Photo: Near Smiling Hogshead Ranch, Long Island City, Queens (not the High Line)

Born in the coastal Cajun town of Morgan City, Louisiana and raised in southern Mississippi, I forged a deep connection and love for the natural environment through childhood play. I had awesome opportunities as a child and young adult to travel both domestically and abroad. Throughout grade school I took summer trips to Los Angeles to visit my father. These trips instilled a love and curiosity for the urban environment that has blended with my country roots. In kindergarten I decided I wanted to be a "tree doctor" (horticulturist) and in high school I aspired to architecture. After discovering Landscape Architecture in my college course catalog I've moved ahead with confidence and passion.

Throughout high school and college I spent my summers toiling on the construction sites and in landscape nurseries. Graduating with a bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University in 2003, I completed internships with both of the licensed landscape architects in my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and relocated to Florida in January 2005 to kick-start my career. I worked at a couple respectable landscape architecture firms in Orlando and connected with an amazing group of professionals and grassroots environmentalist, foodies and urban farmers while I was there.

Recoiling from the economic downturn, I moved to New York City in early 2010 where I did construction management for Million Trees NYC then worked at a Brooklyn based design/build firm specializing in greenroofs. I am currently developing an urban farm called Smiling Hogshead Ranch in Long Island City, Queens. Visit my LinkedIn profile for an up to date list of my constantly evolving career.

I love my profession and aspire to be a thought leader and innovator in my field, especilly the intersection between landscape architecture, infrastructure, urbanism and food issues. I am a dedicated student of the city and it's rich urbanism, frequently attending talks, tours and workshops throughout NYC. I enjoy traveling to other great cities, getting together for drinks with friends and colleagues and leading an active urban lifestyle.... and of course writing entries into this public forum for others to learn about my experiences in this wonderful City.

Thank you for visiting my site. Please feel free to follow, connect or take a class with me.

Cheers,

Gil Lopez