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This Season, Give the Gift of Health
We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you for your partnership with Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. With the help of volunteers, donors, and friends like you, we are able to introduce thousands of children and their families to the wonders of the garden and cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables. Your support helps continue this work, creating an empowered and healthy community.
In 2015, we hope to increase our impact by bringing more children and families to our gardens to learn about organic gardening, nutrition, and environmental stewardship and you can help! This holiday season please consider making a contribution to Olivewood Gardens to help create a healthier San Diego.
Thank you and Happy Holidays, from our garden to yours!
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Volunteer Janine (right) shows worms to an excited student |
Win a Basket of Organic Olivewood Produce!
Take the 2014 Volunteer Feedback Survey
Volunteers, please help us to improve our programming by filling out the survey linked below before December 31. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. After you take the survey, you will receive a link to register for the raffle and win fabulous Olivewood prizes.
All individuals who have volunteered in the 2014 Calendar Year are eligible to complete the survey and win prizes.
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A new gardener holds on to her pepper plant |
Celebrate Healthy Holidays with Specialty Produce
Olivewood Gardens offers Farmers' Market Boxes from Specialty Produce! The box ($20) includes a weekly selection of fresh California-grown fruits and vegetables.
Specialty Produce donates $2 of every purchase to the Olivewood Gardens program fund. To learn more or enroll, contact Kati Christensen.
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Specialty Produce
Farmers' Market Box contents
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Volunteer Lynn helps a young chef to press her own tortilla |
Executive Director
(619) 434-4281
2525 N Avenue
National City, CA 91950
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Board of Directors
- Chair: Mary L. Walshok, Ph.D
- Vice Chair: Dennis Doyle, Ph.D.
- Treasurer: Richard L. Romney
- Secretary: Jacqueline Reynoso
- Cathe Burnham
- Irma Gigli, M.D.
- Anne McEnany
- Eleanor Navarra
- Trish Watlington
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Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center was created by the to further it's vision of assuring healthy communities and healthy economies in the cross-border region. |
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Grab lunch or dinner at
TODAY,
Wednesday, December 17th
from
12pm to 8pm
and you can support Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center!
20% of sales generated (excluding tax and alcohol) from Dine-in and To go meal purchases will be donated to Olivewood. Please bring the flyer below.
Boudin at Fashion Valley Shopping Center 7007 Friars Rd. San Diego, CA Click Here to Download Flyer 
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Thank You Peets!Visit Peet's Coffee & Tea in Point Loma between Wednesday, 12/17 and Wednesday, 12/24 to make a donation supporting Olivewood. Peet's will match donations up to $750.
Visitors on 12/24 (Christmas Eve) will receive free coffee or tea in exchange for their donation.
Peet's Coffee & Tea
955 Catalina Boulevard #103
San Diego, CA 92106
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 Saturday, 1/17 3p-6:30p
Join us for an evening of gardening, cooking and fun for the whole family!
Take a tour of the property, harvest vegetables from the garden, work together to prepare a healthy, seasonal meal, and eat together and share conversation as a family in the historic Noyes House.
Date: Saturday, January 17th
Cost: $25/person
RSVP: (619) 434-4281 (space is limited)
Location: Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
2525 N Ave, National City, CA 91950
Ages 5 & up
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Volunteers, Join us for a Potluck!
Past, present, and future volunteers are invited to share an afternoon meal on the Noyes House lawn! Please bring a healthy vegetarian dish to share and help us reduce waste by bringing your own plate, cup, and utensils. Friends and family welcome!
You may also want to join our gardening class (9a-12p) or property tours (10:15a and 12:15p) beforehand.
Location: Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
2525 N Ave, National City, CA 91950
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What We're Up To
November and December
November:
Olivewood hosted 12 field trips for adult and youth students from Olivewood Elementary School, Lincoln Acres Elementary School, La Jolla Country Day School, The Learning Choice Academy and more.
We presented at community events including the USD Adventures in Service Fair, the Volunteer Administrators Network round table meeting, and the National City Chamber of Commerce NonProfit Breakfast.
Additional programming included...
- A Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education teacher training academy for teachers, school administrators, and Olivewood interns. This workshop has the potential to impact 2,000 or more students in the South Bay.
