Urban Green Thumb was founded by Rina Fong (she/her), a chemist and gardener, with a passion for cultivating green spaces.  We believe that caring for plants is more than a hobby; it’s a therapeutic practice that connects people with living earth. In 2026, Rina started Urban Green Thumb with the purpose of inspiring her community to start their own little garden.

Rina’s personal gardening journey started with tropical houseplants. She was fascinated by their similar yet different colors, textures, and growth patterns. Soon, the number of houseplants multiplied, and it became increasingly challenging to care for them all given their different environmental requirements. Being a chemist and wanting to see tangible data, Rina experimented with troubleshooting soil health as well as identifying and treating pests and diseases. This learning process resulted in many plant casualties along the way — and even now, the occasional casualty from neglect. Yet through trial and error, Rina developed a strong foundation in practical plant care and gardening practices that she has learned to integrate into her busy life.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and having a strong urge to expand her gardening experience, Rina installed two lowered beds and one raised bed in between her garage and main house in an effort to spend more time in her backyard and repurpose an under-utilized area for a veggie garden. Her first vegetable growing season was painfully unproductive. The soil was newly purchased in bulk and lacked nutrients and beneficial bacteria, and she had to hand-pollinate most of the vegetable crops since there weren’t any flowering ornamentals to attract pollinators into her garden. It has taken years of cultivation, but this small corner of her backyard has become a productive food forest that provides not only for Rina’s family, friends, and neighbors, but also provides a habitat for microorganisms, pollinators, and the occasional critter. With a deeper appreciation for how her small urban garden contributes to San Diego’s diverse ecosystem, Rina has transformed the way she views gardening and considers herself a lifelong student of regenerative gardening practices.

Rina lives in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood with her family and makes efficient use of her indoor / outdoor spaces for her 100+ houseplants, veggie and cut flower garden, and native ornamentals. She is an active member of California Native Plant Society, San Diego Chapter, and Wild Ones San Diego. Rina is also a garden steward volunteer for Forever Balboa Park, San Diego Natural History Museum’s NAT Garden Corp., and The Water Conservation Garden. Today, Rina brings those eight years of gardening expertise to every client project — designing, installing, and nurturing polished spaces where both plants and local ecosystems can beautifully grow.