Rebuilding on WordPress with PHP and Gutenberg
Once the modernization plan was approved, the project transitioned to our site builds team for execution. We recommended a full WordPress website rebuild using PHP and the native Gutenberg editor.
While it was technically possible to migrate the site to Timber’s Composer-based edition, that approach would have been fragile and labor-intensive due to widespread deprecations across functions, classes, and namespaces. By rebuilding with PHP and Gutenberg, we:
- Simplified development and maintenance
- Ensured long-term WordPress compatibility
- Enabled flexible, on-the-fly content creation using the native editor
- Reduced reliance on Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
This approach made it significantly easier for the Friends of the Earth team to manage dynamic content and maintain consistency across pages.
Improved Backend Workflows and User Experience
The rebuild focused on improving both backend workflows and user-facing functionality. Key enhancements included:
- A dynamic Cruise Report Card
- Faceted blog search for easier content discovery
- Streamlined issue templates and sidebars
- Flexible subsites to support diverse campaigns and initiatives
Each feature was thoughtfully designed to improve usability and navigation without compromising Friends of the Earth’s distinctive brand identity.
A Future-Ready Platform for Advocacy and Engagement
Today, Friends of the Earth operates on a modern, stable WordPress platform that is easier to manage, faster to update, and built for long-term growth. Content creation is more intuitive, backend workflows are cleaner, and the site fully supports ongoing advocacy, education, and engagement efforts.
The client expressed strong satisfaction with the results, noting how much smoother day-to-day operations have become and how empowered their team feels to use the website in service of their mission.
Strategic Collaboration, Lasting Results
By combining strategic planning from our retainer team with expert execution from our site builds team, this project demonstrates how thoughtful collaboration and technical modernization can solve immediate challenges while positioning an organization for long-term impact.
