Just outside the small town of Winters, Hedgerow Farms boasts some of California’s most striking flower fields – where golden lupines bloom brilliantly against a backdrop of rolling green hills. These blooms, however, aren’t destined for bouquets. For nearly 40 years, the Yolo County farm has specialized in growing native California grasses and wildflowers for restoration projects, pollinator habitat and sustainable agriculture initiatives across the state. We spoke with restoration ecologist Julia Michaels to learn more about the importance of native plants and how conservation and agriculture go hand in hand. 

Native plants and sustainable agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is a priority for California farms – and it encompasses so much more than just water conservation and solar panels. Small changes, like planting native hedgerows, can make a huge impact by increasing biodiversity and enriching soils – providing a natural alternative to pesticides and fertilizers. 

Julia elaborates, “Farms in California are increasingly concerned with sustainability. While not every farmer is going to grow native plants as their crop, having native plants around makes a huge difference in yields, pest control and fertilizer inputs. Some of the benefits that native plants can provide include soil building. These native grasses that have a root depth of up to 40 feet can store carbon in the soil. They can break up that clay that so many of our farmers are dealing with.

We also have many different types of native legumes that are amazing nitrogen fixers – more so than alfalfa or any of the other cover crops. Our native lupines can do an amazing job fixing nitrogen in the soil, and at our farm, have really reduced the amount of fertilizer we’ve had to use. On top of that, many of the same plants that host the pollinators we love also host the predators of pests that our farmers are concerned about. So, the same plant that is attracting a beautiful butterfly is also attracting a lacewing that may help reduce the amount of pest control that a farmer has to do.”

Pollinator hedgerows: Style and substance

Hedgerow Farms’ founder, John Anderson, was inspired by the British practice of planting neatly groomed hedgerows to delineate fields. Julia explains, “Our founder, who started this farm over 40 years ago, took that idea from the UK and thought, ‘What if we did that – but instead we let it be corridors of pollinator habitat and bird habitat that would allow our wildlife to move in between these larger parcels of land.’ So, we started Hedgerow Farms and we started planting these wildflowers, grasses and shrubs and trees in between our fields. It’s incredible how much wildlife we can attract, and the nearby farms benefit from the pollinators that we’re hosting here.”

Native grasses and wildflowers: The definition of California Grown

At Hedgerow Farms, a nursery team sources native plants from wild areas across the state and then cultivates wildflower and grass seeds for use in restoration projects. Julia explains, “I consider anything that’s taking land and turning it into native habitat a restoration project -from a very large dam removal project, like the Klamath Dam removal up in Northern California, all the way to just a backyard pollinator planting.” 

Hedgerow Farms seeds have been scattered across burn scars, eroded hillsides and abandoned farmland. The resulting native plants not only increase biodiversity, but they also help to stabilize the soil, decrease airborne dust pollution and reduce fire risk.

Partnering with farms + vineyards

The team at Hedgerow Farms also partners with smaller farms and vineyards across the state to help them learn to plant native hedgerows – in addition to their work with the state agencies on ecological restoration projects. Julia reflects, “It’s been really cool to see this idea of hedgerows take off across the county and beyond. When we first started this work, we were the only ones that had native hedgerows. Now, when you drive around this area, you see native hedgerows everywhere.” 

Rather than simply selling the seed, Hedgerow Farms assumes an advisory role in many of these projects. Julia explains, “We’re involved in helping farmers get those planted, helping provide guidance and then providing the seed as well.” Citing a few examples, she continues, “We actually have a lot of native cover crop mixes that we grow, and we help row-crop farmers plant them in between their rows. We work with almond farmers to help attract more bees through using native plants. We also work with vineyards that are really interested in both the benefit of having more pollinators, but also the aesthetic beauty to bring their tourism, you know, dollars to their vineyard by having the most beautiful wildflower rows possible.”

Educational events at Hedgerow Farms

Hedgerow Farms’ actual flower fields, while beautiful, are educational and aren’t just a means to an end. This educational tool is a way to highlight the importance of native plants and pollinators. Grinning, Julia admits, “Our fields are beautiful every year, and one of the cool things about growing seed is you have to wait for the flowers to be done blooming, right? While we don’t actually cut the flowers and sell them, we do use the blooming flowers as an opportunity to sell the importance of nature and restoration in California. So, we host many events where people can come and enjoy the blooming fields before all those flowers turn to seed.”

Social media posts are part of their educational strategy, and their stunning Instagram photos are a surefire way to “stop your scroll”. The farm also hosts in-person events, like Field Day, where restoration experts and home gardeners are invited to come out to the flower fields and chat with experts, enjoy a hayride or walking tour through the blooms, and learn more about California’s ecology. 

Open to educational events…but not photo shoots

Hedgerow Farms also hosts smaller events, like watercolor painting classes – but don’t contact them to ask if you can shoot your senior pics in the sunflowers. Julia states, “Everybody loves to frolick in a field of flowers, myself included, but that is the main rule for us – it has to have an educational edge. If you’re going to come to Hedgerow Farms, you’re going to walk away with the knowledge of California’s ecology. So, you will know the names of the flowers that you’re frolicking in. You will know why they’re important for our natural areas and what we’re doing here.” She flashes a long-suffering smile and continues, “We get questions all the time, ‘Can I come take my wedding, graduation, baby photos?’ And I completely understand – it’s so gorgeous, but we just can’t do that educational component when we’re taking photos.”

What grows at Hedgerow Farms?

Hedgerow Farms grows long-lived perennial plants and annuals that reseed and naturalize. A few of Julia’s favorites include California poppies, lupine, yarrow, woolly sunflower and purple aster. She quips, “I don’t know if people know this – but we actually have a state grass. It’s purple needle grass, and is a super popular plant for both restoration and gardeners.”

Go wild! Where to buy Hedgerow Farms’ native seeds…

Hedgerow Farms seed packets are stocked at several Sacramento area retailers, including Green Acres Nursery and Supply and The Plant Foundry. Home gardeners can also find Hedgerow Farms’ wildflower and native grass seeds online in half pound and one pound bags. If you’re considering a larger project encompassing an acre or more, contact Hedgerow Farms directly for wholesale pricing and custom seed mixes. 

Visit Hedgerow Farms

Follow Hedgerow Farms on Instagram for information about upcoming events. To schedule group events or request individual farm tours, send a DM or email info@hedgerowfarms.com.

Article and photography by Hilary Rance.