Since its inception in 1977, Shane Smith has served as the director (and co-founder) of the Cheyenne Botanic Garden, Wyoming's only public botanic garden. It is a people-oriented, solar heated and powered project. Under his direction, the project has received recognition awards from Presidents Reagan, Bush (senior) and Clinton. The project also received the community hero award from Wyoming Governor Geringer. Smith has a degree in Horticultural Science and has attained Registration as a “Horticultural Therapist HT,” from the American Horticultural Therapy Association. He also served a year as a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies at Harvard University, where he both lectured and pursued studies in design, community issues, and leadership. Greenhouse Gardener's Companion is Smith's third published book. He currently produces a weekly garden-oriented radio program. Additionally, he has consulted and lectured on gardening, horticultural therapy, greenhouses, and community greening for over 28 years in 27 different states as well as Mexico, Venezuela and Canada.