With Global Growers Network

By The Circular Farm

In the spring of 2024, I had the opportunity to partner with Global Growers Network in Decatur, Georgia, on a land conservation project close to my heart: building a pollinator garden that regenerates the soil, supports biodiversity, and strengthens the resilience of local food systems.

🐝 Why a Pollinator Garden?

Pollinators—bees, butterflies, beetles—are vital to healthy ecosystems and abundant harvests. With declining pollinator populations due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate disruption, creating dedicated spaces for these species is more important than ever. At the Global Growers site, surrounded by community farm plots tended by refugee and immigrant growers, the pollinator garden serves as a keystone element of regenerative land stewardship.

📸 Photo Highlights:

A Garden with Purpose

The layout was designed for both function and flow: promoting healthy soil, easy maintenance, and high pollinator traffic.

From the beginning, we focused on native, nectar-rich plants that bloom across the growing season—offering consistent support to bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. These species were selected not only for their beauty but for their ecological function: improving soil health, increasing water retention, and creating a pollination corridor to support neighboring farm plots.

More than a garden, this project represents a commitment to long-term stewardship of the land. It’s a place where community, ecology, and regenerative agriculture intersect.

🌱 What We Planted

The plant selection focused on native, pollinator-friendly species that bloom across the seasons:

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)
Bee balm (Monarda spp.)

These species feed pollinators, enrich the soil, and support a living landscape.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

This garden isn’t just about flowers—it’s about climate resilience, community collaboration, and investing in the long-term health of our food system. At The Circular Farm, we believe regeneration happens on all levels: from microbes in the soil to networks of growers and neighbors coming together to care for shared land.