Our Mission
Our primary goal is to provide habitat for all the wild things that have been historically displaced by human development. With a particular focus on pollinators and native plants, we aim to restore the land and promote a healthy environment that is conducive to life.
Public Community Access
The Wild Wonder Community Prairie Garden is open for public access. We encourage you to visit and bring your friends and family to immerse yourself in this little pocket of nature. Please be careful to not trample or step on the plants. The publicly accessible area is outlined in red below (the neighbor’s driveway is the start of private property~ please be respectful!). You will see signs on Bensch Street directing you to Wild Wonder Garden. If further wayfinding is needed: Wild Wonder Community Prairie Garden is in between 1225 Bensch Street and 1233 Bensch Street. The aerial photos below are from the Ingham County Equalization Map.
Mass Death: Sheet Mulching
The first step to restoring Wild Wonder Community Prairie was to kill all other plants inhabiting the land. This was a critical step that eliminated competition from invasive species. In order to effectively kill all existing vegetation, we needed to block all sunlight from reaching the ground. Sheet mulching is an effective process that does this and at the same time produces fertile soil that new plants can thrive in. First, we placed biodegradable cardboard over the vacant lot, directly on top of trimmed weeds and sod. Second, we put a layer of compost over the cardboard. Third, we spread a thick layer of mulch/wood chips over the compost. This process promotes decomposers like fungi, bacteria, and insects; they will work hard to break down organic matter and release nutrients into the soil. The sheet mulching process is slow and will take at least six months. At Wild Wonder Community Garden, we let the decomposers work their magic for nearly a year!
Site Preparation
After all the weeds and grasses died, we opened up the canopy by trimming overhead tree branches. It is important, especially for the first growing season, for these plants to have full sun. The branches were grinded into wood chips that we spread evenly throughout the lot. All remaining cardboard that didn’t decompose was removed. Herbicide was applied to weeds that made it through the purge.
Restoring the Prairie!
We purchased over 550 plant plugs (consisting of 14 different species) from Wildtype Native Plant Nursery and planted all plugs directly into the ground after making 550 holes using a drill and auger attachment. Throughout the summer, we carefully monitored plants and made sure they were well-watered. We treated fungal infections like mildew and killed parasitic invertebrates like red aphids. We made sure weeds did not regrow and controlled their populations by mechanical or chemical means. We then planted thousands of seeds during the Winter frost. Prairie seeds need to undergo cold stratification, which helps them prepare for germination in the upcoming growing season.
Humans in the Prairie
To support exploration and learning, we installed permanent informational plaques describing the process and importance of habitat restoration, and biological information about plant & animal communities. Other amenities and decorations include a Little Free Library, a Bench, a Peace Pole (from the United Nations) and so much more.
