Welcome to our new column, Botanica World, in which we interview our favorite creative women about inspiration, sustainability, business, and social distancing for public health. The objective of this series is to bring some positive content to the social media space. Artists and creators have always persevered and thrived even in times of adversity, and we wanted to check in with our community to share experiences- we are all in this together. 

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Karina Fontes, Actor

Los Angeles, CA

Where have you found inspiration in 2020?

It mostly happens in the shower or when I'm on a run I get really euphoric and inspiration starts flooding my brain. Recently since we’ve been in quarantine, it's happened a lot during my meditations which is really cool. 

What does sustainability mean to you or your business? What systems have you implemented to prioritize sustainability? 

Using/Working with what you’ve got instead of buying because we’re taught consumerists. I’ve recently been saving all my food scraps or veggies gone bad for compost, I typically leave it in the bottom shelf of my fridge. My best friends have chickens in their backyard in Venice so I’ve been running over there and feeding the chickies when the compost bag fills up. America is ranked #1 in the nations that waste more food than any other country in the world. 

Who are the women in your community that inspire you? Do you have a mentor? 

Fortunately, there are many women in my life who inspire me daily. My closest friends are my teachers, It’s inspiring when they meet me with absolute truth and sincere advice. I'm still very close with an ex’s mom, she’s been the closest thing to a mentor that I have. Typically, asking her for advice on ways to navigate my career. I feel very lucky. 

What has been your biggest challenge in your career? How did you approach it? 

Refusing to give up when I feel like things are not going my way, or when it takes a turn that I hadn’t planned for. “Just keep going, even if you’re not moving or grooving” is how I get through it. 

Society is facing an unprecedented situation with the effects of COVID-19. What have you been doing to stay grounded and mindful during these times? Do you maybe have a recipe or favorite pastime to share while we are all at home? 

I’ve been volunteering since the beginning of quarantine with Red Cross and L.A.U.S.D to provide meals for students and their families. It's been so fulfilling and bringing me so much joy to help my community. Other activities include meditating, Journaling, FT with friends. I was baking a ton at the beginning of quarantine but having no one to enjoy it with haha. Long walks have kept me sane, not being hard on myself for being productive every day. I’ve been making these GF almond crackers:

- 1 3⁄4 of almond flour (blanched)

- 1⁄2 teaspoon celtic sea salt

- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely chopped

- 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large egg 

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, and rosemary 

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil and egg 

3. Stir wet ingredients into almond flour mixture until thoroughly combined 

4. Roll dough into a big ball 

5. Press big ball between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1⁄8 inch thickness (you can roll it flat with a bottle of wine) 

6. Remove top piece of parchment paper 

7. Transfer the bottom piece with rolled out dough onto a baking sheet 

8. Cut dough into 2 inch squares with a knife or pizza cutter 

9. Bake at 350 for 12-15 min until lightly golden 

10. Let crackers cool on baking sheet for 30 minutes, then serve with goat cheese or pesto! 

Thanks to Karina for contributing to Botanica World! You can watch her most recent movie, Body at Brighton Rock, on Hulu.

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider donating to the following charity that she has selected: 

World Central Kitchen!! They’re working with L.A.U.S.D providing meals for free for students and their families.