We should be proud of the fact that we started the natural-landscaping movement.
The WILD Center is an asset in more ways than one. There is a financial aspect – almost $1 million in grants and donations. And it serves as a headquarters for promoting and showcasing landscaping with native plants. Also, there is a citizen-science aspect where people can participate in studies of wildlife, water quality, and PCB sediments. And, with all this, there is an educational aspect for growing natural landscaping the right way.
So why is a Wild Ones learning center important?
The WILD Center gives Wild Ones the same credibility and sense of purpose in the eyes of the outside world as other larger and more established organizations have. It lets us compete on a more even playing field. Past Wild Ones Presidents Bret Rappaport, Joe Powelka, Carol Andrews, and Tim Lewis all agreed that the WILD Center shows that our message is so important that we committed almost $1 million dollars for a place to showcase our mission.
A place to grow
For ten years or so, the Wild Ones organization operated out of Donna VanBuecken’s dining room, basement, and garage – with an anonymous post office box as our mailing address. This setup, while very generous on Donna’s part, did not represent us very well to potential members and granting agencies.
Consider that the New England Wildflower Society has the Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has extensive grounds in Austin, Texas. And the National Wildlife Federation, the National Garden Clubs, and the American Horticultural Society all have demonstration gardens at their headquarters. The National Geographic Society, the Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy have international centers.
And Wild Ones has the WILD Center – a place to grow – necessary because such a “brick and mortar” arrangement lends substance and credibility to an organization.
It demonstrates to a donor that we are not going to fold up our tents and disappear into the night. It lets us compete for attention and grants on a more even playing field and gives Wild Ones space to educate and to create demonstration gardens that reflect our mission.
It tells donors and granting agencies that our message is so important that we have committed a significant amount of effort and money to create a place to showcase our mission.
The current situation with the Wild Center is heartbreaking for all of us. In future posts, I will tell you about the adventure of creating the WILD Center.
Read:
“A Rare Opportunity” (Wild Ones Journal, Mar/Apr 2006, page 2) by Joe Powelka.
“Dropping Our Tools on the Way to the New HQ” (Wild Ones Journal, May/Jun 2006, page 1 and 3) by Joe Powelka and Bret Rappaport.
“Grow Wild Ones: How We’re Doing It” (Wild Ones Journal, Jan/Feb 2011, page 12-13) by Carol Andrews.
“Celebrate 35 Years and Future” (Wild Ones Journal, Mar/Apr 2014, page 2) by Tim Lewis.
A very nice and well stated article Donna! You raised some important points I may have have not quite focused on over the years.
You’re welcome, Roger — Donna
Good for you, Donna. We should not give up what was so time & money consuming to establish. Your examples of other garden related organizations are very important.
The American Horticultural Society’s River Farm is another one, Lucy — Donna
The years I worked for Donna at her home and the Wild Center were very enjoyable. I loved walking the grounds and seeing the seasonal changes.
Working for the annual conference introduced me to many members from many states .
I hope Wild Ones and the Wild Center will continue to grow and educate new members.
Thank you, Joan — Donna