About Cindy

Writer

As a freelance writer, Cindy uses her unique perspective on life and gardening to share experience, knowledge, and research with others who are new, wannabes or veteran gardeners.

Cindy writes a weekly column, ‘The Cracked Pot Gardener’ for the Williamson Herald of Franklin, TN where she reminds readers to “make gardening fun or it will become work!” She contributes articles for the Master Page, newsletter for the Williamson County Master Gardeners as well as writes feature stories for local papers and magazines. Cindy has published her first book, ‘The Cracked Pot Herb Book’ Simple ways to incorporate herbs into everyday life – available on this site.

Read some example articles:

Williamson County Master Gardener newsletter Master Gardener's Newsletter

Tennessee Gardener magazine www.tennesseegardener.com (click on feature stories)

Gardener and Designer:

Cindy works as a private gardener, consultant and garden designer for commercial and residential clients. Although she is experienced in most types of garden designs, she specializes in Herb and Kitchen gardens and is available to oversee garden projects.

‘An herb in every pot’ is her motto as she would like to see everyone add herbs and veggies to their garden (and containers). Cindy believes Herb and Kitchen gardens meet the needs of every gardener, food, flowers, medicine, beauty, aromatherapy and joy for the soul. Habitat for friendly bugs, microorganisms and critters are just some healthy by-products the garden and gardener benefit from. Cindy understands that most people these days have less time and space to garden so she designs simple, easy to maintain gardens that are beautiful, fun and practical.

Master Gardener

Cindy is the past President of the Williamson County Gardeners; an organization that serves over 200 members and the community. The mission of the Williamson County Master Gardeners Association, Inc. is two fold: volunteerism and education. WCMGA has several projects in the community and produces a lawn and garden show called the Bloom ‘n’ Garden Expo (a total volunteer effort) now in its third year. This is the only lawn and garden show in Williamson County and provides gardens to inspire, over 200 vendor booths to shop for “all things horticultural”, educational workshops, great horticultural speakers, and music. (After all this is Greater Nashville!) WCMGA realizes that education in very important especially for young children. Profits from the Bloom ‘n’ Garden show are invested back into the community in the form of horticulture and educational grants to historical sites, schools, and other worthy community projects. WCMGA understands that exposing children to gardening will grow gardeners for the future. If you would like more information go to www.wcmga.net/ click on grants.

Former owner of Hyssop Hill Herb Farm

Cindy and her family owned and operated Hyssop Hill Herb Farm in Franklin, TN. She grew and sold herbs and perennials, had a garden shop (The Cracked Pot Herb Shop), tearoom, and taught classes. Their three children all worked on the farm. Ron helped with the Administrative end of the business. After the children grew up and left for college, Hyssop Hill was sold to a battlefield preservation group, Save the Franklin Battlefield (STFB). The Shapton family felt it was important to save this property, as it is hallow ground. Many soldiers lost their lives at Hyssop Hill during the battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. It is now called “Collin’s Farm” and has been recently sold to the City of Franklin in hopes that it will become part of their civil war park.

Coyote Herb Farm

Before Hyssop Hill Herb Farm, The Shaptons owned and operated Coyote Herb Farm in Franklin, TN. This farm was the learning ground and where the children worked with mom growing and selling plants, building gardens, traveling to shows, teaching classes, making herbal remedies and where they formed their love for gardening. Of course dad was working as an engineer to help support the home business project. Coyote Herb Ranch also was an apple orchard that the family maintained so the children could pick and sell apples, press cider and learn about orchard care and organic solutions. The herb and apple business was part of the Shapton home-schooling concept. Cindy often says she raised her children in an “herb patch” with chickens, sheep, rabbits and other critters!.

Television

Cindy has had the opportunity to share gardening with many via the television on “Talk of the Town” , “Volunteer Gardener”, TSC garden panel on RFD, the Fox 17 early morning show and others.

Speaker

Cindy speaks to groups interested in herbs and gardening. She has lectured for Master Gardener Training classes and programs in several counties, The Bloom ‘n’ Garden Expo, The Nashville Lawn and Garden Show, The Herb Society of Nashville and Memphis, The Perennial Society, garden and herb clubs, Local nurseries, book clubs, schools, children camps, Habitat for Humanity and many others. Email Cindy for details on speaking at your event.

Current Speaking Schedule

TBA - Email Cindy for availability

Life

In her spare time Cindy likes to work in her own gardens, play banjo, ride motorcycles with husband Ron, travel and study all things gardening, take classes, go antiquing, and her favorite activity; playing with the grandchildren! Ron and Cindy are members and in community with Grace Chapel Church in Leipers Fork, TN