On July 12th, 2026, Sage from Kindred Gardens visited the South Surrey Community Garden to chat with our garden members about pollinators. She shared different pollination methods, including wind pollination and insect pollination, which are crucial to a thriving ecosystem since 75-90% of plants require some form of pollination.

We need to treat insects in our garden as helpful neighbours rather than pests to get rid of. An example of this is the cabbage moth, which may devour our crops in their larval stage, but they can become excellent pollinators for our plants as adults.

Additionally, we should always try to attract native bee species instead of introducing managed species, such as honeybees. Although some managed species may help with pollinating local plants, they outcompete native bees, who are two to three times more effective at pollinating.

Aside from bees, we should provide an ample amount of produce and water to attract a variety of other pollinators, since they often want to stay close to their preferred food source (just like us).

We need to treat insects in our garden as helpful neighbours rather than pests to get rid of.

Some general garden tips and tricks:

1. Minimize raking leaves or turning soil since many insects create nests in these small spaces, which can be destroyed.
2. Having a water source near the garden, such as a pond or a small dog bowl, can attract more insect pollinators.
3. Place old stalks into tidy piles in the garden instead of discarding them into compost. Insects will often lay eggs in small crevices of stalks.
4. Use targeted shovels like a slim horihori knife to minimize turning over soil and disturbing beneficial insects.
5. Repeatedly hoeing the soil will break down its structure, losing its ability to retain water.
6. Place little logs in your garden to provide habitat for insects, which then provide food sources for birds, another beneficial pollinator.
7. Pay attention to bloom times, as some insects may rise early and will need a steady food supply for migration and reproduction.

Pay attention to bloom times, as some insects may rise early and will need a steady food supply for migration and reproduction.

Some tips on taking care of native bee species:

1. Most native bees are solitary and don’t have stingers. They usually nest on the ground or in cavities, so it is best to leave those nests alone and the land bare. On the other hand, honeybees live in colonies and use stingers to protect themselves.
2. We should try not to place mulch in spring, since most native bees emerge in April and some even in May. Mulch should be placed in fall so that it doesn’t block those bees from exiting their nests.
3. Alternatively, we can also build “bee hotels” for cavity-nesting bees, which is a fun craft project for the community.
4. Many native bees use spent plant stocks for nesting, as mentioned earlier, so we don’t always need to throw those out into the compost.

Most native bees are solitary and don’t have stingers. They usually nest on the ground or in cavities.

Some plants that Sage suggested adding to our garden include:

1. Knotting onion, which can be grown much like chives and produces attractive pink-purple flowers.
2. Goldenrod, an important late-season nectar source.
3. Yarrow, a beautiful white-flowering native plant with a long history of medicinal use, also attracts many pollinators
4. Milkweed, the essential host plant for monarch butterflies. Once considered a weed and widely removed in many areas, milkweed is now recognized as critical for monarch conservation.
5. Silverweed and gumweed, which support specialized native bee species
6. A variety of flowers, since they adapt their colours, shapes, and scents to attract different pollinators.
7. Vegetables, such as carrots and kale, which can attract beetles.

We’re very grateful to Sage from Kindred Gardens for sharing this knowledge. Follow them on social media @kindred.gardens and visit www.kindredgardens.ca to learn more.

Learn more about CGR’s South Surrey Community Garden: