We are a dynamic and passionate group united by a shared mission: growing happy, healthy youth through garden-based education. Our team brings together a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets—from educators and gardeners to artists and organizers. This diversity strengthens our work and fuels our creativity, collaboration, and impact in school communities across the region.
Leadership
Katharine Rondthaler Krieg
[email protected]
Executive Director
Katharine fell in love with sustainable food while completing her bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Biology at UC Santa Cruz in 2010. She went on to work in garden education, organic farming and curriculum development before completing her master's in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2019. Most recently, Katharine was the Organic Garden Manager at Santa Clara University where she managed a 1/2 acre production garden, oversaw food justice initiatives and taught courses on urban agriculture and sustainable food systems. She believes that school gardens are key to growing the next generation of environmental stewards. She enjoys hiking, cooking, watercolors, beekeeping and adventuring outdoors with her son.
[email protected]
Executive Director
Katharine fell in love with sustainable food while completing her bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Biology at UC Santa Cruz in 2010. She went on to work in garden education, organic farming and curriculum development before completing her master's in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2019. Most recently, Katharine was the Organic Garden Manager at Santa Clara University where she managed a 1/2 acre production garden, oversaw food justice initiatives and taught courses on urban agriculture and sustainable food systems. She believes that school gardens are key to growing the next generation of environmental stewards. She enjoys hiking, cooking, watercolors, beekeeping and adventuring outdoors with her son.
Leila Daniel
[email protected]
Director of Education, Play Grove Co-lead
Leila Daniel comes from a multicultural background and speaks four languages. She was born in Cairo, Egypt and lived there for six years. She has family in Germany, Egypt, Guatemala, Colombia, and the US. Her love of travel and learning about new cultures brought her to the education world. After getting her master's degree, she became a bilingual elementary teacher and taught for two years in the Bay Area. She, along with her husband and their dog, moved to San Luis Obispo where she taught 2nd grade for four years. She believes garden education is vital for creating a strong community of environmental stewards. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and gardening (harvesting homegrown peaches, for example!).
Natalie Perez
[email protected]
Program Director
Natalie grew up watching her Nona and family dancing around the kitchen using fresh ingredients to whip up wholesome meals for the family to enjoy. This served as an inspiration to remain connected to her source of food and her community. She often found herself outside in the dirt or under a tree, with an innate affinity for nature and life of all kinds. She studied Viticulture at Cal Poly where she found her calling in environmental protection. Natalie is humbled by the power children possess on this planet and is so excited to hold space for them to learn sustainable ways of living. Natalie believes in making play one of her priorities. She values the healing that comes from nature and all its wonders.
[email protected]
Program Director
Natalie grew up watching her Nona and family dancing around the kitchen using fresh ingredients to whip up wholesome meals for the family to enjoy. This served as an inspiration to remain connected to her source of food and her community. She often found herself outside in the dirt or under a tree, with an innate affinity for nature and life of all kinds. She studied Viticulture at Cal Poly where she found her calling in environmental protection. Natalie is humbled by the power children possess on this planet and is so excited to hold space for them to learn sustainable ways of living. Natalie believes in making play one of her priorities. She values the healing that comes from nature and all its wonders.
McKenna Lenhart
[email protected]
Director of Communications and Operations
McKenna grew up just outside of Denver, Colorado and moved to California in 2013 to attend California Lutheran University. After graduating with degrees in Environmental Science and Fine Arts, she moved herself up to the central coast to begin her journey with One Cool Earth as an Americorps volunteer - and never really left! Amazed by the ability to grow food and flowers YEAR ROUND she developed her love of gardening both at home and in schools. Her favorite thing about working at One Cool Earth is having the opportunity to learn about nature's incredible mysteries alongside students and teachers. It never ceases to amaze you, no matter your age! Outside of work you can find McKenna trail running in Montaña de Oro, surfing at the rock, painting and printmaking, or walking her little doggie on the beach.
[email protected]
Director of Communications and Operations
McKenna grew up just outside of Denver, Colorado and moved to California in 2013 to attend California Lutheran University. After graduating with degrees in Environmental Science and Fine Arts, she moved herself up to the central coast to begin her journey with One Cool Earth as an Americorps volunteer - and never really left! Amazed by the ability to grow food and flowers YEAR ROUND she developed her love of gardening both at home and in schools. Her favorite thing about working at One Cool Earth is having the opportunity to learn about nature's incredible mysteries alongside students and teachers. It never ceases to amaze you, no matter your age! Outside of work you can find McKenna trail running in Montaña de Oro, surfing at the rock, painting and printmaking, or walking her little doggie on the beach.
