Earth Guardians (Guardianes de la Tierra), Tijuana, Mexico

February 15, 2026

by Patricia Rangel

Earth Guardians (Guardianes de la Tierra) is an emerging intergenerational ecoversity that was born in the neighborhood of San Angelin, Tijuana out of the pandemic isolation needed for community and connection. 5 years after, it now has created a relational culture, and facilitates community art workshops, educational programs for youth and families, and storytelling circles that reconnect children to nature, play and meaningful co-creation.

The Urban Garden project in the Industrial City of Tijuana focused on developing live soil through earthworm composting, designing raised cultivation beds for elder accessibility and multi-use mobility, and conducting community education workshops with elders and children. The project incorporated native plants and criollo (native corn) seeds for education, distribution, and planting, and involved the construction and management of a huerta to create a sustainable, educational, and inclusive community garden space.

Description of What Happened in the Project

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND SITE PREPARATION

Organized two community clean-up and work gatherings to prepare the space where the compost system and huerta were established.
Collaboratively created trenches for rainwater management to reduce runoff and improve water absorption.
Built water-retention bowls around existing trees to capture and store rainwater.
Shoveled soil and constructed terracing around trees to prevent erosion and support natural irrigation during rainfall.
Planted native plants around trees to improve soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.

IMPACT:

Improved land conditions for sustainable cultivation.
Increased community ownership and stewardship of the space.
Enhanced natural water management and erosion control.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS; Conducted hands-on workshops on:

Home-based and bucket earthworm composting.
The value of indigenous and criollo seeds.
Plant transplanting techniques.
Home hydroponic vegetable production.
Construction of raised garden beds using the Mayan Canché style.
Creation and management of a larger community compost system.
Installation of drip irrigation systems and automatic timers.
The importance of bees and pollinators in food systems.
Organized an art workshop with children during the Halloween Kermes, where kids decorated small donated herb boxes.

IMPACT:

Strengthened environmental literacy and practical gardening skills.
Encouraged intergenerational learning and participation.
Expanded access to sustainable food-growing knowledge.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND GARDEN CONSTRUCTION

Purchased essential materials, including:

Native plants
Earth bags
Planting pots
A hydroponic tomato system
Automatic drip irrigation systems for raised beds
Community members attended a workshop at the bioregional nursery Nación Verde to learn how to prepare and build raised beds.
Community members designed the raised beds collaboratively.
Patty worked with the Mesa Directiva President to negotiate free use of the carpentry workshop at Nación Verde.
Community members collectively built raised cultivation beds using wood pallets purchased from Nación Verde.
Patty and a former Mesa Directiva President negotiated free transportation of six completed raised beds from Nación Verde to the community space in San Angelín.

IMPACT:

Created accessible, durable, and community-designed garden infrastructure.
Reduced costs through partnerships, negotiation, and resource sharing.
Built technical and collaborative skills within the community.
Partnerships, Resource Acquisition, and Community Outreach
Patty organized a day trip to Parque Morelos with community children and parents to participate in a Tijuana government program, receiving: Strawberry plants, Guava and Fig trees, Herb plants (mint, lavender)
These plants were incorporated into the community garden.
Patty secured donations including: Gravel, Shade netting, Earth bags, Additional plants.
Obtained permits and space allocation through multiple presentations to the Mesa Directiva.
Maintained continuous communication and transparency through updates shared in the private community Facebook group.

What I did

I served as Project Manager, coordinating with mentor Albert Salazar, organizing volunteers, hosting workshops, producing events, managing finances, and maintaining communication via social media and WhatsApp groups. We built raised beds, implemented compost and irrigation systems, planted native species, and co-created workshops on composting, hydroponics, seed preservation, and pollinators. We engaged the community through events, art, and field trips, while maintaining and activating the huerta as a shared sustainable space.

Who did you collaborate with

Collaborators included Albert Salazar (Ecoversities), Angie (Colectivo HuerTequio), Nación Verde, Eden Hydroponics, Parque Morelos, and the San Angelín Community (10 core members; 140 homes, 42 children, 39 adults). Collaboration enabled clean-up days, land preparation, garden construction, irrigation installation, educational workshops, and integration of donated plants. It strengthened community cohesion, technical knowledge, and access to resources, while fostering trust, shared ownership, and long-term sustainability.

How did this project relate to your territory, community, and/or the more-than-human world? What relationships were strengthened or transformed?

Tijuana is my bioregional ancestral home; my great-grandfather was a pioneer in the Tijuana River Valley, granted ejido lands over 100 years ago.

