MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
CINDY SMITH, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Policy, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, George Mason University Partner at MowCow Lawn and Landscape
If
you paid too much attention to the prevailing attitudes toward lawns and lawn maintenance, you might assume that environmentalism is at odds with the interests of turfgrass industry. But one conversation with Cindy Smith may help you realize that the two actually go hand-in-hand. As a professional who is invested in both education (as a professor at GMU) and in the lawncare industry (as a partner at MowCow), Cindy has a unique perspective on how anyone can contribute to healthy, thriving ecosystems. From MowCow’s organic-based approach to inviting her students to more carefully observe their surroundings, Cindy is focused on public education and shifting perception about how we interact with our environment. In the lawncare sphere, defining terms is a simple but impactful tool that helps Cindy manage expectations and provide a better understanding of plants and their care. “So many homeowners want ‘chemical free’ lawns. Well, even the ‘natural’ products are chemicals. What they usually mean is lower input. And making that distinction is important,” Cindy says. “Others will tell me they want to add native landscapes. Ok, that means increased maintenance – are you okay with that? Or they want a pollinator patch, but no bees.” Initiating this conversation with homeowners is key to beginning the long trek to public awareness of best practices in lawn and landscape maintenance and the net benefit when it’s done right. When it comes to her students at George Mason University, sometimes the lesson is as simple as “Touch, See, Do.” Asking students to challenge their expectations and investigate their
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Cindy sheltering from the rain in her field office.
