Elena Rodriguez
BIO
BA in Agriculture Education in the University of Puerto Rico, gardening enthusiast and Kale Mamá founder. Mom of 3.
Instagram: @kale_mama
Twitter: @Elenita1980
Elena Rodriguez
“Carving your own path is hard, even harder when you’re a mom. But there are a few moments of sweet success that make it all worth it.”
Growing up in rural Puerto Rico set me up with a great love for farming, gardening and animal husbandry. I was fortunate enough to have proper schooling and went on to get a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education.
I enjoyed jobs in seed production, small animal husbandry and as an agriculture insurance claim adjuster. Although I really loved teaching, I wasn't able to find work as an agriculture teacher during that time. So I followed my crazy career path with an open heart and an open mind. I embraced these opportunities and soaked in all the information and skills in the hopes to create something in the future.
Then motherhood knocked on my door. This new chapter took over my whole life and I surrendered my professional life to indulge in my family. Soon enough I found myself wanting more, so I searched for working opportunities that could fit into my life as a mother and was faced with a wall. Maybe because I live in an economically depressed territory, but also because of a lack of opportunities for women who want to remain as caregivers and also fulfill that professional void.
A good friend and I collaborated and created Kale Mamá. It started out as a fun way to share our gardening experiences with our families and raise awareness about food security in Puerto Rico. Then it progressed into gardening workshops for families, blog posts, teaching opportunities and also a lot of heartache.