SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — When 10News first reported on Tina Matthias last April, she was leading a student-run initiative at South Bay schools that implemented sustainability education, composting, and food recycling programs.
Since then, she has taken those efforts to a new, more rural setting: a farm.
After hearing about her work, a friend offered Matthias an empty lot in San Ysidro.
Members of Matthias' nonprofit, along with students, quickly got to work. They cleared brush, installed an irrigation system, planted nearly 100 trees, and created an organic vegetable garden. The farm operates on donations and volunteer efforts.
Since our introduction, Matthias' eco-friendly initiatives have garnered statewide attention. State leaders recognized the teenagers in her student-led program at a regional climate conference in Orange County this summer.
"They went through the convention and saw how important it was, how many people care about our climate, and the actions they need to take. They saw this on an adult and governmental level," Matthias said.
Back at the farm, Matthias' mission remains the same: educating the community on sustainability and climate change.
"We’re all about teaching people how to reconnect with nature and our roots," she said. "Our government doesn’t have the capacity to educate everyone, and we’re part of this community ... South Bay is so big and often overlooked, so we need to stand up for ourselves."
