The Root 66 Garden

In 2014, Dee Matreyek founded The Root 66 Garden in Rancho Cucamonga, California, with a vision to create a vibrant community space centered on sustainable agriculture and reconnecting people with their food sources. Inspired by her childhood in Upland, where her parents tended 27 fruit trees, two strawberry patches, and abundant gardens for canning, baking, and cooking, Dee channeled her passion for gardening, education, and community building into the creation of The Root 66 Garden. Today, the garden provides individuals and families with the opportunity to grow their own food, participate in educational workshops, attend farm-to-table events, and engage in meaningful community projects.

A dedicated social justice advocate and entrepreneur, Dee earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Politics and African Studies from Claremont Graduate University in 1998. She has pursued advanced studies in peacebuilding and multicultural conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite University and the School for International Training. In 2001, she founded the Restorative Justice Center of the Inland Empire, promoting peace and reconciliation through mediation, conflict resolution, and community engagement. Dee has also taught restorative justice and conflict resolution at the Chino Institute for Women, Loma Linda University, and Chapman University. Her international work includes research in South Africa and humanitarian projects in Kenya through the Rancho Cucamonga Rotary Club, providing books, building a well, and supporting a local school.

Through The Root 66 Garden and her broader work, Dee continues to create inclusive, restorative spaces that strengthen communities, promote sustainability, and support local food systems. The garden itself is a tribute to her parents, Bill and Mary Matreyek, who instilled in her the importance of cultivating and preserving a legacy for future generations.

 Karen Cancilla is a dynamic entrepreneur, media personality, and recognized health and lifestyle advocate with a career spanning decades. She left the insurance industry for urban farming in 2008 after founding and successfully growing multiple insurance agencies, including Pacific Way Insurance Brokerage, which she sold that same year. Following this success, she launched groOrganic Gardens, franchising the concept nationwide from 2009 to 2020 and bringing urban gardening to communities from desert regions to New York City rooftops. Her innovative approach to franchising earned recognition among the Top New Franchises (2009), Top 21 Franchises for Women (2010), and Top 21 Franchises for Young Entrepreneurs. In 2020, she took over management of The Root 66 Garden, continuing her commitment to community-based urban farming and food education.

Her entrepreneurial achievements and advocacy have been widely recognized, with features in Insurance Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine (November 2012), and on Fox Business News. She has appeared on television programs such as Access Hollywood with Maria Menounos, Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and Fit, Famous, and Fabulous on Cox TV3; on radio shows including 106.7 KIIS FM with Ryan Seacrest and WS Radio; and in bestselling books like Girls Guide to Life and Every Girl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness by Maria Menounos, and A Guide to Growing Fruit, Herbs, and Vegetables in the Tropics by Karin Fields. She has also been featured on platforms including Huffington Post, Tori Spelling Blog, The Sydney Garden Project, Green Eco Services, and Circle of Moms. A passionate health and food advocate, Karen also participated in the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution and was a Health Activist Nominee in 2014.

When she’s not working, Karen enjoys relaxing in her off-grid tiny home on her 200-acre ranch in Northern Arizona, where she continues to cultivate her passion for sustainable living and nature.

Amanda is a seasoned environmental and agricultural professional with a strong focus on ecological stewardship, pollinator health, and sustainable land management. 

Over the last 10 years, she has collaborated closely with farmers, agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to develop strategic solutions that drive productivity, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. 

As a published environmental scientist and experienced researcher, she combines scientific research with practical experience, focusing on sustainability. Her qualifications include receiving training as an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional through the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), a certified UC California Naturalist, and as a NOLS-certified Wilderness First Responder. Amanda also holds certification as a Pollinator Steward through the Pollinator Partnership, reinforcing her commitment to pollinator conservation. 

Her academic and professional affiliations include membership in the American Association of Geographers (AAG), the International Geographical Honor Society, and the California Native Plant Society. Since receiving her B.A. in Environmental Studies from California State University, she has continued her education with Habitat Conservation Planning (HCPs) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) courses. In addition, as a certified Clinical Aromatherapist and Regional Director of NAHA, Amanda applies plant chemistry to interactions within environmental and agricultural systems while contributing a holistic perspective to land stewardship. 

