Work by Project: Wild City

Wild City is envisioned as a collaborative community art project designed to redefine and strengthen the relationship between people and nature. Armed with local native seeds and seedlings, the National Wildlife Federation's "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" guidelines, and lists of un- or under-used neighborhood spaces provided by local residents, lead participants turn these spaces into miniature wildlife habitats.

Rather than using elaborate landscaping plans or complex structures, participants instead get creative with whatever is at hand or can be made quickly and inexpensively. Local residents are urged to join in each such transformation; no habitat development project shall take longer than a weekend, and no gardening, landscaping, or building experience is necessary.

When completed, each new habitat will be registered with the National Wildlife Federation and as "Bay Friendly" with the Alameda County Waste Management Authority. A small sign will be placed to note these facts. On completion of a "chain" of such habitats, a community celebration and walk will be held to recognize the effort. We hope this will not only beautify the urban landscape and make it more friendly to the critters who share the space with us, but will also bring together neighbors, unify communities, and take out of the mix and redefine some spaces which might otherwise have invited the kinds of activities that have a negative impact on communities generally.

Ideal participants include Girl Scout troops; senior centers; Churches, Synagogs and Mosques; neighborhood associations; local merchants; local schools (K through college); fire stations; after-school programs; Boys and Girls Clubs; PTAs; beat cops; artsits; stay-at-home moms or dads; or anyone who wants to work with others in their neighborhood to make a difference in their quality of life and bring people together.

Would you like to request a Wild City project in your neighborhood? Please contact me, and we'll get something going!

Also, if you'd like to help fund a larger Wild City pilot project, or if you have connections to a grant-making organization you’d like to refer the project to, please don't hesitate to get in touch.