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It starts with a seed
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The Wildflower Project was conceived in 2014 as an idea in a garden journal, penned by Matthew Wildenauer, then a senior studying horticulture at the University of Minnesota. It was a simple concept: plant flowers to beautify his urban neighborhood.
In 2015, Matt invited Ean Koerner and Mathew Peterson to join The Wildflower Project. Their experience in nonprofits helped form the mission of the organization and propelled TWP into its first partnerships with community gardens and local businesses. “We should so live and labor in our time that what came to us as seed may go to the next generations as blossom.” - Henry Ward Beecher |
Site 1, 2015. Railroad tracks in Saint Paul.
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Founders
Matt Wildenauer, Founder
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Ean Koerner, Co-Founder
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Matt Peterson, Co-Founder
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Guerrilla GardensThe Wildflower Project began as a grassroots effort to beautify our community. Often times, this meant finding spaces that no one maintained or otherwise cared for. Our three-man team would come in, clear the site, sow wildflower seed mixes, and walk away...
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You never know what might blossom
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The results of our "Guerrilla Gardens" we're mixed. Some were mowed down by the city, others couldn't out-compete the weeds. Nevertheless, it always felt amazing walking away from a guerrilla garden knowing that we left the space in better shape than we found it.
We encourage all our followers and friends to take action and plant flowers in your community - wherever you can. We advise getting permission from the property owner, but if none is available, take a chance and grow some plants. |
Guerrilla Garden Party
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Guerrilla Garden at Twin Cities Reptile Store
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Planting with a Purpose
On June 9, 2016, after more than a year of outreach and research, The Wildflower Project officially formalized as a nonprofit corporation in the state of Minnesota.
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Our early work required partnering with civic groups, nonprofits, public bodies, educational institutions, and commercial or industrial entities. We provided custom concepts for our partners that considered native plant species, soil quality, pollution tolerance, species supported and so on.
Over the next 12 months, TWP developed a four step approach to achieving its Mission of creating habitat: consultation, collaboration, installation & preservation. Through nonprofit grants, donations and event fundraising, TWP established 9 partnerships that ultimately led to seven new wildflower gardens and 5,472 square feet of restored pollinator habitat. Those partnerships included community gardens, rec-centers and city parks, a youth sports 501(c)(3), a neighborhood co-op and two local businesses. > Read Garden Journal Archive (2015-2018) |
Community project at Joy of the People
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In 2017, The Wildflower Project received two $1,000 grants, one from The Pollination Project and another from the Awesome Foundation, to help us purchase materials for our gardens. It was a huge boost to the cause, and inspired us to assemble a talented Board of Directors to help steer the growth of the organization. Our first major achievement together was hosting "The Wildflower Festival," a celebration of plants, pollinators and community at South St. Anthony Park in Saint Paul.
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The following year, in 2018, TWP partnered with Urban Growler Brewing Co. and hosted "Flores de Mayo." Many of our friends in the pollinator field joined us and helped us raise money to continue creating new habitat. Proceeds from the event funded our first gardening class through the city of Saint Paul's community education program. At the end of 2018, TWP's Board of Directors recommended the organization transition from a nonprofit to a public-benefit corporation to ensure the sustainability of the project.
In 2019, the pollinator party was again held at Urban Growler, but renamed, "Summer Buzz," and featured a special brew from Urban Growler and more than 30 local artisans and small businesses. Additionally, we continued expanding our community education program and hosted two more classes at Dunning Community Garden, transforming their adjacent turf boulevard into a beautiful strip of pollinator habitat. |
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Our Philosophy We Believe:
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2019 State of The Wildflower Project
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A lot has happened since this idea was first penned in 2014, many ups and a few downs, but we've grown from each opportunity and solidified our Mission. What started as a group of friends chatting about flowers turned into an organization that has made a tangible difference in its community, and identified where it can make the greatest, most sustainable impact: residential boulevard gardens, garden classes, and our awareness event, Summer Buzz.
In order to fulfill that mission, The Wildflower Project dissolved its nonprofit status and re-incorporated as The Wildflower Project, holding DBA status with Wilde North, LLC, owned and operated by Matt Wildenauer. We are pleased with how the far the project has come - five years in and we're starting to hit our stride - but there's a lot more work to do. Thankfully, 2020 and beyond looks promising with more gardens, more classes, more events, and hopefully, more pollinators. ~ Mr. E |
Cheers from T-Dub!
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