A Mexico City native and descendant of farmers, Mireya Arizmendi de Haddad's first memories are of rivers, lush vegetation, and open spaces where she caught fireflies and tended the land with her family in Cuernavaca. When her family moved to South Los Angeles in 1990, her love for gardening continued its cultivation on the rooftop of their apartment building as they grew vegetables as best as they could. 

"Living in a food desert surrounded by concrete was challenging. I missed the natural beauty I had known in Cuernavaca." 

Mireya remembers the rooftop moment which changed her life. "One day, I went up to the rooftop and saw the San Gabriel Mountains towering over the city. Even though I didn’t yet know how, I promised myself that one day I would reach those mountains and become a steward of the land. That experience shaped my lifelong commitment to environmental advocacy, education, and community empowerment."

Mireya first learned about the UC Master Gardener program while attending a gardening event in Santa Monica, where Master Gardeners Florence Nishida and Sarah Spitz shared with her information about the program.

Mireya was drawn to the program because of its ability to bring transformational change to Los Angeles communities. "I want to teach vulnerable populations about edible gardening and outdoor recreation. Gardening can transform lives. It’s about health, hope, and healing as much as it is about growing food."

A graduate of the 2014 cohort, Mireya is passionate about organic gardening, water-wise gardening, California native plants, and small-space gardening. She also has a deep love for healing gardens. "I see (healing) urban gardens as sacred and powerful places that nurture families and strengthen communities across Los Angeles. They are spaces of restoration and belonging."

Mireya says the MG program has shaped both her academic and professional journey, and that earning her MG certification reflects professional development and integrity. "It strengthened my commitment to holistic education, sustainable practices, and community engagement through horticulture. It validated my mission to educate others and advocate for access to nature and healthy food systems."

While she loves so many aspects of the program, soil health is tops for Mireya. "Learning about soil health, especially composting and vermicomposting, was transformative. The soil is a living teacher. It reminds us that everything is connected, and that human health mirrors the health of the soil beneath our feet."

Mireya's advice for future MG's is simple. "Never stop learning. Stay curious, humble, and open. Remember that we are lifelong students of nature. Every day, the garden has something new to teach us."

Article by UC Master Gardener Rebecca W.