Finally, as the owner of Bee Rooted, the garden has flourished with Amanda donating over 10 years of pollination services as The Root 66 Garden’s resident beekeeper.

Celia San Pedro is an experienced agriculture educator and flower farmer with a background in middle school agriculture instruction at Legacy Christian PSP and hands-on farming through her Sow and Grow Flower Farm. She is an active member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) and has received mentorship from flower farming expert Lennie Larkin, combining classroom knowledge with practical expertise in sustainable flower farming.

Celia brings her skills to create a vibrant community space where people and pollinators thrive. She focuses on making organic, locally grown flowers accessible locally. 

Angelica Victoria is a community garden educator with training in history, mental health, and permaculture. She offers engaging, nature-based workshops on topics such as mindfulness, soil health, sustainability, and personal wellbeing. Angelica believes gardens are powerful spaces for learning, healing, and connection, and she strives to create inclusive, welcoming environments where people of all ages and backgrounds feel safe to explore, grow, and build community together.

Brandi Jaramillo is a certified holistic nutritionist and health coach with over 20 years of experience in natural health education and community wellness. As an active member of the Healthy Rancho Cucamonga steering committee, she is dedicated to making holistic health accessible through hands-on education and
community engagement, with a special focus on plant-based nutrition as a foundation for longevity and preventing and managing chronic health conditions. Brandi spent nearly two decades at Sprouts Farmers Market (and Henry's), where she managed the Natural Living department and became an expert in herbs, natural supplements, and holistic wellness. She received specialized training from national educators from industry leaders including Garden of Life, New Chapter, Host Defense, Aura Cacia, and Herb Pharm. With a passion and purpose to “be the change”, she developed and led the community outreach program for our local Sprouts for 12 years. She focused on bringing wellness education to our local community from schools and small interest groups to large scaled events at Toyota Arena Ontario, including corporate wellness events (such as IEHP and Mission), health fairs, the Cucamonga Water District Earth Day Festival, and community festivals throughout the Inland Empire—including a partnership with Root 66 Garden in its early days when she first met founder Dee Matreyek. She conducted store tours for children's groups, teaching food label reading and produce identification, and ran free kids' workshops throughout the community.

In 2018, Brandi founded Spirit of a Culture, an eco-friendly DIY pop-up experience offering natural craft workshops at makers markets and women's empowerment events. When the pandemic shifted her focus to go inward, igniting her own personal health transformation, she deepened her studies in neuroscience and nervous system regulation, earning her certifications as a holistic nutritionist and health coach. This led to the creation of Sunbalanced Nutrition, her practice centered on the gut-brain-heart connection and helping women find their balance to create sustainable lifestyle transformations through plant-based nutrition. While building her practice, Brandi currently works in special education, where she applies her holistic health knowledge and heart-centered approach to support children's development and wellbeing, drawing connections between nutrition, nervous system regulation, and learning.

At Root 66 Garden, she brings her extensive background in community education and natural wellness to offer accessible, hands-on workshops focused on plant-based cooking, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and practical skills for healthier living. Her workshops emphasize sustainable lifestyle changes and empower participants with
knowledge they can use daily to improve their health and quality of life.

Jessika Shutt is an educator at The Root 66 Community Garden with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Geology. She brings a strong academic foundation together with extensive hands-on experience, combining scientific knowledge with a lifelong passion for gardening and community-based education.

Jessika has volunteered with several local community programs, including conservation organizations throughout the Inland Empire and the Rialto School District. Through her conservation work, she has helped plant native milkweed to support monarch butterfly populations, collected seeds from native plants to help increase local native plant populations, and promoted biodiversity through hands-on restoration efforts. As a Garden Educator with the Rialto School District, she worked directly with students and educators to teach gardening, environmental science, and water conservation through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

At The Root 66 Community Garden, Jessika focuses on education and outreach, particularly youth education. She creates meaningful opportunities for children to engage directly with the garden, learn how food grows, and develop healthy eating habits. By encouraging kids to harvest fresh produce and explore sustainable gardening practices, she helps foster curiosity, confidence, and environmental awareness.

Jessika believes community gardens are powerful classrooms that support education, environmental stewardship, and community connection. Through her work, she strives to make gardening accessible while highlighting the many benefits that native plants, sustainable practices, and hands-on learning bring to individuals and the broader community.