Pollination as Regenerative Tool

In regenerative agriculture, pollinators serve as both indicator and instrument. Their presence signals ecological balance among soil, plant, and insect. But their impact is not only biological. Increasingly, pollinators are understood as agents of climate repair. Recent studies show that planting floral hedgerows on even 10% of farmland can triple pollinator species richness and measurably increase soil organic carbon. These floral borders—sometimes only a few meters wide—offer more than habitat; they actively draw carbon into the ground through root biomass and microbial activity.

(Left) Photo of Camilla Ruth Marcus's LA garden by Nicki Sebastian for Architectural Digest. (Right) Photo of Brooklyn rooftop garden from XS Space.

Pollination and Carbon Capture

Research from Germany's Carbon Farming Initiative has shown that perennial wildflower strips improved carbon sequestration within two years, with rates averaging up to 1.5 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent captured per hectare annually. Spread across just 1% of Germany's cropland, these perennial wildflower strips could sequester as much carbon as taking about 50,000 cars off the road each year. In the US, similar floral strips integrated into corn and soybean fields reduced soil erosion by 95%, improved nutrient retention, and supported native bee populations. The integration of such pollination-centric planting practices shifts the land from a net emitter to an impactful carbon sink and a key player in regeneration.

Planting at Any Scale

Planting for pollinators is not limited to large-scale agriculture, it can be adopted in the smallest of garden plots and even window boxes. Even marginal spaces—fence lines, drainage edges, and uncultivated margins in the garden—can hold regenerative value when planted with intention. Leaving herbs to flower and allowing edible greens to bolt can extend the season's bloom without extra planting. (See the below list for what to plant across flowering edibles, wildflowers, and trees.) The idea is to offer consistency: a strategy of continuous blooms that supports pollinators through the full arc of the growing season.

(Left) Photograph of The Newt in Somerset, England. (Right) Photograph of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly from Secret Los Angeles.

"The Butterfly Effect"

Supporting pollination, in the garden and in the field, isn't only a climate-forward act—it's a regenerative one in the truest sense. It regenerates the landscape, yes, but also our relationship with the food we eat and the systems that sustain it. By planting with pollinators in mind, we contribute to a cycle of reciprocity: more blooms mean more bees, more bees mean stronger crops, stronger crops mean richer soil, and richer soil pulls more carbon from the air. It's the true "butterfly effect" where the simple action of planting a manzanita or scattering wildflower seed not only feeds a bee or monarch, but sets in motion a chain of regeneration—reviving soil, capturing carbon, and repairing the ecological fabric beneath our feet.

What to Plant

Edible Plants (Flowering/Bolting)

Thyme

Basil

Oregano

Fennel

Mint

Cilantro

Arugula and Lettuces

Radish

Carrot

 

Flowers

California poppy

Yarrow

Lupine

Clarkia

Buckwheat

Milkweed

Bee Balm

Coneflower/Echinacea

Geranium

Goldenrod

Aster

Lavender

 

Trees/Shrubs/Grasses

Deergrass

California buckeye

Manzanita

Willow

Cherry

Elderberry

Dogwood

Sumac