Greg Ellis
[email protected]
Grant Manager
Over the years Greg has worked with One Cool Earth in almost every role, from Garden Educator to Executive Director. Growing up in the mountains of Wyoming with a family that hunted, foraged and grew their own fruits and vegetables, he gained an early appreciation for nature that he hopes to foster and share through outdoor classrooms. His favorite local fruit is the hachiya persimmon, his favorite fungus is the chanterelle mushroom and his favorite native salad is miner's lettuce.
[email protected]
Grant Manager
Over the years Greg has worked with One Cool Earth in almost every role, from Garden Educator to Executive Director. Growing up in the mountains of Wyoming with a family that hunted, foraged and grew their own fruits and vegetables, he gained an early appreciation for nature that he hopes to foster and share through outdoor classrooms. His favorite local fruit is the hachiya persimmon, his favorite fungus is the chanterelle mushroom and his favorite native salad is miner's lettuce.
Yarrow Wilson
[email protected]
Regional Manager, Northern SLO County
Cappy Culver Elementary School
Since childhood, Yarrow has cultivated a deep love for the animals, plants, and landscapes of California's Central Coast. After studying permaculture and earning a degree in philosophy from UC Santa Cruz, Yarrow returned home to northern SLO County to co-manage a community garden prior to joining the One Cool Earth team in 2017. Outside of One Cool Earth, Yarrow can be found writing, rock climbing, and playing basketball.
[email protected]
Regional Manager, Northern SLO County
Cappy Culver Elementary School
Since childhood, Yarrow has cultivated a deep love for the animals, plants, and landscapes of California's Central Coast. After studying permaculture and earning a degree in philosophy from UC Santa Cruz, Yarrow returned home to northern SLO County to co-manage a community garden prior to joining the One Cool Earth team in 2017. Outside of One Cool Earth, Yarrow can be found writing, rock climbing, and playing basketball.
|
Ariann Landaverde
[email protected] Regional Manager, SLO and South SLO County Monarch Grove Elementary School Ariann grew up in Southern California but moved up to the Central Coast to attend Cal Poly SLO. She graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection with minors in both Biology and Spanish. While at Cal Poly, Ariann had the opportunity to work with Sprout Up, a club that teaches environmental science lessons to elementary school students and ended her time with the club as President. Additionally, she served as a curriculum developer and program coordinator for Nuestra Ciencia, a research project that aims to teach microbiology topics in Spanish. Through those two organizations, Ariann discovered her passion for teaching. In her free time, Ariann enjoys spending time at the beach, painting, and hiking. Itzel Camarena
[email protected] Community Engagement Coordinator and Garden Educator at Baywood Elementary, Los Osos Itzel grew up in palmdale and moved to bakersfield during the pandemic, where she discovered her love for gardening. She started off volunteering at the Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard and spent four years there as a garden educator, watching students and families connect to nature in the kitchen and garden classrooms. She loves hands-on learning and seeing how garden spaces bring people together while teaching us to slow down and learn from the earth. Now living on the central coast, Itzel is excited to continue this work with One Cool Earth, sharing her passion for garden education with local schools. When she's not teaching, she loves camping, checking out farmers markets gardening, and crafting with her home grown dried flowers. |
Garden Educators
Our garden educators are the heart of our organization.
They are not just teachers—they’re community organizers, master gardeners, garden chefs, and trusted mentors. Each educator is trained in our specialized curriculum and deeply rooted in their school community. Their work transforms school gardens into living classrooms where students grow food, learn science, build wellness habits, and discover their connection to the earth.
To learn more about the programs these educators lead, go to our School Garden Program Page
They are not just teachers—they’re community organizers, master gardeners, garden chefs, and trusted mentors. Each educator is trained in our specialized curriculum and deeply rooted in their school community. Their work transforms school gardens into living classrooms where students grow food, learn science, build wellness habits, and discover their connection to the earth.
