The Team
Cory Ritterbusch
A longtime passionate supporter of native plants, ecological restoration, vernacular design, and local history.
Cory Ritterbusch has been in the conservation industry for thirty years, following a short corporate career. His connection to conservation in the Driftless Area began in 1998 in JoDaviess County. He began offering prairie services as a hobby in 1999 and began working as an ecologist in Chicagoland in 2002, working on projects around the Midwest. In 2005, he moved to his beloved Driftless Area to start offering services to the southern Driftless Area with a focus on the former Lead Region.
Cory has been contracted to work on hundreds of projects, including landscape design, botanical surveys, prairie installations, savanna and oak woodland restoration, forestry, burial mound restoration, bio-engineered erosion control, and has led over 500 prescribed fires. Other sidelines include: archaeology, cemetery restoration, archival work, historic research, photography, historic preservation, writing, and community development.
Cory has been a popular writer and public speaker. He has taught classes for the University of Illinois Master Naturalist Programs and at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. In 2011, he published the book H.S. Pepoon: Pioneer Conservationist of Northwest Illinois. He has given over 80 professional presentations, and over 50 articles have been published.
Cory has been on numerous boards and committees that align with his core values. His efforts towards Land, History, and Community have been recognized in the media.
Full C.V. Available
Eric Wold
Eric Wold is the founder of Bare Root Natives, where design, ecology, and long-term stewardship come together to create meaningful landscapes. With decades of experience as a graphic designer, illustrator, and university educator, Eric brings a trained design eye and systems-thinking approach to every project.
In 2018, Eric began transforming his own one-acre property into a native prairie ecosystem, redirecting his creative practice toward ecological landscape design. His work emphasizes regionally appropriate plant palettes, visual cohesion, and resilient ecosystems that support pollinators, wildlife, and people alike.
Eric collaborates with homeowners, commercial clients, and city government officials to evaluate and reimagine underutilized properties as vibrant, functional landscapes that serve residents and the broader community. Through in-depth consultation, site assessment, and facilitated group input sessions, he helps stakeholders clarify goals, align priorities, and develop realistic design concepts.
For larger-scale projects, Eric specializes in phased implementation strategies that make ambitious landscape transformations fiscally manageable. By coordinating collaborative partnerships and long-term planning, projects can evolve over time without sacrificing ecological integrity or design intent.
Working alongside ecological designer Cory Ritterbusch, whom Eric met through the University of Wisconsin–Platteville’s Ecological Restoration program, Bare Root Natives has completed projects across the tri-state area. Each landscape reflects a commitment to thoughtful design, environmental responsibility, and the belief that healthy ecosystems are essential to thriving communities.
Full C.V. Available
Prairie Works Core Values
Natural History - Uses historic maps and documents as a guide. Access to these documents through decades of research.
Botanical Accuracy - PW promotes the use of plants and materials native to the county they are placed in. Designs avoid cultivars and plants not native to the area.
Native Material - Encourages old-world style elements as to create timeless places, leaving little evidence of the date created.
Common Sense – Understands the goals and economics that challenge each project. Making priority planning an essential step.