We are delighted to introduce our new UC Cooperative Extension county director for Los Angeles County--Dr. Keith Nathaniel.

The end of 2011 marked a leadership change for UC Cooperative Extension. After 16 years as county director, Dr. Rachel Surls has transitioned back into the field to focus on her programs and research in sustainable food systems.

In January, Dr. Keith Nathaniel was appointed to fill the director position. He has been with UC Cooperative Extension since 1994. He began as program coordinator and later moved on to becoming the 4-H youth development advisor for LA County. Along with his many years of leadership experience and organizational knowledge, his academic expertise is in after-school programs, adolescent development and youth science literacy. We couldn't be in better hands!

"As county director, I am excited to lead this organization and build on the momentum and achievements made by our staff and programs under Dr. Surls' leadership," said Nathaniel. "We will continue to help LA County residents live well and thrive, particularly during these challenging economic times," he added.

Nathaniel received his doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA, a master's degree in education from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University and a bachelor's degree from UC Davis.

To contact Dr. Nathaniel, please contact him at (323) 260-3845, kcnathaniel@ucdavis.edu.

As Los Angeles County continues its love affair with growing backyard gardens and supporting the garden-to-table living, UC Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce the fifth season of Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative gardening classes this spring. Taught by UC-certified Master Gardeners, the locally-celebrated series will be held at community gardens throughout the county, starting in March or April.

The initiative helps new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard or at a community garden, bringing together local families and neighbors to share their experiences, skills and produce. Participants will turn their new gardening interest into successful gardens, "from the ground up," and will generate positive changes in their homes (with lower grocery bills and enhanced opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods).

Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener volunteers will organize and lead low-cost gardening classes. Eighteen gardening classes are scheduled throughout the county. Each class will meet four times, on weekends, to discuss gardening techniques and engage in hands-on activities. Upon successful completion of the series, participants will become UC-certified Victory Gardeners.

"Learning from our Master Gardeners is a wonderful way to play in the garden and grow your own really fresh, harvested vegetables," said Yvonne Savio, Common Ground Garden program manager.

Partners in the initiative include local schools, community gardens and organizations, such as the Altadena Community Garden, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Watts Towers Art Center.

For more information on the Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative, click here.

To view the schedule of classes for spring 2012, click here.

For general information on the Common Ground Garden Program, click here.

As part of UC Cooperative Extension's effort to spotlight volunteers, we are so happy to draw attention to another special volunteer, Ernest Miller, Master Food Preserver Program instructor, Master Gardener and executive chef at Farmer's Kitchen in Hollywood.

The Master Food Preserver Program's tremendous success, since its resurrection in LA County last year, could have not been possible without Miller's talent and commitment to food safety and the local food preservation "movement."

For the first class in spring 2011, after a 10-year absence, Cooperative Extension received applications from more than 70 residents, all competing for 18 spots. The first group of highly-qualified students were selected to be the core group to help revitalize the Master Food Preserver Program in Los Angeles. The first graduating class included Rachel Narins (Chicks with Knives), Karen Klemens (Mothercluck Jams and Preserves and Mother Moo Creamery) and Milli Macen-Moore (Milagro-Allegro Community Garden).

Miller's path to the food world was a varied one. In 1992, he graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy and served overseas as an officer in the Navy. While traveling around the world, during his decade-long military career, he discovered and explored diverse cuisines. Often, he attempted to cook what he encountered for family and friends at home.

Although Miller is enthusiastic about food from all corners of the world, his affection lies in Southern California cuisine and food preservation.

After Yale Law School and a brief legal career, he enrolled in culinary school to pursue his passion for food.

While working as a line cook at the Disneyland Resort hotels, Miller heard about UC Cooperative Extension's Master Food Preserver Program. When he inquired, he discovered that the program was defunct for more than a decade. Determined to get certified, he made the dreadful commute to San Bernardino County to attend the only active Master Food Preserver Program in Southern California. In 2009, Miller received his certificate.

Upon graduating, Miller began volunteering by teaching classes on the basics of food preservation for the Master Gardener Program. He played a key role in bringing back the Master Food Preserver Program in LA County. In addition, he volunteered countless hours attending farmers markets and sharing his knowledge.

In 2010, Miller went onto receive his Master Gardener certificate, which marks the beginning of his seed-to-plate interest. Now, he seldom discusses food preservation without discussing how to grow food.

Today, Miller is at the center of the food preservation community in Los Angeles. He continues to organize and teach for the Master Food Preserver Program as well as conduct food preservation demonstrations and talks around the county (including Eat Real Festival, Huntington Library, Workman-Temple Homestead Museum, Natural History Museum and the LA County Fair).

"As people grow more of their own food and insist on locally-grown farmers market produce, they are becoming more and more interested in food preservation," said Miller. "The Master Food Preserver Program complements and extends the utility of the Master Gardener Program and Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative," he added.

Many LA County residents are familiar with Miller. Since 2010, he has received recognition on KCRW's "Good Food" and has been blogged about on several occasions by the LA Times and LA Weekly. He has attained household-name status in the local sustainable food community.

Cooperative Extension is pleased to recognize Milli Macen-Moore's volunteer efforts to improve the health of children through gardening. She is a great example of the spirit of volunteerism at work and Cooperative Extension is proud to call her "our own."

Born and raised in Southern California, Macen-Moore started her community work by teaching the residents in her community how to grow their own food as a tool to combat diabetes and obesity. Shortly after, she discovered Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program and became a certified Master Gardener, a decision that changed her life considerably. Since graduating as a Master Gardener in 2009, community service has been a big part of her life. To date, she has volunteered more than 1,400 hours, which is substantially above and beyond the expected 50 hours within the first year of graduation and 25 hours per year for the following years.

In order to conduct her outreach and educational activities, Macen-Moore has worked primarily out of the Milagro Allegro Community Garden, located in the heart of Highland Park. The garden was established in early 2009 to integrate urban farming, art and education for local residents who are predominantly low-income, with high rates diabetes and obesity. The garden produces not only fruits, vegetables and flowers, it also helps cultivate creative ideas, artistic expression and community values. Located at 115 South Avenue 56 in the northeastern part of the city, the garden features 10,000 square feet of land divided into 32 raised plots and hosts classes, workshops and community events.

Macen-Moore is also a UC-certified Master Food Preserver, sustainable landscape expert, and a volunteer coordinator for Cooperative Extension's Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative and Fresh from the Garden program. She specializes in leading bilingual workshops for children on organic, edible landscapes for self-sustainability. Her goal is to empower children with skills in growing and eating more nutritious fruits and vegetables, as they try to combat their health issues. Over the years, she has developed unique curricula for preschool, elementary and middle school students.

Macen-Moore played a considerable role in the success of LA Sprouts, a local nutrition and gardening program in Northeast Los Angeles for low-income children. The program improved significantly the health, dietary intake and food preferences of participants. They gained less weight than their classmates who did not participant in the program. Along with obtaining valuable nutrition information, students learned how to sow seeds, transplant seedlings, compost, water, recycle and identify various plants.

Over the years, she has received many forms of recognition for her community work. In 2010, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles; and since 2009, she has received impressive attention from the English- and Spanish-speaking media, such as KCET, KPCC, Los Angeles Times, Univision, La Opinion and Urban Farm Magazine.

Macen Moore is a wonderful volunteer and champion of good health. Cooperative Extension wishes to thank her for all her hard work!