Examples like this would make Pollinator Partnership’s training more translatable to home gardens.
UPDATE: I received this email from Pollinator Partnership:My apologies that the Pollinator Steward Certification program did not meet your expectations. We are always trying to improve our program and I appreciate your constructive feedback.” And offered to refund the $150 fee I’d paid for the training. Quite gracious of them.
Just over a year ago I wrote that “I’m getting pollinator steward-certified” and my quest for a science-based, effective pollinator nonprofit. I’d paid the $150 to take the Pollinator Stewardship Training program offered by the Pollinator Partnership.
Source: https://www.pollinator.org/psc
What I was looking for from the training:
- For my town, a science-based alternative to the Xerces Society’s Bee City program, which started and still promotes the thoroughly discredited “No-Mow April (or May)” campaign. A city council member, having received my post about it, asked me to find an alternative.
- For my local garden club, the possibility of becoming a Pollinator-Certified organization (which would require that two or more members be certified individually). I’d spoken with an outreach staffer at Pollinator Partnership about their plans for such a certification, and we were excited about being in on the ground floor.
- For writing and answering local requests for information, I was seeking a source of practical and science-based help for aspiring pollinator gardeners.
Well, here’s my report on the 7-mobile online training. To be certified, I’d need to fill out a short summary of the learning, which I did, and then complete and report on “one habitat creation action and one outreach or education action,” which I didn’t do.
What I liked in the training:
- General information about bees, butterflies, et cetera – well done and quite interesting.
- Mention of herbs and cover crops as examples of nonnative plants for pollinators, noting that they’ll benefit some but not all pollinators. E.g., lavender used by generalist foragers like bumblebees and honey bees. Some bred ornamental plants are excellent. “It’s okay to grow some plants purely for their beauty. Plant diversity and structure are important.” Aim for 3 types of plants that bloom in each of 3 seasons. (3×3 rule). Use ecoregions for picking plants.
- About the lasagna method of turf removal, the useful note that it can take three years for all the cardboard to break down.
- Noting that bee houses are trendy but can be harmful. Bare ground is good. Avoid mulch, or just use thin layer (2-3 inches) of organic mulch.
What I didn’t like in the training
- The module “Habitat Creation for Yards, and Balconies” covers only large projects created where there’s currently turfgrass, thus missing the opportunity to suggest creating and/or enlarging existing beds, borders, and islands, not to mention growing plants in pots, since the title included balconies. The instructions for “gardens, yards and balconies” somehow became quite daunting: site prep, followed by detailed instructions for sheet mulching, “lasagna gardening,” solarization, sod removal and tilling.” Nothing for small gardens or even, I’d say, DIYers.
- The list of “Plants that Attract Pollinators” in my region (Southeast Mixed Forest) excludes nonnatives. No herbs, salvias, caryopteris, et cetera – the plants that reliably support a long season of pollinators in our gardens.
- All the stormwater management benefits of plants are ascribed to natives only.
- Asserting the thoroughly debunked claim that native plants have longer roots. (Read the summary of debunking here.)
What I partially liked in the training
- This power point page has lots of good suggestions but I’m not sure how to interpret the term “non-invasive native plants,” since the federally mandated definition of “invasive” excludes natives and you rarely see them labeled as invasive, no matter how aggressive they may be. And we’re supposed to rid our gardens of all our other plants? How eco-friendly or pollinator-supporting would that be? Or economical or practical, for that matter.
- The instructions for planting are good but a video would be much more instructive than still images.
Deciding against Pollinator Partnership
My fellow garden-club member and I both reported these criticisms on our feedback forms, and there was no response. Certainly the staffer who recently emailed me suggesting I blog about their stewardship training had not read my feedback report.
One last complaint? Seeing a $20 charge to Pollinator Partnership on my Visa card recently, a charge I knew remembered nothing about. So I inquired and learned that when I initially joined their Bee-Friendly Gardening program the text did refer to a recurring fee that I’d be paying automatically until I cancelled, which I can hardly believe I agreed to! I have enough trouble keeping track of all my streaming services. My bad, I guess. (They did refund the $20 when asked.)
But about the fund-raising practices used by the organization, I’ll note that promised benefits of $20/year membership include chances to give them more money – for a yard sign, “exclusive access to the BFG store where you can purchase hats, brochures, and more!” and “20% off Pollinator Partnership consulting services.”
