I’m thrilled to share that I completed the Pollinator Steward Certification (PSC) through Pollinator Partnership. It was a deep dive into pollinator biology, habitat design, and practical, Florida-friendly steps we can take right now in our own yards and community spaces.
What is the Pollinator Steward Certification?
The PSC is a structured training + action program. To earn certification, participants must:
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Complete a 7-part virtual course (live or recorded) and submit a short learning form, and
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Complete one habitat action and one outreach/education action, with brief proof forms submitted by the following year.
My path to certification
Training: Seven modules covering pollinator life cycles, habitat design, pesticide awareness, and community engagement.
My two actions: I completed the required habitat by planting a native pollinator bed alongside a client’s vegetable garden (blanketflower pictured below):
I also conducted a pollinator workshop via Zoom for my outreach step:
Want to earn your own badge? Start here: Pollinator Steward Certification(PSC).
Roughly three-quarters of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of global food crops rely on animal pollinators. That’s about one in three bites we eat.
Animal pollination underpins biodiversity and many of our favorite fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds — not to mention Florida’s wildflowers.
Start a Central Florida Pollinator Patch
You don’t need acres. A sunny 4×8 bed or a few large containers can make a difference. Use this checklist:
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Plant native first. Mix trees, shrubs, and perennials that bloom across seasons so nectar/pollen is available year-round. (Florida pollinators are active most of the year.)
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Match plant to place. Right plant, right light/soil/water; add a few larval host plants for butterflies (e.g., native passionvine, milkweeds, frogfruit).
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Go gentle on pesticides. Use only if necessary; apply in the evening, never on open blooms, and choose liquids over dusts.
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Layer habitat. Leave some bare ground/leaf litter for ground-nesting bees, provide twigs or dead wood for cavity nesters, and add a shallow water dish with stones.
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Reduce turf, add mulch. Convert a strip of lawn into flowers, use organic mulch to conserve moisture, and weed before planting to help natives establish.
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Think succession. Stagger bloom times; aim for something flowering every month (yes—even winter).
Central Florida plant ideas to get you started
Nectar workhorses: Coreopsis (tickseed), blanketflower, black-eyed Susan, native mints/oregano.
Shrubs/trees with value: Beautyberry, yaupon holly, Simpson’s stopper, Walter’s viburnum (mix sizes for structure).
My certificate
Let’s build pollinator-rich kitchen gardens
As a garden coach, I can help you plan beds that feed you and your local pollinators: native plant lists, bloom-by-season maps, and soil/mulch plans tailored to Central Florida.
Book a consult, reply with your questions, or start by sharing a photo of the sunny spot you want to transform.
Sources & further reading
Pollinator Partnership: Pollinator Steward Certification (PSC) (program details, stamp use). Pollinator.org
USDA: The Importance of Pollinators (one-in-three bites; 75% flowering plants; ~35% food crops). USDA
FAO: Global Action on Pollination (pollinator dependence of crop types). FAOHome
UF/IFAS: A Guide to Planting Wildflower Enhancements in Florida (year-round bloom guidance). Ask IFAS – Powered by EDIS
UF/IFAS: Pollination: Solutions for Your Life (pesticide timing and form). Solutions For Your Life
UF/IFAS: Celebrate Pollinators: Sample Plant List (host plants for Florida). What’s Happening Around Florida