- A FOOD and FARM Family Fun Day
- A Tour and Talk featuring a guest presentation on Permaculture by Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape
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Family Dinner Night attendees harvest lettuce for a fresh salad
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- In the first two weeks of December...
- We debuted our brand-new Family Dinner Night program
- We showed families at Granger Jr. High and the National City Tree Lighting how to make Brain Power Parfaits
- We held a winter gardening class and Open House
- 4th graders from National School District will come back to Olivewood! Students will become F.B.I. (fungus, bacteria, and invertebrates) agents to solve the case of the the decomposing food waste, build their own compost pile using recycled food scraps from our kitchen and Barley Mash restaurant, and make tasty Rainbow Wraps featuring a colorful selection of garden vegetables.
- College interns Rubie, Krysta, Corey, and Annie will present their final projects. We can't wait to see their amazing work!
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Gardening Class:
Feeding Your Soil to Feed Your Garden
(and Yourself!)
Saturday, 1/24
Class includes site-based garden education and relevant volunteer work. Come ready to get your hands dirty and learn by doing!
Topics:
- Building garden beds by double-digging
- Amending soil using compost
Date: Saturday, 1/24
Time: 9am to 12pm
Location: Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
2525 'N' Ave, National City, CA 91950
Contact: [email protected], (619) 434-4281Students must be at least 15 years old to attend.
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Open House
Saturday, January 24
Learn about our historic roots, current gardening practices, and plans to impact the future of National City. Tours include two large garden areas and a peek inside the Noyes house.
Guided Tours: 10:15am and 12:15pm
Location: Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
2525 N Ave, National City, CA 91950
Suggested Donation: $5
Contact: 619-434-4281
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This Valentine's Day:
Harvest and Cook Together
Looking for a unique Valentine's Day date idea? Join us for a farm-to-picnic-blanket experience unlike any other!
- Explore the spring garden and harvest fresh herbs and veggies together
- Learn new cooking techniques from an Olivewood chef and make a meal to share
- Enjoy your healthy lunch together in the afternoon sun
Date: Saturday, February 14th
Time: 10am-12pm
More details to come. Please contact Diana Bergman ( [email protected], 619-434-4281) to RSVP.
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FOOD and FARM Family Fun Day
Saturday, February 28th
Learn together, cook together, grow together!
Join us for a family field trip!
Take a family outing to beautiful Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center to explore the connections between food, health, and a healthy planet. Participate in hands-on cooking, gardening, and educational activities as a family.
Start the conversation- where does your food come from, and what makes a food healthy? See the whole "farm to table" process unfold before you.
Space limited to 30 participants. Register now!
Who: Families with children ages 3+
When: Saturday, 2/28; 10am-12pm
Where: Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center
2525 N Avenue, National City, CA 91950
Registration Fee: $15/person
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Featured Recipe:
Rainbow Wrap with Cheese and Greek Yogurt Sauce
Created by Krysta Landingin
(Serves 10-12)
Ingredients for Rainbow Wrap
10 whole wheat flour tortillas 10-12 stems of cilantro
1 cup of baby spinach , shredded/torn 7 cherry tomatoes, diced
� purple onion, diced 1 ear of corn, cut off cob
1 large carrot, diced � of cucumber, diced
Greek yogurt sauce (see recipe below) cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions for Rainbow Wrap
1. Turn skillet on low heat and place tortillas on the skillet to warm.
2. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the tortilla as it is being warmed on the skillet.
3. Remove the cilantro leaves from the stem and tear into smaller pieces. Dice all vegetables into small bite sized pieces and toss them with cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir together.
4. Remove the warm tortilla with cheese from the skillet and add a couple of spoonfuls of veggie mixture on top.
5. Begin to roll the tortilla until the veggie mixture is wrapped inside and enjoy!
Ingredients for Greek Yogurt Sauce
6 ounces plain non-fat Greek yogurt
2 Tablespoons of fresh chives finely chopped (about 5 long stems)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper and salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
Directions for Greek Yogurt Sauce
Mix all measured spices and finely chopped chives with the Greek yogurt together in a small sauce bowl. Enjoy with Rainbow Wrap as a sauce inside the wrap or as a dip for individual bites.
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