Jen grew up in Iowa where one of her favorite activities was planting and harvesting an annual garden with her family. Jen graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in non-profit administration and Arizona State University with a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership. She has spent the past 20 years working for non-profits in a variety of roles, most recently with Girl Scouts San Diego. Jen values the importance of building an active, healthy and engaged community and hopes to create long-lasting relationships with not only the National City community, but with anyone who wishes to be a part of Olivewood Gardens. In her free time, Jen enjoys traveling, any and all outdoor activities, exploring farmers markets and the local food scene.
Birdy was born and raised in beautiful Puerto Rico where she spent her childhood visiting waterfalls while snacking on guavas and passion fruits. When she moved to the states for college, she joined her local school garden and started growing her own fruits and vegetables in her backyard. One of her love languages is cooking for others, something she learned by watching her grandmother feed her entire family during large celebrations. Birdy has been working in outdoor education for several years and is so excited to bring her passion for teaching and working with kids to Olivewood as one of our Garden and Nutrition Education Specialists. In her free time, Birdy enjoys knitting, crocheting, making miniatures, and reading graphic novels.
I am so happy to be able to return to Olivewood as part of the in-house team! I never completely left as it is impossible to leave Olivewood once you have had the opportunity to experience the great work they do for the community. Returning as Kitchenista Outreach Coordinator will give me the opportunity to once again contribute my ‘grain of sand’ to the improvement of our community.
Jeni is the Director of Youth Programs at Olivewood Gardens. She is a San Diego native who has a B.A. in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Jeni has grown food her whole life- as a child, with her family…as an adult, to provide garden knowledge to her two children, to grow food for her own family, and to grow food to donate to her local food pantry. Jeni’s experiences with food insecurity and abuse as a child drive her passion to create safe spaces for youth to learn and explore, as well as connect people to their food through garden and nutrition education. Jeni has experience managing school gardens, community gardens, as well as the Teaching Gardens at Olivewood Gardens. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
I am a mother of 3 wonderful humans and I am a passionate being for nature. I enjoy hiking/walking to connect with mother nature. I see my yoga class as my medicine. Love to be recognized as a Kitchenista, 2nd generation. I’ve enjoyed being a volunteer at Olivewood gardens especially in the compost area. I have an AA degree from FIDM for marketing/ merchandising. Worked in the fashion industry for many years.
Patty is the Director of Kitchenista Engagement & Cooking for Salud at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. She grew up between Tijuana, Santa Veronica Ranch in Tecate and summers at her grandmother’s ranch in San Pedro, Jalisco. She obtained her B.A in Foreign Trade and Customs at Universidad Iberoamericana del Noroeste in Tijuana. After a year as a volunteer at Olivewood, the Children’s Home Society of California offered her an intensive training about a nutrition curriculum in Spanish, which helped to open the doors to National City community. After becoming a Kitchenista® of the 1st Generation of Cooking for Salud, Patty was highly motivated to have a higher and deeper impact in the community and became a Resident Leadership Academy facilitator. She found her real passion in the combination of teaching about nutrition, cooking and leading the Kitchenistas to become a driving force in the community. Patty loves to eat, cook, drink wine, coffee, talk and be surrounded by the Kitchenistas family. She also likes to travel around Mexico, hiking, connecting with her indigenous roots, and checking things off her bucket list. She really enjoys to spend time at home with her son and daughter as well as laying on the carpet with her jerky dog licking her face.
Angelica Gastelum is the Marketing Manager at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. A San Diego-Tijuana native and graduate from SDSU, Angelica has over 10 years of experience in Marketing. Her love for her family and desire to improve her family’s health outcomes, landed her at Olivewood Gardens’ Cooking For Salud Program. Angelica is a Kitchenista® graduated from the 7th Generation, and is honored and thankful for the opportunity to call Olivewood Gardens, ‘work’ and to be part of such a dedicated staff that share a passion for healthy and sustainable programs. In her spare time she loves hospitality, reading, traveling and connecting with friends and family.
As a Registered Dietitian (RDN), Morgan is passionate about the intersection of growing food and nourishing communities through food. Originally from Maryland, Morgan earned her B.S. in Foods and Nutrition from San Diego State University before completing her Dietetic Internship. Prior to Olivewood, Morgan spent time working in food service, for a mission-driven food waste cookie company and interning at non-profits in San Diego. Morgan enjoys cooking with youth of all ages in the kitchen – building skills, confidence and adventurous eating habits. Morgan is also an advocate for shaping long-lasting healthy relationships with food through pressure-free exposure, intentional language, and of course, having lots of fun in the kitchen with seasonal produce. In her free time, Morgan likes to go camping, try out local restaurants and spend time with her three pets, Basil, Eevee and Clove.
