Overwintering for Biodiversity with PLAN it WILD

“What we do when the plants and most animals are sleeping sets the stage for the life you’ll see next spring. Join PLAN it WILD’s ecological experts to learn how to care for your yard in the off-season: when to mow your meadow, why dead stalks matter, how leaving the leaves supports pollinators, and why winter is the perfect time to remove invasives. Maintaining your native garden through fall and winter is critical to sustaining and increasing biodiversity. Let us show you how!”

Teatown is honored to host PLAN it WILD, a local ecological design and landscaping team recently featured in The New York Times for their work helping homeowners transform lawns into thriving, biodiverse native habitats. Their hands-on, science-based approach to rewilding residential spaces complements Teatown’s mission to foster meaningful connections to the land and encourage thoughtful, responsible environmental stewardship. This workshop is a great opportunity to learn from experts working right here in our region and to connect with others interested in ecological gardening.

This workshop will be co-led by Bram Gunther and David Baker of PLANitWILD.

Bram Gunther

Bram is the former Chief of Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources for the NYC Parks Department. He is the co-founder and first president of the Natural Areas Conservancy, a nonprofit to benefit NYC’s natural areas. He’s now VP of Science and Development for PLANitWILD.

David Baker

As Co-Founder and Chief of Operations at PLANitWILD since 2020, I’m leading the rewilding movement through innovative landscape architecture and sustainable ecological design practices. My work has gained national recognition, including features on Good Morning America, the Today Show, and the New York Times for pioneering suburban rewilding initiatives. Under my leadership, PLANitWILD has incubated a biodiversity measuring system and successfully raised strategic funding, all while delivering transformative rewilding projects throughout Westchester County. My previous work with the Central Park Conservancy included managing the reconstruction of Ancient Playground, West 110th & 100th Street Playground, and the East Meadow Landscape Master Plan. My expertise spans operational excellence, strategic growth and management, and complete environmental design—from AutoCAD development to field implementation. I specialize in comprehensive project delivery, from engineering drawings and stormwater management to landscaping stewardship models and environmental solutions, all while advancing the critical mission of urban and suburban rewilding.