Barb Schmidt

Barb Schmidt has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. She worked as an Environmental Scientist for Pennsylvania Power & Light Company for 10 years; after which she ran her own environmental consulting firm that specialized in water quality permits, testing and data analysis for an additional 25 years. In 2004, Barb went back to school, received a teaching certificate in secondary science, and also began teaching at a local middle school. For the last 15 years, Barb has been...See more

Barb Schmidt has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. She worked as an Environmental Scientist for Pennsylvania Power & Light Company for 10 years; after which she ran her own environmental consulting firm that specialized in water quality permits, testing and data analysis for an additional 25 years. In 2004, Barb went back to school, received a teaching certificate in secondary science, and also began teaching at a local middle school. For the last 15 years, Barb has been raising orchids. She is the Vice-Chair of the American Orchid Society's (AOS) Education Committee and a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Her orchids have won a variety of awards, including first place ribbons at the Philadelphia International Flower Show, most recently in 2019. Writing has always been a hobby of Barb's; and she used her knowledge of orchids to publish her first book, Orchid Care: For the Beginner, in 2016. She is currently working on her second book, Orchid Care: For the Experienced Grower. Her book is currently on sale online and at several botanic gardens. In 2019, she became a regular contributor to Orchids magazine, publishing her first article, "Orchid Shows Are for Everyone" in the February 2019 edition (Vol. 88 No.2). Barb also maintains a website, www.basorchidcare.com, which provides orchid care information and hosts an orchid blog. She has been doing speaking tours and teaching orchid classes throughout the country. She is a regular instructor at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, Smithsonian Institution Associates Program, New York Botanical Gardens, and Cornell Botanic Gardens. See less