Talking Rewilding with Joe Gardener
Millions of homeowners want to do more for nature, they just don't know where to begin.
That simple challenge became the focus of Wildr's (PLAN it WILD’s sister company) recent appearance on The Joe Gardener Show, where Wildr CEO Joanna Hall and VP of Partnerships & Programs Zoe Evans joined Joe Lamp'l to discuss how ecological gardening can become accessible to everyone. Drawing on years of experience through PLAN it WILD, the conversation explored how listening to homeowners inspired the creation of Wildr, a free platform designed to remove the guesswork from restoring biodiversity at home.
Built on the success of PLAN it WILD's Less Lawn, More Life campaign (which has now reached more than 10 million people) Wildr provides personalized guidance based on each user's location, ecoregion, and property. Homeowners receive a science-backed Wildr Score that measures the ecological health of their landscape, along with tailored recommendations for native plants, invasive species management, wildlife habitat features, and seasonal stewardship. The goal isn't to overwhelm people with information, it's to give them one clear next step.
One of the interview's central themes was that Wildr doesn't replace popular tools like iNaturalist or Seek, it complements them. Those platforms help people identify and observe nature, while Wildr helps them create more of it. By combining ecological science, local expertise, and practical recommendations, the app empowers homeowners to transform ordinary yards into thriving habitat while tracking the wildlife their landscapes can support.
The discussion also highlighted the growing community behind the movement. Through partnerships with organizations including Homegrown National Park, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Wild Ones, Wildr is helping connect homeowners with trusted science and local inspiration. As users improve their Wildr Score, they're becoming part of a nationwide effort to rebuild biodiversity, one property at a time.
Perhaps the most memorable takeaway came near the end of the conversation. As Joe Lamp'l observed, Wildr isn't trying to create another app people become addicted to, but to get people addicted to nature instead. It's a philosophy that perfectly reflects the shared mission of Wildr and PLAN it WILD: empowering more people to step outside, reconnect with the natural world, and discover that even the smallest actions can create extraordinary ecological impact.