Digital Storytelling
Documentary Films
Feature – 56 minutes (2021)
Short – 24 minutes (2015)
Feature – 52 minutes (2012)
Employee Ownership Video Collection
Enterprising Owners marks the 30-year anniversary of the Foundation for Enterprise Development (FED) by presenting the early motivations of Dr. J.R Beyster, the founder of FED and SAIC (U.S. largest employee-owned research and engineering firm thru mid-2000’s), along with current motivations of the next generation.
Mary Ann’s first publicly-available projects are a set of more than 20 videos on the research and practice of rewarding employees with meaningful ownership and participation, and how that drives opportunities for economic development, firm performance, and lifetime wealth and prosperity.
Photo Journal
THE PRODUCE STAND
By Mary Ann Beyster
Snapshots during the coronavirus Spring of 2020 at an 8-acre organic, educational garden — Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center – whose staff immediately ramped up a Thursday Produce Stand bringing food relief to the residents of National City and south San Diego. Click the button below to view the journal.
The Kitchenistas
(Available Streaming on Apple TV, Google Play, and VUDU)
Watch the trailer:
About the Film
“‘Kitchenistas’ film put health, love on the menu”
Karla Peterson, Columnist, San Diego Union Tribune
“An Empowering Film!”
Gigi Tsontos, Executive Director, California Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
“A wonderful, touching film on a topic of international importance…”
Dr. Michelle Hauser, Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University, School of Medicine
What started as a 7-week nutrition program eight years ago in National City (CA) for women seeking healthier diets, has become a 300 + Latina-led movement to raise the health, well being, and resilience of their community and beyond. As community builders, these Latina immigrants show how small advocacy actions and sisterhood built over time lead to big changes in their families and communities.
– Received the national Public Media Award for Independent Production by NETA
– Airing on national PBS/public TV stations across every U.S. region from CA to Maine, Alaska to Puerto Rico
– Screened in 10 regional and global film festivals – Received 2 Jury Awards and an Honorable Mention
– Featured to 1000’s in professional/private events and being used in colleges via Cinema Guild
– Released in July 2022 to home streaming on Apple TV, Google Play, and VUDU.
This feature film re-visits/extends the story initially captured in the PBS short film, “The Kitchenistas of National City”.
More on the film website: www.thekitchenistasmovie.org.
The Kitchenistas of National City
“The Kitchenistas of National City” is an award-winning short documentary film that follows first-generation Mexican immigrant mothers and grandmothers in their struggles and transformations to conquer a health crisis in their community. The Kitchenistas show how changing the health of a community starts around the kitchen table. Since 2016, the short has more than 100 airings by PBS stations in 60 cities in every major U.S. region, within the top 10 viewing markets.
Click here to learn more about “The Kitchenistas of National City”
We the Owners
Snapshots during the coronavirus Spring of 2020 at an 8-acre organic, educational garden — Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center – whose staff immediately ramped up a Thursday Produce Stand bringing food relief to the residents of National City and south San Diego. Click the button below to view the journal.
“We the Owners” is an award-winning feature film about three employee-owned “Best Places to Work” companies that place community, the environment, and shared ownership as integral parts of their business responsibility. It is through ownership that wealth is made possible. The film follows decisions made at their founding, through expansion and recruitment, during tough business cycles, and for succession.
For more about the film, go to: www.wetheowners.com
Photo Journal
THE PRODUCE STAND
By Mary Ann Beyster
Snapshots during the coronavirus Spring of 2020 at an 8-acre organic, educational garden — Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center – whose staff immediately ramped up a Thursday Produce Stand bringing food relief to the residents of National City and south San Diego. Click the button below to view the journal.
The Haul
By early summer, there is plenty of yellow squash for harvesting. (7/2/20)
Spring Onions
Harvested before maturity, these are less likely to make you cry.
Abundant Chard
Leonard Vargas, Olivewood Gardens’ Garden and Facility Manager, harvests swiss chard, which totaled more than 35 pounds per week during the month of April 2020. (4/9/20)
On The Move
Jeni Barajas, Environmental Education Specialist at Olivewood Gardens, has minutes after harvesting, cleaning, and packaging to finish preparing the Produce Stand before opening. (4/23/20)
Cut and Come Again
Ellyse Briand, Nutrition Educator at Olivewood Gardens, cuts from field of oregano leaving enough of the plant to grow back for harvesting again within weeks. (7/2/20)
Produce Stand
Since the coronavirus pandemic, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center has ramped up weekly community produce bags from 10 to 60 households, commonly with 4-7 people.
