/2/#post-157426 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:47:21 +0000 I agree with Jordan. If the work is completed correctly the first time and on time perhaps bonuses occasionally would be incentive enough. We thought of this…our business is MUCH smaller then yours we had hoped to have two crews but really have all four working on one project at this point. We are still learning how to manage multiple projects…[Read more]

]]> 0 d43b0ba6309d07a355680c34813c6b8a https://land8.com/forums/topic/alternative-career-paths/#post-157601 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:38:33 +0000 Wait a minute…I am a soccer mom, designer and occupier. haha. I protested then and I would again! The scourge you are imagining was a VERY small portion of protesters.

]]> 0 ab8aac61b042f3041e653cfb8656859d https://land8.com/forums/topic/alternative-career-paths/#post-157602 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:35:19 +0000 I think this is true…that design/build is doing better. I am still amazed that we have as much work as we do. Our area is busy for design/build work, we aren’t the only ones filling this need. We had our first larger commercial project and won a bid for WSU…on top of our residential designs. We have four full time employees right now and we…[Read more]

]]> 0 b6b28831e52a249e5791a8b868757ac0 https://land8.com/forums/topic/alternative-career-paths/#post-157603 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:31:17 +0000 Piet Oudolf. Just a plant designer, nurseryman and author…

]]> 0 d1701e27fc26e4eeac8a4a772636eaae https://land8.com/forums/topic/alternative-career-paths/#post-157604 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:29:50 +0000 hahaha…love.

]]> 0 f5c799f1107355e79c9c6e3a42bef95b https://land8.com/forums/topic/alternative-career-paths/#post-157605 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:26:34 +0000 Hey Aaron,
I haven’t read all of the responses so hopefully am not being redundant. Both my husband and I have BLA degrees from the University of Idaho, graduated in 2008 and 2009. First off…the depressing news. Neither of us got jobs BUT I didn’t apply. My youngest is just two years old, so the plan would have been for me to get a job at a firm…[Read more]

]]> 0 b7f87aad58ed7afcd333464b64488818 https://land8.com/forums/topic/somebody-really-needs-to-check-for-the-pulse/#post-157739 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:04:12 +0000 Yeah…I understand kind of wondering about the LEED focus. I guess recently I have just realized that I am going to dislike a lot of what others say about any given thing. Being an election year, perhaps I give articles such as this a bit of a gloss over. I can’t be outraged over everything! haha.

]]> 0 3d5bc2b7c7a7438a33508d28f80645f3 https://land8.com/forums/topic/somebody-really-needs-to-check-for-the-pulse/#post-157741 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:43:41 +0000 I guess I didn’t see it as being too optimistic…I do see it as a sales pitch for what landscape architects can do. Honestly, what should he say? haha. Yeah…we have a lot of unemployed landscape architects? I will read it again to see if I pick up the vibe you feel, but just remember people like winners. People want to be part of something…[Read more]

]]> 0 873a756551468909e6500dd5fa574ab1 https://land8.com/forums/topic/walking-in-america/#post-157836 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 03:04:06 +0000 http://www.ciclavia.org/
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/los-angeles-hosts-10-mile-long-block-party
This would have been so fun to experience.

]]> 0 f8d8a0fb54079324245fdf61e1edb00b https://land8.com/forums/topic/walking-in-america/#post-157837 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 03:04:03 +0000 Hope to see you walking Justin! My husband says he has met you through the student ASLA club.

]]> 0 a08a944023a6fa81152d832aa797a03a http://land8.com/forums/topic/should-i-major-in-landscape-architecture/page/2/#post-157883 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:59:42 +0000 …”its the end of the world as we know it…and I feel fiinnnneeeeee.”

]]> 0 c7745342b5d1c4881ab3dd7fc91411da https://land8.com/forums/topic/anyone-know-what-the-job-market-is-like-for-an-mla-grad/page/3/#post-158167 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:58:25 +0000 I agree…most have their masters. I believe only one of my profs had a doctorate and that was in GIS.

]]> 0 b9acf50d2e9a7f5532ebc4082bdf1881 https://land8.com/forums/topic/updating-the-mall-big-la-projects-competition-finalists/#post-157830 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:56:56 +0000 ASLA Magazine had an article on this either this month or last. The focus was on design competition during hard times and what that means for large and small firms. Pretty interesting.