To learn more about the programs these educators lead, go to our School Garden Program Page
|
Addison Bruinsma
[email protected] Winifred Pifer Elementary and Pat Butler Elementary Addison was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, where she spent most of her time raising steer calves for 4-H and FFA. There, she gained a deep love for all things agriculture. After graduating high school, she moved to Sioux Center, Iowa to attend Dordt University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business. She loves learning about regenerative and sustainable farming, and how all plants and animals work together to be healthy. Addison moved to the Central Coast to a tiny town called Harmony where she lives on a beef cattle ranch with her husband, cat, chickens, and garden. She is passionate about food, flowers and caring for the earth the way it is intended to be. Addison finds joy in sharing with the new generation of students where our food comes from and connecting their education to memorable hands-on experiences. Alyssa Checkeye [email protected] Garden Educator at Mary Buren Elementary, Lange Elementary, Oceano Elementary and Garden Maintenance Specialist South County Alyssa grew up on the central coast with the beaches, valleys and hillsides as her playground. After finishing Hancock College's Culinary program she furthered her interest in teaching and became a preschool teacher. The pandemic directed her into another path through social services, working with foster children and her community. She enjoys being in nature, working on her garden, staying active, and finding all the hidden gems along our coastline. She looks forward to teaching and growing alongside our local youth's hungry minds and busy hands within the garden. She is a mother, food connoisseur and lover of the outdoors. Bahar Vasli [email protected] Glen Speck Elementary Bahar has a degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science from Cal Poly with a minor in Ecology Restoration. She grew up spending most of her time at the beach in Santa Monica, CA. For the past six years, Bahar has worked with children and youth, focusing on community empowerment and environmental education. Her passion for sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and food equity began in high school, when she helped create community gardens on vacant lots in underserved communities. Through this work, she became especially interested in the role that access to fresh, organic, and healthy food can play in supporting individuals and families from the ground up. At Cal Poly, she managed the Food Pantry gardens for two years, helping connect students to gardening and food production. After connecting and volunteering with OCE, she found a community that brought together all the things she values. She believes outdoor education is an important but often missing piece of overall well-being and hopes to help make these experiences more accessible to future generations. In her free time, Bahar can be found creating art, serving her community, practicing yoga, or pointing out CA native plants on hikes. |
|
Brenda De Dios
[email protected] Nipomo Elementary, Georgia Brown Elementary and Sinsheimer Elementary Hello, my name is Brenda De Dios and I just moved to the Central Coast from Los Angeles where I grew up. I just graduated from Cal State Northridge with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. I have worked as a Teacher Assistant for about five years. I enjoy being outdoors, walks on the beach and going to the movie theater. I am excited to start this school year in the Garden with curious minds! I am also excited to start this new chapter in my life and new beginnings. Christopher Apple [email protected] Garden Educator at Virginia Peterson Elementary and North County Garden Maintenance Specialist Christopher lives within an oak woodland in Templeton where he enjoys watching scrub jays and tree squirrels bury acorns amidst layers of leaves to store food and help future trees grow. In 2017 he earned a degree in Environmental Engineering and a minor in Gender, Race, Culture, Science, and Technology from Cal Poly. He went on to teach science and engineering at a local high school, but currently teaches outdoors to help young people connect with themselves, each other and the planet. Christopher also enjoys playing soccer, petting cats, riding bicycles, watering by hand, chopping veggies, being with others, and sitting outside. Gabrielle Rojo [email protected] Kermit King Elementary Gabrielle graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection with minors in Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Environments and Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology. While at Cal Poly, Gabrielle spent three years working with the Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics Education teaching lessons to elementary and middle school students across the county. Gabrielle also interned at City Farm SLO where she gained hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture and continues to volunteer regularly. Additionally, she serves as a Conservation Science Educator at Creek Lands Conservation. In her free time, Gabrielle enjoys knitting, camping and spending time outdoors with friends. |
Madeline Schechter
[email protected]
Templeton Elementary School and Vineyard Elementary School
Madeline grew up in Templeton, California and chose to remain on the central coast by attending Cal Poly, where she graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection and a minor in Child Development. She has always had a passion for working with kids but was torn between that and having a job in sustainability. After participating in a club called Sprout Up in college and having internships with the Guadalupe Dunes Center and the Land Conservancy in San Luis Obispo, Madeline realized she could have the best of both worlds through environmental education. Her goal is to work with younger generations to help them create a relationship with the natural world and reduce their impact on it. In her free time she enjoys hiking in the great outdoors, yoga, and cooking meals with local ingredients.
[email protected]
Templeton Elementary School and Vineyard Elementary School
Madeline grew up in Templeton, California and chose to remain on the central coast by attending Cal Poly, where she graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection and a minor in Child Development. She has always had a passion for working with kids but was torn between that and having a job in sustainability. After participating in a club called Sprout Up in college and having internships with the Guadalupe Dunes Center and the Land Conservancy in San Luis Obispo, Madeline realized she could have the best of both worlds through environmental education. Her goal is to work with younger generations to help them create a relationship with the natural world and reduce their impact on it. In her free time she enjoys hiking in the great outdoors, yoga, and cooking meals with local ingredients.
