Cindy Whitt

The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals • May 24, 2023

Technology & Culture: Shaping the Future of Landscaping

The landscaping industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the integration of technology, a new approach to work culture and a move towards environmentally friendly practices. These changes are making a positive impact on businesses and generating engagement among the next generation.

North Carolina Field and Family • May 16, 2023

Small North Carolina Farms Flourish With Big Ideas

They say big things come in small packages, and small farms in North Carolina are making a big impact when it comes to providing fresh, local produce to their communities. The innovative growing methods at Piedmont Farmstead allow them to grow lettuce year-round in Gaston County. In the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Darnell Farms holds events to celebrate the bounties of farm life.

Synkd • March 31, 2023

3D Printing: The Future of Landscape Design

A team of researchers from the University of Virginia (UVA) discovered a way to create soil structures with the help of 3D printing. The technology currently uses cement-based materials to build houses, but Ehsan Baharlou, assistant professor of architecture at UVA, created wall prototypes using soil.

Mississippi Farm Country • February 15, 2023

Foresting the Future

Mississippi is home to 19.2 million acres of forestland with 77% of that land owned by private or nonindustrial landowners. Shugana Williams is part of that majority and the next generation of Mississippi forestry landowners.

The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals • January 20, 2023

Building Your Team: How to Avoid Blocks in the Recruitment Funnel

Nothing is more frustrating than having a potential employee disappear before recruitment begins. If interest drops between the application submission and the in-person interview, you should fine-tune your recruitment funnel. Uncovering why your potential hires “ghost” you before they even meet your hiring manager can save you time and help you hire the right people for the job.

Synkd • December 27, 2022

A Hollywood Haven in the South

Owner Adam Ardoin has a unique approach to the first call with a client. He asks how they want to use the space rather than what elements they want. He says understanding how they want the space to look and feel ensures the clients will end up with a place they will use.

Synkd • December 27, 2022

SWA Group Goes Over & Above to Integrate Maintenance Teams into the Development of An Urban Park

A project by SWA Group demonstrates how infrastructure can be designed to enhance the ecological value of a city and the lives of its inhabitants. The international landscape architecture firm led the transformation of a former brownfield site on flood-prone land into an urban park for a community in Conway, Arkansas.

Synkd Advertorial • December 27, 2022

Solutions We Love: An Eco-Friendly Herbicide That Works

Lonarch is an eco-friendly brush, weed and grass killer that is safer than other products on the market, according to Patrick Henry, chief operating officer of MonarchChem, the manufacturer of Lonarch. He recently spoke with Synkd about why he’s excited about this innovative product.

Synkd • November 28, 2022

The Gift of Gab

Nick Federoff likes to talk about landscaping and gardening, so he made it a career. After several years of working as a landscaper, he discovered a passion for public speaking when he filled in for a host on a gardening radio show in southern California. “I figured that was going to be my 15 minutes of fame, and I was going live on that forever,” he says. Nick’s 15 minutes of fame is still going strong after 36 years, and he is still as passionate about it as when he began.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Four Factors Driving the Gas-to-Electric Movement

The demand for electric landscaping equipment is continuing to grow. Several factors are driving growth in the market, according to Mark Linkletter, manager of business development, commercial products at AriensCo, the parent company of Gravely, an electric equipment manufacturer.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Chasing Waterfalls

Richard Smith is a hands-on designer. He plays an active role in both the design and installation of landscaping projects at his company Smith DesignScapes. With that kind of dedication and attention to detail, he can handle the most challenging jobs.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Project of a Lifetime

Malcolm Miller is no stranger to the Caribbean. As a landscape architect and designer based in Florida, he has frequently made the trek to the islands to install a project or oversee plant materials. In 2009, he had the opportunity to help transform a fishing island outpost in the Bahamas into a luxury tropical resort powered by wind and solar energy harnessed by three wind turbines and a 1.5-acre solar field.

Synkd • October 18, 2022

Soccer On The Roof

The kids at Prepa Tec Middle School in Huntington Park, California, can now take their soccer games to new heights. Located five miles from downtown Los Angeles, the school was designed in 2021 by Franco Architects with a specific goal—to add a synthetic turf playing surface on its roof because there was no room on the campus.

Synkd • October 5, 2022

Urban Gardening For The Next Generation

If anyone could be called a celebrity in the green industry, it would be Nick Cutsumpas. He has an Instagram following of 165,000 @FarmerNick and is one of the designers on the Netflix show “Instant Dream Home.” He is also the author of Plant Coach, a book that teaches people to care for their houseplants.

Synkd • September 1, 2022

Cultivating Culture & Business Growth at LandCare

Post-COVID, companies are scrambling to hire, and employees often have the upper hand because people want more than just a job. They want a career in a company that values its employees and offers advancement. Competitive pay and a benefits package help, too.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Farms Helping Families set to host Farm to Table dinner

Channing Perdue wants people to experience the taste of locally grown produce and farm fresh meat, so she hosts Farm to Table dinners twice a year at her family homestead.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Charity car show drives hope for cancer patients

Show off your ride and raise money for cancer patients at the Fight 4 Cure charity car show on Saturday, May 21 at Jordan Soccer Complex.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Sound the alarm for fire safety in Hope Mills

Local firefighters will be making the rounds in Hope Mills neighborhoods on Saturday, May 21, but not to fight fires. They want to teach residents about fire safety and the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their homes.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 4, 2022

Rock'n on the River concert series kicks off in May

Fayetteville’s summer concert series, Rock’n on the River, is back for the third year. The events will be held once a month on Fridays from May to October and feature a variety of performers, from local acts to tribute bands.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 4, 2022

Habitat for Humanity donation helps build a future for Fayetteville residents one home at a time

The Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity was recently awarded a $5 million grant from American author and philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. The grant is part of a $436 million donation to 83 U.S. Habitat affiliates, including eight in North Carolina.