On criticizing an environmental organizations
I know that criticism of any environmental group is upsetting to some folks – I’ve heard from several over the years. But how else can the educational content and outreach programs of well-meaning groups like this one ever improve, ever become really effective? Oh, I know – they could hire a garden writer or educator to help! Or, like the Penn State certification program mentioned below, involve Master Gardener leaders in the effort.
Sadly, Pollinator Partnership now joins the other pollinator-advocacy groups whose membership or certification programs I’ve researched and/or tried and rejected (like the Xerces Society’s Bee City program and Pollinator Pathways.)
Can we at least agree that knowledge of entomology doesn’t automatically convey knowledge of residential landscape design, of DIY gardening, or of how to incentivize people to take up pollinator gardening and then enable them to succeed at it? Instruction in pollinator gardening has to include gardening experts!
UPDATE: What I’d like to see nativism handled in pollinator garden education and certification
A lively discussion of this post ensued over on the 27K-member Garden Professors Blog Facebook group, including challenges to parts of it. So thanks to that large group of smart, knowledgeable people, I realize I need to say how I think the native/nonnative issue could best be handled.
So here’s my suggestion: focus on and require specialist-supporting plants, and then secondarily on generalist-supporting plants, no matter where they came from. Focusing on function, not provenance, makes sense and would, I think, reduce the divisiveness around this topic.
And of course much better instruction in creating or adding to residential gardens, especially small ones, with lots of photos of pollinator gardens. Ecogardeners want ideas!
A promising alternative – Penn State!
Still, I hope to find something better – more helpful, do-able, and based more in science than dogma, and I may have found it – the Pollinator Habitat Certification by Penn State (which charges a one-time $10 processing fee, by the way). I’ll have much more to say about it after visiting the campus this summer and talking to the savvy folks who dreamed up a very impressive program indeed.
But here are just two examples of what makes Penn State’s program so promising: the actions they require for certification are targeted to do the most good, and they even offer real garden photos, like the ones at the top of this post, for inspiration and design help. Unfortunately, it’s only available to residents of Pennsylvania, but maybe my state’s extension university will get on board. I’ll sure suggest they do!
What I’m looking for
The National Garden Club (garden club.org) has a nice Pollinator Certification Program. There’s no cost unless you want to purchase a sign to display in your yard once you become certified. It’s part of their “Plant America: Plant for Pollinators” program. The National Garden Club (NGC) does not “discriminate” against using non-native plants in garden design.
My local garden club belongs to the Garden Club Federation of PA and the NGC. While we encourage growing native plants, we also embrace the inclusion of attractive non-invasive, non-native plants in the garden. My garden is 60% native/ 40% non-native. Pollinators flock to my non-native herbs, alliums, lilacs, hydrangeas, etc.
Susan, I’ve reacted similarly to what seems to be an expanding list of non-profit pollinator support groups. I’m a frugal gardener who doesn’t need a sign to show the neighbors that pollinators live in my gardens. Fluttering butterflies seem sufficient evidence to me, and I’ve found that state extension services do an excellent job of helping people understand how to create sustainable suburban habitats. For example, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Master Gardeners work together to educate the community about Earth-Kind® Landscaping principles. Earth-Kind Landscaping guides home gardeners to consider both native and well-adapted non-native plants. If a homeowner wants to attract and support Monarchs or other specialist wildlife, they will naturally choose plants that support those specialists. No one should be castigated for enjoying non-native, non-aggressive plants, particularly when adapted plants that bloom in off times can be a boon for local wildlife. Kudos to Penn State and to all the extension services for all they do to support the public’s need for research-based gardening information!
Great research and reporting
the lasgna method of site preparation, is not supported by sound science – see the Garden Professor’s Blog for details about its impact.
Ooh, I will have to check this out, because I have always been so puzzled by videos and articles about it, since any newspaper/mulch attempts on my part lead to newspaper that never seems to break down.
Exhibit 1. There are other posts as well. https://gardenprofessors.com/is-lasagna-gardening-really-worth-the-effort/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIAjxVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfLCqj4kmmeOb1YDsu_S8I9qN2n3OnvC62oo-b2k6X7ChmHO0HNjGNFdXw_aem_1NtEMG3JIGWERzOYEmP1pQ
Another important issue which can be read by members of The Garden Professors blog. This one enough is a reason serious gardeners should join the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/GardenProfessors/posts/10161595144831490/
Their program doesn’t appear to mention that pesticides—particularly insecticides—are known to be harmful to bees and other insects. Neonicotiniods are particularly harmful to all insects. Some countries have banned neonics, but the US has dragged its feet.