|
Melissa Donaldson
[email protected] Cambria Grammar School and Santa Lucia Middle School Margaret McCloskey [email protected] Shandon Elementary Margaret is grateful to call California’s Central Coast home. As a mother and a lover of the Earth, she believes in the power of connecting care for our children with reverence for our planet to inspire and grow a regenerative legacy for future generations. After earning a degree in Community Health Education from San Francisco State University, Margaret pursued a path of service through permaculture and land tending in the Peruvian Andes, where she lived for nearly seven years. Margaret is continually inspired by the wonders of the natural world and finds joy in gardening, mothering, singing and sharing elemental rituals that honor Mother Earth. |
|
Marly Miller
[email protected] Play Grove Co-Lead and Volunteer Coordinator Marly hails from San Francisco, CA where she grew up running wild in Golden Gate Park. She attended Cal Poly SLO where she was the Chapter Director of Sprout Up, an environmental education program, and graduated with a degree in Liberal Studies and minor in Child Development. During her time at Cal Poly she taught preschoolers at an art summer camp for four summers. She went on to teach third grade for two years where she enjoyed raising butterflies with her class. Through teaching she earned her multiple subject teaching credential. As a garden educator with One Cool Earth she developed gardening and outdoor education skills. This passion for learning with children outside led her to Playgrove. Currently she has completed series 2 of 3 in the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers training series. She is honored to connect to nature with children and finds children’s curiosity and creativity infectious. To Marly there is nothing better than making art outside and getting muddy with littles! She loves growing sunflowers, roller skating, reading, thrift shopping, sewing, and playing with her cat! Miriam Sullivan [email protected] Lillian Larsen Elementary School Miriam lives in San Luis Obispo and is a graduate of Cal Poly. Her professional background is in food access and nutrition education. She is super excited for the opportunity to grow as an educator with One Cool Earth, teaching kids about the magical natural world and its bounty we're so lucky to live amongst here on the Central Coast. In her free time, Miriam loves to work on art projects, go camping, and cook for the people she loves! Sarah Cobb [email protected] Playguide Sarah is originally from a small town in the Central Valley and moved to SLO County three years ago for college. She is currently attending Cal Poly SLO where she is studying Liberal Studies for Elementary Education. For the past two and half years, Sarah managed a small organic produce market called the Avocado Shack. There she was able to connect with the Central Coast community and even had the privilege of working on a couple of local organic farms. These jobs showed her the importance of organic farming, supporting local farmers, and sharing this wealth of knowledge with the community. Sarah is passionate about kids and getting them outdoors where they can truly learn the art of PLAY. Sarah loves to stay connected to the community which is why she was led to the playgrove by an attending family. She is incredibly excited to work as a playguide this year alongside Leila and Marly where she will be able to watch kids grow and connect with the natural world around them, appreciate the food they will grow and put in their bodies, and make unshakable memories. Sarah feels honored to get to grow alongside these little ones. In her free time she loves to read, play the guitar, swim in the ocean, camp in Big Sur, and cook for her friends and family. |
|
Shelby Mathews
[email protected] Santa Margarita Elementary School, south county Maintenance Specialist Shelby studied Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Systems and Society at UCLA. While at UCLA, she helped run the student community garden on campus for a few years. After graduating, she began interning at a small non-profit urban farm, practicing regenerative agriculture, growing organic produce, and providing environmental education to the community. She also interned with the Garden School Foundation to explore her interest in teaching and discovered her love for it! She then began working for Enrich LA teaching gardening and environmental science to elementary schoolers for a year before relocating to SLO. She is passionate about building regenerative systems, particularly in agriculture, and making the process of growing food a local, community affair! In her free time, she enjoys live music, being outside, making new recipes with produce from the garden, reading, making art, and exploring new places! |
Interns & Volunteers
Our internship and volunteer program brings together Cal Poly and Cuesta College students, retired teachers, parents, and passionate community members to support garden-based education across local schools. Interns gain hands-on experience in teaching, sustainable gardening, and community engagement while making a meaningful impact in the lives of students. To learn more about our volunteer programs, visit our volunteer page.