Wait For It
Be ready to cut cilantro when it’s about 6″ tall. There can be 2-3 more harvesting from this same plant. (5/14/20)
Morning Shower
Clean and ready to be packaged. Leeks will grow through Spring and are a regular in the community produce bags.
Veggies, Rice and Beans
This is going to be a beautiful relationship.
Essential Workers
Four of the six-person “essential” worker team of Olivewood Gardens are shown preparing produce bags for the neighborhood after “stay at home” begins in National City, CA on March 13th 2020.
Variety Pack
The 8-acre Olivewood Gardens produces a selection of healthy fruits and vegetables. (6/18/20)
Care Bag
As National City & San Diego County fall under “stay at home” orders in late March, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center prepares produce bags for the community every Thursday. (4/9/20)
Bee Poised
Happy Foods
Cucumber, squash, tomatoes, leeks topped with a rosemary smile. Perfect ingredients for a early summer sauté and salad. (6/11/20)
Do a Good Turn Daily
Jen Nation, executive director of Olivewood Gardens, is ready to help on this May day, practicing what she learned as the former CEO of the Girl Scouts San Diego. (5/14/20)
Moments of Change
We were small plantings, grew for harvesting, and approached yellow squash retirement after 3 months. (Photo editing: Adi Khen)
Press Time
Jen Nation, executive director of Olivewood Gardens, is interviewed by Mike Edison of KFMB about food relief in San Diego. (5/14/20)
Hidden Hero
A single honey bee can pollinate more than a thousand plants in one day. (5/7/20)
The Volunteer
This plant arrived on its own — by wind, dropped by birds, or hitched a ride. Growing on its own, and left to stand strong. (5/21/20)
Capturing our Moment in Time
Beto Olmos, a local videographer, interviews a Kitchenista Lupira who states “Olivewood has helped my family a lot, if it weren’t for them, we would not be as healthy.”
Summer Arrival
As temperatures warm, this monarch butterfly will be joined by others on their generational route north from Mexico. (5/14/20)
Squash Field Clearing
Adan Teposte clears the squash field that he planted in early May. 15 minutes – three 50’ rows. Leaves & flowers to the compost pile. (7/9/20)
Ready for Spring Salsa
Kitchenista Rocina hand cuts a 20’ long row of cilantro. More to come from this row in a few weeks. (5/7/20)
After the Rush
Leonard Vargas, Jeni Barajas, and Elysse Brand discuss gardening plans at Olivewood Gardens after finishing the morning neighborhood Produce Stand. (6/11/20)
Summer Showstoppers
Jeni Barajas, Environmental Education Specialist, pulls up a bunch of radishes. Perfect zing for a salad or side. (6/4/20)
No June Gloom
Elysse Briand and fellow Olivewood Gardens staff preparing produce bags on a sunny June morning. (6/11/20)
Flower Enthusiast
Planted for simple beauty as well as for function. (5/21/20)
Thank You
Olivewood Kitchenista Sorina waves as she leaves the Produce Stand at Olivewood Gardens. (4/16/20)
Self Expression
After nine weeks of “stay-at-home”, Jeni Barajas and Olivewood Kitchenista Arlene are showing their styles. (5/14/20)
Behind the Mask
Olivewood Kitchenista Sarah is waiting in line with 60 others for the Produce Stand on a Thursday morning in May 2020.
Queuing
Neighbors begin queuing along the Olivewood Garden property around 15 minutes before the 10:00am opening. There is always enough supply.
Spring Treats
Pounds of sweat peas grew in March and April along with kumquats. By May, the peas were done. (4/9/20)
Weighing In
From 250-300 pounds of produce is harvested, clean, and given out every Thursday morning at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center’s Produce Stand.
Joy in the Garden
Kitchenista and Community Outreach Assistant, Rocina Lizarraga works the lower garden wearing one of her hand-made face masks.
Curling
Curling or crooking. Strange but not an uncommon condition for cucumbers. (5/21/20)
Reinforcements
Octavio Rodriguez, Olivewood Garden’s support staff, carries cartons of Kumquats. Sweet additions grown for the produce bags.
Diversity
Don’t be limited to round, red radishes, as they come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
Donate What You Can
Seventy-five percent of the produce stand visitors are repeat customers. All donate what they can. (3/26/20)
Treasures
Adan Teposte, Olivewood’s Gardener Support Staff, searches for the right carrots along the 50’ rows of seeds he sowed 60 days prior. (5/4/20)
Watch a video of the photo journal here.