The Organization

The Mesa Harmony Garden is a 501(c)3 foundation, located on the property of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Holy Cross Parish; for no purpose other than to serve the local community. The Mesa Harmony Garden is an independent entity, separate from any religious or political organization, and does not receive nor contribute any funds or means directly nor indirectly from any organizations, as prescribed by the non-profit tax codes of the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service.

The Foundation is governed by a Board which meets four times annually.
The Board Members are:-

Hugh Kelly, President, has been a board-member since August 2011, and has chaired the board since February 2014. Hugh has been volunteering at the garden from the start, and has been the volunteer coordinator for most of the intervening period. He has been writing the garden's monthly column in the Mesa Newspaper since October 2011. A certified Permaculture Designer, and a Master Gardener with the UC Cooperative Extension Service, Hugh is on the organizing committee for the Santa Barbara Food Alliance, and runs a pilot program to train and support farmers in East Africa to create sustainable livelihoods.

Vicki Halpern, Vice-President, joined the Board as Harvest Coordinator in January 2017, and has been volunteering at the garden since October 2015. A Master Gardener with UC Cooperative Extension Service she has also studied at SB City College for her Permaculture Design Certificate. In addition, she is on the Project Board of a non-profit program to train and support family farmers in designing sustainable food systems. Vicki moved to the Mesa in 2015, after retiring from a thirty year career in social services.

Randy Saake, Treasurer, is a Deacon at Holy Cross Church, and with Fr. Ludo and the Parish Council was instrumental in finding a practical and community based use, and the personnel capable of developing the land and mission which has become; the Mesa Harmony Garden. Since its inception Randy, has been involved with the development and planning of the Mesa Harmony Garden, in securing the 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, maintaining the finances, and utilizing his professional construction and building skills to make several improvements to the irrigation/water capturing systems and structures on the site.

Celina Andrade, Secretary, is a graduate of UC Riverside, and Oregon State Univ. (MSW '74). She is a widow with 3 adult children, and 8 grandchildren, two of whom passed away in 2017. She worked for Tri-Counties Regional Center for 35 years serving persons with developmental disabilities and their families. After retiring in 2013, she trained as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and continued supporting infants and toddlers. She is a Master Gardener, has volunteered at Mesa Harmony Garden since 2019, and joined the Board in May 2020.

Josh Kane was the inaugural President of the board, subsequently serving as Vice President from February 2014 to July 2017. He is a resident of the Mesa, where he also works as a Financial Adviser with Edward Jones. He is Vice-President of the Mesa Business Association and a board member of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Barbara, all of which he fits in around his role as the father of two young daughters and husband to his high school sweetheart.

Fred Owens joined the Board in March 2013, and served as Secretary from 2013 to 2019. Owens is a lifelong horticulturist with experience in small farms, greenhouses and residential landscaping. Owens has worked the soil and learned the climate in California, Washington state, New England, Texas and Zimbabwe. He said, "I enjoy volunteering at Mesa Harmony Garden, it restores my enthusiasm for the work."

Russ Baldocchi is a graduate of UC Berkeley (BS '84, PhD '92). He is married and has a 14-yr old son. He worked for 22 yrs in the biotechnology/health field, most recently 11 yrs developing cancer diagnostic tests at Agilent Technologies in Carpinteria. When not volunteering in the garden at MHG, he can be found either gardening at SBCC or at Lotusland, or working locally as a handyman. Russ has volunteered at Mesa Harmony Garden since 2020, and joined the board in July 2021. At home, Russ now has 62 fruit trees, bushes, and grafted cultivars in the works. His self-education in horticulture includes certification as an Advanced Green Gardener (SBCC program).

Emeritus

Larry Saltzman was the garden's Permaculture Designer, and was a member of the Board between 2011 and 2019. He specializes in Mediterranean Food Forests, and he and his wife Linda have a 25+ year old Food Forest in Santa Barbara. Larry has spoken and written extensively on Food Forests, and lead many workshops at Mesa Harmony Garden. He was President of the Channel Islands chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers, co-founded the Santa Barbara Organic Garden Club, is past President of the Permaculture Guild of Santa Barbara, and was named a local hero by the SB Independent in 2008.