Wild Ones

Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes is a United States-based nonprofit organization focused on native plants, natural landscaping, habitat preservation, and biodiversity. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and combines public education, local chapter activity, advocacy, publications, grants, and practical gardening programs. Its central premise is that landscapes designed around regionally appropriate native plants can support wildlife, improve ecological resilience, reduce dependence on intensive maintenance, and help preserve natural communities. The organization traces its origins to 1977, when nine people formed Wild Ones after attending a lecture on natural landscaping by environmentalist Lorrie Otto at the Schlitz Audubon Center. Otto's ideas helped shape the group's emphasis on replacing conventional, highly managed landscapes with plantings that work with local ecological conditions. Rather than functioning as a commercial nursery or landscaping contractor, Wild Ones acts as a membership and education network for people interested in native-plant gardening and conservation. Wild Ones has developed through a chapter-based structure. Local chapters organize plant rescues, native-plant sales, garden tours, seed collection and exchanges, outdoor learning projects, and other activities that connect ecological education with hands-on stewardship. The organization also supports prospective local groups through a "seedling" chapter model. As of June 2024, it reported 91 chapters and 29 seedlings spread across 34 U.S. states, giving it a broad national presence while retaining a locally organized operating model. In 2008, grant support from the Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund enabled Wild Ones to establish the WILD Center, or Wild Ones Institute of Learning and Development, in Neenah, Wisconsin. The center became an institutional base for the organization's education and development activities. Wild Ones also publishes the quarterly Wild Ones Journal for dues-paying members and has produced educational materials such as its New Member Handbook for native landscaping. A major program is the Lorrie Otto Seeds For Education Grant Program. Known as SFE, it provides support for projects that purchase native seeds and plants and create outdoor learning centers for students from preschool through grade 12. Through this program and its local activities, Wild Ones extends native-plant education beyond private gardens into schools and youth learning environments. Wild Ones' positioning is educational, conservation-oriented, and community based. It addresses home gardeners, educators, families, local conservation advocates, and people seeking practical alternatives to conventional ornamental landscaping. Its activities do not appear to be centered on selling a proprietary product line; instead, the Wild Ones name represents a nonprofit knowledge network, a membership community, a publication platform, and a set of ecological landscaping programs. The organization remains active in the United States, with its work delivered through national resources and local chapters.

Wild Ones began in 1977 after nine people attended a natural landscaping lecture by Lorrie Otto at the Schlitz Audubon Center. The gathering provided the impetus for forming an organization devoted to landscapes that use native plants and work more closely with local ecological systems. From its beginning, Wild Ones treated natural landscaping as both a gardening practice and an environmental issue, linking individual yards and public spaces with broader concerns about habitat, biodiversity, and responsible land management. The organization developed as a nonprofit membership network rather than as a conventional commercial brand. Its activities have been carried out through local chapters, which provide a practical way to translate national educational goals into regional programs. Chapter activities have included plant rescues, native-plant sales, garden tours, seed gathering and exchanges, and outdoor learning projects. These activities allow members and the public to encounter native plants directly while building local knowledge about habitat restoration and ecological gardening. Wild Ones has also created educational resources for members and the wider public. Its quarterly Wild Ones Journal is distributed to dues-paying members, and its New Member Handbook has served as an introductory guide to native landscaping. The handbook had reached a fifth edition by 2010, while an earlier fourth edition from 2004 was archived by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These publications reflect the organization's role as an information provider and learning community rather than a seller of a branded range of physical goods. A significant institutional development occurred in 2008, when Wild Ones established a new headquarters in Neenah, Wisconsin. Grant assistance came from the Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. The headquarters was named the WILD Center, or Wild Ones Institute of Learning and Development, and provided a physical base for the organization's educational and organizational work. Wild Ones expanded its youth and school-oriented work through the Lorrie Otto Seeds For Education Grant Program. The program supports the purchase of native seeds and plants and the development of outdoor learning centers for students from preschool through grade 12. It extends the organization's principles from private and community gardens into educational settings, where students can learn about native species, habitat, and ecological stewardship through direct experience. By June 2024, Wild Ones reported 91 chapters and 29 prospective chapters, called seedlings, across 34 states in the United States. This structure indicates a national organization with decentralized local engagement. Its continuing work combines member communication, public education, chapter programming, grant support, and advocacy for environmentally sound landscaping practices. The available reference material does not identify a current chief executive, detailed leadership succession, revenue figures, or a separate commercial parent company. Wild Ones is best understood as an active U.S. environmental nonprofit whose brand represents a movement and educational network centered on native plants and natural landscapes.

• 2024

  National chapter network documented

  [1]Wild Ones (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  As of June 2024, Wild Ones reported 91 chapters and 29 prospective seedling chapters across 34 U.S. states.

• 2010

  New Member Handbook reaches fifth edition

  [1]Wild Ones (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  Wild Ones' New Member Handbook for native landscaping was reported to be in its fifth edition, reflecting the organization's continuing educational role.

• 2008

  WILD Center established in Neenah

  [1]Wild Ones (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  With assistance from regional natural-resource and stewardship grants, Wild Ones established its headquarters and educational center in Neenah, Wisconsin.

• 1977

  Organization founded

  [1]Wild Ones (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  Nine people established Wild Ones after attending a natural landscaping lecture by Lorrie Otto at the Schlitz Audubon Center.

A nonprofit native-plant and natural-landscaping organization that combines ecological education, local stewardship, biodiversity advocacy, and practical resources for gardeners, educators, and communities.

• Member publication

  Wild Ones Journal

  A quarterly publication for dues-paying Wild Ones members. The journal supports the organization's educational and community-building mission by sharing information related to native plants, natural landscaping, chapter activity, and ecological stewardship. It is a knowledge and membership offering rather than a conventional retail product.

• Educational publication

  New Member Handbook

  An introductory resource focused on native landscaping and the principles promoted by Wild Ones. The handbook has been revised through multiple editions and is intended to help members understand natural landscaping practices and participate in the organization's educational community.

• Environmental education grant

  Lorrie Otto Seeds For Education Grant Program

  A grant program that supports schools and youth-focused projects by helping fund native seeds, native plants, and outdoor learning centers. It serves students from preschool through grade 12 and applies Wild Ones' native-plant and habitat principles in educational environments.

• Community conservation program

  Local chapter programs

  Programs organized by Wild Ones chapters include plant rescues, plant sales, garden tours, seed gathering and exchanges, and outdoor learning activities. Their format varies by locality, enabling chapters to address regional native flora and conservation needs while contributing to the organization's broader educational mission.

1. 1Wild Ones (organization)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapeswildones.org