How to Create a Pollinator Sanctuary in Your Own Backyard

How to Create a Pollinator Sanctuary in Your Own Backyard

From Food for Thought with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

March 27, 2026 · 1h 8m

About this episode

This episode discusses how to create a pollinator sanctuary in your backyard to support declining pollinator populations.

Pollinators are in serious decline—from monarch butterflies to native bees—and the consequences are profound, and in today’s episode, we talk about how you can help—starting right where you are. Specifically, how to create a pollinator sanctuary in your own backyard. Unlike so many global challenges, this is something we can actually impact—right in our own yards, balconies, and communities. In this episode, we talk about: * why pollinators are essential to our food system and ecosystems * the difference between native, non-native, and invasive plants * why some plants support entire ecosystems—and others don’t * how to think about your yard as habitat, not decoration * where to start when it all feels overwhelming * how to make changes gradually (without ripping everything out at once) * the role of keystone or “powerhouse” plants 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Food for Thought , celebrating 20 years of practical inspiration for living compassionately, sustainably, and healthfully. This podcast is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 2027 Trips In the episode, I also mentioned our 2027 trips , none of which…

People in this episode

Host: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Topics covered

  • pollinators
  • backyard gardening
  • ecosystems
  • sustainability
  • habitat creation

Keywords

  • pollinators
  • monarch butterflies
  • native bees
  • habitat
  • sustainable gardening
  • keystone plants
  • ecosystem support

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Food for Thought

Places: Provence, France, Cambodia, Japan

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