Cecilia is an Environmental Education Specialist bringing her love for the earth to the students and community she serves at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. A San Diego native, she left California to study art but soon found her path when she began working with youth in the gardens of Chicago Public Schools discovering the magic of growing your own food. She then went on to receive a MA in Ecopsychology from Naropa University where she learned to synthesize the psychological benefits of time in nature, environmental justice, and the need to restore our relationship with the natural world. Upon returning home to San Diego she was overjoyed to find a like minded community at Olivewood. She is her happiest when eating, swimming, rock climbing, or dancing with loved ones.
Exavier King is the Youth Program Coordinator. He was born in sunny Los Angeles and was raised in Atlanta Georgia. While growing up in Georgia, he spent most of his formative years as a Boy Scout. He earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2014 and would then attend Morehouse College, a Historically Black University. He earned his BA with honors in English and would find his passion for service with Americorps in Houston Texas. He would later transition to being a Professional Scouter with the Boy Scouts of America, serving thousands of youth in Nashville and Phoenix. Exavier brings years of youth development experience to the Olivewood team and his passion for community engagement shines through in all that he does. In his spare time, Exavier enjoys long walks on the beach, playing video games and utilizing his AMC A List membership.
Maya is an environmental studies and art graduate with a minor in art history. She has a passion for community engagement, gardening, and environmental stewardship. She most recently worked for AmeriCorps at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver, Washington as an environmental education specialist. Maya likes to engage students in creative learning that partners her affection for art and nature. She has community garden and compost management experience and has a passion for outdoor education. In her free time Maya likes to read, make fused glass art, and spend time at the beach.
Carlos is the Content Creator at Olivewood Gardens. Born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana. His love for the outdoors and nature began as a Boy Scout and through traveling Baja with his family. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from CETYS Tijuana and a Media Production certificate from Media Arts. Carlos is known for creating engaging, social-first content that fosters community. In his free time, he enjoys going to the beach and writing short stories.
Joey is the Garden Coordinator for the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden. He has worked in every plant related field he could get his hands in including forestry, invasive species removal, clearing firebreaks, sustainable landscape design and installation, agriculture and market gardening, nursery, indoor plantscapes and more! He went to school for Horticulture at Cuyamaca Community College and has special training in Soil Microbiology and Composting from the Soil Food Web School. In his free time Joey enjoys reading, writing, and long walks on the beach with his dog, Pelón. His favorite tomato is a juicy Paul Robeson, and his favorite fruits are spicezee nectaplums and any cherimoya or cherimoya relation
Miah is an Environmental Education Specialist for Olivewood Garden and Learning Center’s School Based Program. He obtained his BA in Anthropology with a concentration in Climate Change and Human Solutions at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and brings a wealth of knowledge relating to the natural world and native landscape. Miah was born and raised in Riverside County and worked for 5 years as a Special Needs Paraeducator for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District before moving to San Diego for university. He is passionate about ecological restoration and conservation and shares this enthusiasm with his students throughout the National City School District. In his free time, Miah enjoys tending to his food garden, planting native plants to help promote ecological health within his urban environment, and educating his friends and neighbors about the importance of the native landscape. He also likes to play Minecraft, crochet, and read horror novels.
Jennifer attended San Diego State University and earned her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego, and an Equitable Community Change Certificate from Cornell University. Prior to joining Olivewood Gardens, Jennifer used her business development skills to cultivate valuable and productive relationships with clients, colleagues, and partners alike in the financial services sector.
Jennifer first learned of Olivewood after her niece raved about a school field trip; intrigued she signed up for the Cooking for Salud Program and graduated as a Kitchenista from Generation #3 . The experience left a long-lasting impact on her; she found that being at Olivewood not only nourished her body, but it also fueled her soul. She is proud to be a part of an organization that creates positive ripple effects in our local community. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, friends, and pets, hosting her book club, trying new recipes, and running.
Talls & Smalls / Altos y Pequeños (11/6/26) featuring local author: Susan Frazee
Garden Explorers November: Exploring Through the Senses
Chefcitos (November 14th, 2026 – 10AM)