]]> 0 40c062a27dac704ddfdf7ae9da7a9094 https://land8.com/forums/topic/walking-in-america/#post-157840 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:52:01 +0000 I find the health benefits that a good design can afford one of the most compelling things that attracted me to landscape architecture. I am drawn more to the practical benefits of good design…not so much design for design sake. I know there is a place for that as well…for art, just for the sake of art. I have always loved using well designed…[Read more]

]]> 0 3fb765eaab02ce3cb411860ead00a9a1 https://land8.com/forums/topic/should-i-major-in-landscape-architecture/page/3/#post-157907 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:18:12 +0000 I think it has to do with the depth of the recession and what economists forecast. There will not be a quick V shaped growth (rapid rise in employment) instead there will be fits and starts much like we see. We saw this during the Depression as well…we have a bit of a slog ahead of us, I think we are out of the worst of it, but since LA is…[Read more]

]]> 0 b6070120c0a3c7842fa24efa6d0477be https://land8.com/forums/topic/should-i-major-in-landscape-architecture/page/3/#post-157908 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:01:32 +0000 Architecture is worse off then LA. I know arch grads doing construction and that have had to work at Fred Meyers.
Some things that I think would be fun and require problem solving would be some of the scientific fields. There are things being researched like nanotechnology, developmental evolution, evolutionary biologists, genetics, etc…that…[Read more]

]]> 0 401ef8c893485003eadd7a9f4326c27a https://land8.com/forums/topic/walking-in-america/#post-157847 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:49:35 +0000 I know…I want to go out and take pictures of sidewalks and walkers now.

]]> 0 45a8f2b492702ef8b9e2cec9bc718cfb https://land8.com/forums/topic/should-the-asla-focus-on-employment-for-las/#post-157966 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:22:52 +0000 I worked for the City here…as the sustainability intern a few years and agree with the notion that the term “green” much like “sustainability” has negative connotations. Lets not forget that ANYONE can claim to be “green” or “sustainable”…much like we see the meaning of the term “organic” mean different things to someone interested in…[Read more]

]]> 0 8d5a5a72fe08820add8fde82e5b39229 https://land8.com/forums/topic/reasonable-percentage-mark-up-for-plant-material/#post-158035 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:15:22 +0000 These responses are all very helpful. Thanks.

]]> 0 2a0602ff96814c071ce4e29a35664699 http://land8.com/forums/topic/should-i-major-in-landscape-architecture/page/4/#post-157923 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:20:39 +0000 I don’t think it will be useless…but many of the government cut backs directly affect us. LA is often seen as the icing and is the first to go. I am not sure anyone in my studio has a job in LA that hasn’t left the country, and I graduated in 2009.

]]> 0 d0b062a841860e6e18302404beec85e7 http://land8.com/forums/topic/should-i-major-in-landscape-architecture/page/4/#post-157924 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:18:13 +0000 I would pick another major. Check where you want to live for what health care jobs are available…there are nursing gluts. Also, law grads are struggling to find employment. I would look into science and medical fields…that is just me though. Of course you want to do something that makes you feel fulfilled as well…but if you are looking for a…[Read more]

]]> 0 f6db4081cd8d904824331b29875277ac https://land8.com/forums/topic/bad-font-decisions-yes-im-talking-to-you-papyrus-users/#post-162084 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:09:54 +0000 You’re funny. You can design the most beautiful landscape and if you don’t have competent, intelligent landscapers your work will come out looking like trash. Don’t denigrate those that do manual labor. It appears you believe that your choice of font is more important then a laborer knowing how to properly lay-out and execute drawn documents.…[Read more]

]]> 0 a2061a348e8082bf1e80fe741edd075d https://land8.com/forums/topic/bad-font-decisions-yes-im-talking-to-you-papyrus-users/#post-162092 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:57:19 +0000 I’m partial to hand graphics…specifically the type used to fill out checks to us. 🙂

]]> 0 f24362fd8b55b907dd0f899a2568c519 https://land8.com/forums/topic/bad-font-decisions-yes-im-talking-to-you-papyrus-users/#post-162093 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:55:24 +0000 Jon had a guy that responded to our employment ad completely in lower case letters. Maybe on his phone? It was weird.
As I typed this I wondered what I was messing up. haha.

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