Laura Matter has been a practicing horticulturist for the past 36 years, studied Landscape Horticulture at South Seattle Community College and has an Associate of Arts degree from Seattle Central Community College and a B.A. in Botany from the University of Washington. She has worked as a supervisor of an interior plant maintenance crew in downtown Seattle high-rise buildings. During 10 years with Seattle City Light, she worked with her crew to replace and reduce pesticide use at the utility. Under her guidance, a large electrical station was able to be registered as a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary with the State of WA after being enhanced with native plants, birdhouses, and using natural alternatives instead of pesticides. Laura ran her own landscape maintenance business for 14 years and currently provides landscape consultations, specializing in native plantings, wildlife habitat and edible gardens. She worked at Swanson’s Nursery in the information booth answering phone and in person gardening questions from customers. She was a block leader, committee head, site coordinator and a senior garden advisor at Picardo Farm P-Patch where she gardened for 20 years. Laura is currently the Natural Yard Care Program Director at Tilth Alliance and specializes in watershed health, pollinator gardening and integrated pest management education. In her own time Laura enjoys vintage movies, photography and more gardening.