Kari Ballesteros

Kari (she/her) is the Garden Care Manager & a Co-Owner of Mariposa. Her roots are in Los Angeles, CA, and she also calls Mexico City her second home. 

Kari enjoys any time spent outdoors, especially in company of her dog, Canela. She grew up going to the beach in Southern CA a lot so she always finds joy being by the ocean. She loves to swim, kayak and every now and then go surfing with friends. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures which feeds her interest in ethnobotany. She loves to learn how plants and people interact with one another. Whether that's through food, medicine, religious/spiritual use, habitat value or just simply because it makes people feel a certain way to be around the plant.

Kari likes to keep all these things in mind when she works in Mariposa gardens. It’s important to her to help people in urban environments establish a connection with nature. 

Kari also loves to dance, play chess and read. She also lovestaking public transportation and getting "lost" in the city!