VOLUNTEER PROFILE: MATTHEW DOWNER—RESTORATION CREW LEAD

Matthew Downer is the kind of person who quietly puts in the work, never seeking the spotlight but making a big impact all the same. Born and raised in Ojai, he has deep ties to the land he now helps restore. Long before becoming one of OVLC’s first Volunteer Restoration Crew Leads, Matthew had already logged countless hours in the field, lending his steady hands and humble spirit to projects across the valley. With more than 500 volunteer hours to his name, he brings dedication, local knowledge, and a quiet leadership that inspires everyone around him. OVLC Preserve Manager, Linda Wilkin, recently caught up with him to talk about his roots in Ojai, his path to becoming a Restoration Crew Lead, and why giving back to the land matters so much to him.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, Matthew. To start, can you share a little about yourself? 

I grew up and have lived most of my life here in Ojai. I enjoy outdoor sports—hiking, backpacking, cycling, climbing—and it’s great that Ojai has so many opportunities for all of those. A big thanks to OVLC for helping make that possible! 

Absolutely—the outdoors are the best! Was that what first got you interested in volunteering with OVLC? 

I did Boy Scouts as a kid, and there was always a community service aspect to that. Some of my earliest volunteer work came from there—trash cleanups and building kiosks for various places. I think the Eagle Project kiosk I built might still be up at Steckel Park. 

As for OVLC, I’d always been curious about what they did—was there trail work or other ways to volunteer? Then one day I got a postcard in the mail saying, “We need volunteers!” I thought, “OK, let’s see what’s involved.” The barrier to entry was really low—it was easy to sign up. That was a little over two years ago. 

Nice! I also know you’re a big fan of California native plants. Where did that passion start for you? 

Both my parents are highly educated in plant-related fields, so I grew up around people who really knew their plants. We’d go hiking, and they’d teach us the Latin names for native plants. Having that awareness early on definitely sparked my interest. 

That’s such a great way to grow up—and most of that was here in Ojai, right? 

Yup! On local trails like Shelf and Pratt. My parents had horses and ponies for us kids, so we rode a lot in Horne Canyon and on the Thacher trails. I knew that area well before it became an OVLC preserve. 

Was there a plant that really caught your attention back then? 

I first got interested in carnivorous plants. There are a few California native species, and they’re just so unexpected when you think about plant life. 

I love that. My nephew is into carnivorous plants too—there’s something about kids and plants that eat things! You’re also one of our first Restoration Crew Leads. How did that role come about for you? 

Honestly, I just volunteered a lot! Eventually, you asked me to help lead some events, and I thought, “Well, I’m going to be there anyway.” I enjoy being outdoors with other people and building community. It’s a way to give back to a place I get so much enjoyment from. 

Let’s talk about the Ojai Meadows Preserve. You’ve been leading projects there to help it thrive. What kind of work has been happening? 

A lot of it is invasive species removal—hand weeding, weed-whacking—reducing invasive plants to make space for natives to thrive. The Meadows, like much of OVLC’s land, protects riparian and waterway areas. That’s important because many have disappeared from the valley. For example, in my yard there’s a little barranca where a creek used to be, but now the water is diverted into a storm drain instead of recharging the aquifer. It’s important to reclaim some of that natural flow where we can. 

Have you noticed any changes since that work began? 

Definitely. If you drive down Highway 33, the difference is striking. On the Conservancy’s side, you see a variety of plants; on the unmanaged side, it’s almost all invasives. That diversity of plants on OVLC’s side supports more birds, mammals, and reptiles—it’s had a huge impact. 

It really is such a stark contrast. And it’s great to see the preserve holding strong even next to areas with so many invasive seeds. 

It used to be all yellow mustard on both sides. Now, the difference is obvious. 

Do you remember what the Meadows was like when you were growing up? 

Yes, I went to Nordhoff High School, so I was around there a lot. It’s changed so much. Seeing the valley oaks thriving along the highway has been especially rewarding. 

Do you have a favorite native plant growing there now? 

I’m not great at picking favorites, but the valley oaks really stand out. Once they get big, their canopy is huge, and they support so many other species. 

The handful along Nordhoff are gorgeous—probably 200 years old. 

Well, and the preserve land is also special in the valley because there are standing and fallen dead trees. This is an important part of a tree’s life cycle. Even after it’s dead, it creates an incredible amount of habitat—woodpeckers nest in it, fungi break it down, insects move in, and all kinds of other creatures benefit. 

Oh yes—and our vulture friends. There’s a dead tree in one of the restoration fields that’s always littered with bones and other remains from their feasts. 

Exactly! Vultures are incredible birds. Another nice thing is that we don’t rake or blow leaves on the preserves, which is important for soil health. The leaf mulch supports salamanders, millipedes, and many other species. 

For anyone inspired by this, what’s the best way to get involved? 

It’s easy—just visit OVLC’s website and sign up. We have a couple of events each week. The preserves are special because you don’t have to pay to enter, and there aren’t many places like that left. Hopefully, having places where people can just be in nature encourages more appreciation for it. 

One last thing—you’ve also rescued and transplanted native plants from trail reroute areas. Can you share how that works? 

On a few trail projects, there were plants right in the planned path. I went ahead of the crew and dug them up. Luckily, we had some rainy years, so I could leave them in a seasonal creek until I replanted them—things like peonies, black sage, currants, and soaproot. It’s always nice to save a plant when you can. 

That’s wonderful. Matthew, thank you for sharing your knowledge and for all the work you do to keep our preserves healthy and thriving.