We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristina Santa Maria and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristina, what matters most to you?
Health! Health is the most important principle to me. The health of my family and the health of Mother Earth is what influences every decision in my life, including work. It’s what has driven me to grow food (and medicine) that is free of harmful pesticides for my family and local wildlife. Who knew that turning an old 60ftx6ft power line access way behind our property into a garden 3 years ago would slowly evolve into starting a gardening community and business!?

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your
business, can you tell us more?
I have a gardening business called TinaGrowsThings but I also work seasonally as a wildlife conservationist. I think that’s what sets me apart from others because my business will always have the health of the Earth and all it’s living beings in mind. That means I’m mindful of my growing practices and genuinely want others to have success gardening whether its to feed your family or the birds and the bees.

What I’m most excited about is making California native plants even more accessible to my community! I’m starting a micro-nursery in my own yard to get more backyard habitats going with smaller plants at a lower cost. Follow my social media account to see plant availability or to just learn about the importance of native plants and the relationships we can have with them.

Where I am today happened by accident if I’m being honest. I just started doing things that I was passionate about: making medicine, growing my own medicinal herbs, planting veggies, sharing the abundance, composting and doing anything I could to help the environment. The business came naturally and evolved over time.

The biggest lesson that I learned is derived from something Zero Waste Chef Anne Marie Bonneau said: “We don’t need a handful of people [gardening for wildlife] perfectly, we need millions of people [gardening for wildlife] imperfectly.” Don’t strive for perfectionism, the most important thing is to get started. If we can do that collectively, it’ll make all the difference for the environment!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in San Diego so there is no shortage of things to do and see but one of my favorite places is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It’s not your typical zoo, many of the local birds seek refuge there and there’s an area that focuses on local plants and wildlife. Their 4 acre native plant garden is amazing.

Another place we would visit is Cabrillo National Monument. I’ve lived here almost my entire life and have only had a 5 minute glimpse of this beautiful underrated place. I need to go back ASAP because the views are amazing and there’s a chance to see tide pools. Plus, who doesn’t love relaxing by the ocean?!

Going out to eat sushi is one of my favorite things, dessert is always a must and I might even get my friend to go camping for a few nights at Kumeyaay Campground at Mission Trails Regional Park or at the Tijuana River Valley Campground. Notice a trend? We would 100% spend our time outside.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my husband, Aaron, who has been my life partner for the last 16 years. Not only did he support me while I was a college student studying wildlife biology but he also encourages me to pursue my passion every day and I’m thankful for him! My Instagram gardening community also deserves a shoutout because they are incredibly knowledgeable, giving and inspiring.

Instagram: @tinagrowsthings

Other: Instagram: @sandiegoseedswap Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tinagrowsthings

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