Wild Ones River City Grand Rapids Chapter

Wild Ones River City Grand Rapids Chapter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization dedicated to promoting native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action. The chapter empowers Grand Rapids residents to create beautiful, low-maintenance gardens using native plants that provide essential food, shelter, and habitat for birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and other wildlife. By helping homeowners reduce invasive species, downsize lawns, and eliminate synthetic pesticides, the organization advances both local biodiversity and climate resilience. Wild Ones River City offers numerous ways for community members to engage, from attending educational programs and field trips to volunteering at the Native Plant Education Garden and participating in community outreach projects. The chapter has also contributed to national conservation efforts by developing the Grand Rapids Ecoregion Native Garden Design, a free resource that demonstrates how homeowners can incorporate native plant communities suited to local growing conditions while improving soil structure, retaining water, and reducing erosion.