Wild Ones, Gibson Woods Chapter Business Meetings are held via Zoom
on the first or second Wednesday evening of each month (unless otherwise noted).
Educational Presentations are at 10:00 a.m. the first Saturday of the Month
(unless otherwise noted).
Typically held at Gibson Woods Environmental Awareness Center
6201 Parrish Avenue, Hammond, IN 46323.
Phone 219-844-3188
PLEASE NOTE – Zoom registrations and In-Person R.S.V.Ps are required for all events
- Please check the calendar prior to an event for any changes/updates.
- All Presentations are FREE OF CHARGE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- Memberships are encouraged as they are vital to furthering Wild One’s Mission
Wild Ones Gibson Woods 25th Annual
Native Plant Sale
Saturday, May 3rd 2025
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lake Etta County Park
4801 W 29th Ave, Gary, IN
History, Wild Edibles, Medicinals and More!
with Ezekiel Flannery
Join us for a 90 minute interactive walking tour of Marquette Park.
We will meet in front of the Aquatorium.
Open to the Public
Saturday, June 7th 10:00-11:30 am
6918 Oak Ave, Gary IN
Northwest Indiana (Lake and Porter Counties) is one of the most densely biodiverse regions in the Eastern United States. The Indiana Dunes, including Marquette Park in Gary is a surviving part of a once enormous, amazingly diverse food forest full of medicinal plants. It was stewarded for time immemorial by sophisticated Native (American) tribes.
What does it mean to say that a culture has “sustainability” built in? We will explore how the contemporary concept of sustainability is built into many indigenous cultures. It is not an afterthought..How does this perspective allow us to understand Northwest Indiana better? And what about the indigenous cultures of Europe, such as the Irish. who lived sustainably in balance with their environment for thousands of years? What happened to them?
We will explore these questions and more during a walking tour as we appreciate the 8 unique ecosystems that make up Marquette Park. It is an area full of plants traditionally used for food, medicine, dyes, building materials, etc. Importantly, it is an area that has been designed and stewarded by indigenous cultures for thousands of years.
Ezekiel Flannery has a PhD in the sociology of food and nutrition focusing on indigenous cultures and ethnobotany–the study of how particular people from a region use locally available plants. He has conducted research in Mexico, Turkey, Nepal, in Ireland and the United States, right here in Northwest Indiana. He currently researches written and oral narratives that link food, plants, music, medicine and spirituality in indigenous Ireland. On the practical side, he enjoys stewarding a small garden of mostly native fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants and trees in Miller Beach, Indiana which he shares with friends and family.
June Board Meeting
Members Only – via Zoom
Wednesday, June 11th, 6:30- 8:00 p.m.
We will present the results of the Plant Sale and gather feedback for improvements for next year’s greenhouse and plant sale. Additionally, we will cover summer events and volunteer opportunities.
Please Register below. A link will be sent to you via Zoom.