Land Restoration
The Potawatomi Nation were the original inhabitants of this land and stewarded oak savannas, prairies and wetlands. At Wonderland you can still find old growth bur oaks but the understory has been taken by buckthorn and honeysuckle.
Our goal when stewarding the land is to restore the native ecosystem in a convivial conservation manner - introducing species that can provide food and shelter to our community, others and wildlife, as we restore the practice of communal stewarding.
Land Restoration Timeline
2021:
Cleared invasive shrubbery in the community area and opening up trails; brush was burnt
2022:
Cleared invasive shrubbery in the community area for gathering areas. Opened and widened up trails; brush was burnt
2023:
Planted 200 hundred native trees and shrubs including hazelnuts, elderberries, plums, persimmons, aronia and pawpaw. Spread hundreds of native flower seeds. Cleared invasive shrubbery; brush burnt
2024:
Built our first dead hedge to manage invasive brush.
Planted 350 hundred native trees and shrubs including white eastern pine, red oaks, chinkapin oaks, red dogwood, hickories, Washington hawthorn, hazelnuts, elderberries, plums, persimmons, aronia and pawpaw.
Spread hundreds of native flower seeds including milkweed, aster, joe-pye weed. Established tree nurseries at WCP and Chicago including 300 chestnuts