My grandfather built one of the first ranches in the valley, where I learned traditional knowledge about nature, plants, irrigation, water systems, indigenous practices, and philosophies of life.
Strengthened and Transformed Community Relationships:
Collaborated with urban garden collectives and bio-regional regenerative groups, including Nación Verde – EcoParque.
Built cultural and indigenous connections with the Playas de Tijuana Friendship Garden, including: volunteering with family to paint their border mural of Abrazo Mutuo, Eagle and the Condor.
Being introduced to indigenous First Nations – Kumeyaay Nation leaders and learning from their indigenous knowledge.
Hosted and collaborated with Angie from HuerTequio (Mexico City) and Albert Salazar, who donated earthworms for the community compost.
Strengthened relationships with Mesa Directiva Board members, engaging their families in the project.
Built a collaborative partnership with Eden Hydroponics, who provided drip irrigation systems and a tomato hydroponic tower, and hosted a workshop at my home.
Created sustainable systems that regenerate soil, support native plants, and integrate composting and irrigation, strengthening ecological health.
Increased awareness of and care for biodiversity, pollinators, and regenerative agricultural practices.
Further collaborations include: The Eden Hydroponics partnership will expand into a 2026 project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, transferring knowledge and systems created in Tijuana.
Gained the trust and respect of community members through open and transparent communication, participatory decision-making, and financial transparency with grant expenditures.

What I enjoyed: (write about what you liked most about the project)

The nine-month process of ideation and co-creation, from planning to implementation. Meeting new people and learning about existing regenerative spaces and nature collectives in my city. Engaging families in my community to think about the future of sustainability and urban food production. Painting and educating youth about ancestral ways for sustainability and traditional food cultivation. Producing events that included art and music to raise awareness and encourage neighbors to join and volunteer. Learning to cultivate and protect earthworms and observing the speed and effectiveness of composting, marveling at nature’s processes. Seeing tangible results of the community garden and composting efforts. Feeling inspired that industrial cities can provide hope when we think creatively, build with nature in mind, and include communities at the decision-making table.

What I found difficult: (write about any part of the project you found hard to do.)

The project timeline for deliverables was tight and delays in funding created stress.
The physical labor required to build a community garden and prepare the land.
Unexpected climate events and flooding, which made the space inaccessible at times.
Sculpting the land and creating functional water systems for irrigation and rainwater management.
Limited early access to funds, which delayed some project activities.
Navigating community politics around permits and land access, which postponed construction.
Vandalism of the first compost boxes by teenagers, requiring relocation of the project and increased security measures.
Transporting six raised pallet beds and eight wooden pallets from Nación Verde to San Angelín, which required eight trips using two SUVs.
The departure of a mentor (Angie from HuerTequio) early in the project due to personal reasons.
The impact of these difficulties: Required creative problem-solving, persistence, and flexibility. Strengthened resilience and capacity to manage unexpected challenges. Highlighted the importance of community collaboration, planning, and adaptive leadership.

What really worked: (write about any part that you thought worked well).

Persistence and determination: The team did not give up despite challenges and setbacks.
Support from Project Mentor Albert Salazar: His early contribution of $500 from the grant enabled the purchase of essential materials, wood pallets for community compost bins and raised cultivation beds, drip irrigation systems, native plants for the garden, mentor connections and knowledge sharing, introduction to Angie from HuerTequio, bringing ancestral knowledge, earthworms, and native seeds, iIntroduction to the Playas de Tijuana Friendship Garden crew, who were welcoming and invited participation in future workshops and knowledge exchanges.
Enabled the creation of functional, sustainable garden infrastructure.
Strengthened collaborations and access to valuable ecological and ancestral knowledge.
Encouraged community engagement and ongoing participation in future regenerative projects.

What I learned from myself on this project?

I learned that investing in my community and future is worth the hard work and dedication. I discovered that communication, transparency, and cultural respect are essential for building trust and collaboration. Challenges and iterative processes helped refine the vision, while social tools for conflict resolution strengthened relationships. I also learned that paying it forward financially can help get meaningful projects off the ground, and overall, this project strengthened my leadership, resilience, and understanding of sustainable community work.

What is emerging now? How do you imagine the future of your project, whether or not it continues? What new questions, relationships, or possibilities came up?

Emerging now are immediate needs, such as securing the next $500 USD of the grant to build greenhouse covers for the raised beds during winter rains and floods. New collaborations are forming for the 2026 project, including community members helping with fundraising and expansion. A local coffee shop, “Infusso”, is offering organic waste for the community compost, requiring coordination for pick-up. I am also developing a deep respect and connection with the Ecoversities community, opening new opportunities for learning, partnerships, and sustainable urban gardening practices.