On January 1, 2025, California’s new law banning the sale and use of neonics for horticultural purposes went into effect. Neonics in California can now only be purchased by licensed pesticide applicators and their use restricted to agriculture.
Evidence that many non-native flowering plants are used by pollinators abounds. Those who are unaware of that evidence are militantly dogmatic. The most diverse garden is consistently most useful to wildlife.
Thanks for attending this course and giving them feedback. Garden Rant is a public service.
Thanks! But to their credit, the training and resources online do mention the detrimental effects that pesticides have on pollinators, in several places. One of the elements I include in a list of “good suggestions” that included one I disagree with.
Susan, I really appreciate the time and effort you are putting into getting to the meat of this topic. Things are seldom what they seem, and it’s more important to make a real impact than one that makes us feel better. I’m excited for the potential of the Penn State Program. Fingers crossed it has real value.
“Function not provenance” seems to me exactly the right approach in the native/non-native issue.
Maybe MJV might have some good resources for pollinator training?
The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and academic programs working together to protect the monarch migration across the United States.
https://monarchjointventure.org/mjvprograms/education/public-classes-and-training
Thank you for this honest and thorough review of this program – how disappointing! Sounds like they didn’t have any experienced teachers/trainers to develop or present the material, a pet peeve of mine, since I have professional experience with both. In addition, it seems like the program would have benefited from a “fact-checker.” You, an experienced and passionate gardener, found less-than-helpful information there. Many years ago, I paid for and attended a well-known 40-hour training course on gardening, purportedly taught by experts, and requiring many hoops through which a participant needed to jump, including community service and reporting. I am purposely not naming the program, (lest I discourage someone who might find a better version of it) but I bet that you, your Garden Rant buddies, and most of the readers could guess what it is. This was a profound investment in disappointment for me, because I later learned that the material and speakers were not consistent, and that there were NO prerequisites of attendees! You could know nothing of gardening and sit alongside folks who had gardened since childhood and knew more than the instructors! Even now, when someone appears impressed that I received this “designation,” I say, “It sounds more important than it really is.” I have spent many an hour since, attempting to learn on my own.
I tell people the same thing, that the title just shows that I passed a take-home test and performed some kind of volunteer job through the program. I know people who took the training before having ever put a plant in the ground, and then got certified without ever having put a plant in the ground not to mention kept it alive.
Susan, I attended the program you describe, hoping it would give me some credentials in convincing my City representatives to get more engaged in pesticide prevention, instead of pesticide application. While some of the information presented was indeed useful, and presented by engaging teachers, other information was outright wrong, at least superficial or dogmatic. Unfortunately, I agree with you that the program appears to be more geared towards fundraising than encouraging people to garden in meaningful changes. Sadly, I will leave the program, too.
Thank you for this timely evaluation- I had been considering signing up, but was on the fence. I’ve been on their list for over a year, and haven’t found much useful information in their emails – they’re largely fundraising pitches.
Susan, this program could be of interest. I have read a number of good recommendations for it.
Ooops..Sorry, I forgot the link!
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/education/certificate-programs/
Susan, another brave post. It’s not popular to criticize environmental organizations, but they are not above constructive criticism – and this is very constructive.
If you are wishing to avoid native dogma around pollinator gardens, I fear you might be disappointed by Penn State as their ‘Blooms and Butterflies’ research trial of pollinator attracting plants did not include any non-natives. The MG in attendance when I visited didn’t seem to think it was necessary. (!) I used a pic of it in my Heretic post with the caption “what if you had a pollinator trial and non-natives weren’t invited?”
I have visited their site with your link, and although the hero shot of a hummingbird is feasting on a non-native Cuphea ignea, their listed pollinator plants separated by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and flies does not contain a single non-native. Quite frankly, it’s not a list that inspires. Whoops, did I say that out loud? 😉 Function over provenance may not be in attendance – please report as you go! – MW
Well, shit.
I love this comment, Marianne!
completely agree with the comment on pesticides. Xeres may not please everybody but they are dedicated to insects not lawns that look like carpet (read: sprayed with toxic chemicals). It always strikes me as foolish to plant
monarch stations all the while oblivious to how their habitats are being poisoned by agriculture. Susan you dont need some silly “certification” or anybody’s approval to be an organic flower gardner. Meantime, we need more articles about the far west which does have lots of insects including pollinators like bees, flies, moths.