|
Lucca Bert
Lucca grew up in the Bay Area and moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly, where she is in her fourth year studying Environmental Management and Protection. She has always loved spending time outdoors and is especially interested in sustainability, environmental education, and helping others build a stronger connection with the natural world. She previously volunteered with Sprout Up, where she helped teach environmental science lessons to elementary school students. She is excited to continue sharing these interests with students and make learning about the environment fun and approachable. In her free time, Lucca enjoys cooking, running, traveling, making art, and baking with her sourdough starter. Sarah Brockman
Hi! I'm Sarah Brockman and I'm so excited to be a volunteer for One Cool Earth. I am from southern california but moved to SLO where I am a second year at Cal Poly. I am a second year student studying environmental management and protection with a minor in entrepreneurship. I love the outdoors and love getting to teach kids about the outdoors! Edie Blanke
I grew up in Sacramento, Ca and am a second year Environmental Management and Protection major and Photo/Video minor at Cal Poly. I love working with kids and have worked as a camp counselor and at schools teaching about environmental science. In my free time I love to hike, knit, bake, and do arts and crafts! Marlaina Coury
Hi! My name is Marlaina Coury and I am currently a third-year Nutrition major at Cal Poly SLO. Once I graduate, I plan on attending an accredited master's program/dietetic internship to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). I am very passionate about local food systems, sustainable agriculture, and gardening! In my free time I like to go on hikes, crochet, and try out new recipes! Wendy Kinney
|
Board of Directors
|
Tony Pastore
[email protected] Board Chair Tony brings nearly 40 years of sustainability dedication and professional experience to serve One Cool Earth. He began planting fruit trees with his father as a child. Tony continued learning from his dad while designing and building solar energy prototypes in the early 1980s. His first business venture, Backyard Farms, was founded in 1992. Under the banner Ecologic Design, he continued to pioneer hybrid permaculture and restorative ecological landscape design and construction for a decade and half. He left his green civil engineering firm for a solar tech startup in 2010. Tony currently works in the electric energy space focusing his work on regional program design, resiliency and high tech grid edge and future grid technologies. He still loves planting trees and is thrilled to support One Cool Earth. |
Victoria Carranza
[email protected]
Board Member and 'Under the Trees' Program Facilitator
Victoria earned a B.S. in Natural Resources Management specializing in Community Planning & Sustainable Environments from Cal Poly. She was the former Education Director of One Cool Earth and before that a Garden Educator herself. She is honored to be working with the One Cool Earth team and community again. Victoria and her husband are raising their three children in northern SLO county and often enjoy wandering the local creek bed while tracking for animals and identifying plants. She is very active in the birth work community and runs her own business called The Gardening Doula.
[email protected]
Board Member and 'Under the Trees' Program Facilitator
Victoria earned a B.S. in Natural Resources Management specializing in Community Planning & Sustainable Environments from Cal Poly. She was the former Education Director of One Cool Earth and before that a Garden Educator herself. She is honored to be working with the One Cool Earth team and community again. Victoria and her husband are raising their three children in northern SLO county and often enjoy wandering the local creek bed while tracking for animals and identifying plants. She is very active in the birth work community and runs her own business called The Gardening Doula.
|
Morgan Kavanaugh
[email protected] Board Member Morgan has a degree in Environmental Science from UC Santa Barbara and a background in environmental education, with experience in curriculum development and instructional coaching in addition to her time spent in the private sector. Growing up in multiple spots along California’s coast, the Central Coast has always held a special place in her heart because of the community and the wide open spaces. Now, as a public school teacher, she shares her love for the environment by teaching Environmental Science and Biology. A big believer in local, sustainable living, she agrees with John Denver when he says, "I know what this country needs—homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see.” When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with her family, with sand between her toes or dirt under her fingers. As a board member of One Cool Earth, she’s excited to help empower communities through hands-on environmental education and create a sustainable future for all." |
|
Madison Treiber
[email protected] Board Member Growing up in Lake Tahoe imbued Madison with a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors and a natural passion for stewardship. She studied Biology at Cal Poly, focusing on wildlife and botany, and subsequently worked in conservation before pivoting to a career in marketing. In her spare time, she can be found reading, creating, gardening, and backpacking with her wonderful husband and children. Celeste Royer
[email protected] Board Member Celeste has 40 years of experience as an environmental and outdoor education educator and administrator. She was the director of environmental and outdoor education at SLOCOE for over 30 years and directed the Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School. She served as the statewide director of the CREEC Network for the CA Department of Education and was a part-time professor at Cal Poly SLO. Since retiring in 2020, she has worked for Ten Strands, a statewide nonprofit that works to advance environmental literacy for all CA students. A strong advocate of outdoor learning and environmental literacy, Celeste has served on numerous boards and committees that advance equity, inclusion, outdoor learning, and environmental literacy. She is passionate about getting children and adults into the outdoors to appreciate nature, improve their health, and learn to care for the planet. Celeste holds degrees from UCLA, SFSU, and Cal Poly SLO and resides in Los Osos with her husband where they get outdoors often. She loves to read, travel, spend time with family and friends, and visit her children and grandchildren. |