In This Issue

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Executive Director
Healy Vigderson

Program Director
Diana Bergman
 
Gardens and Facilities Manager
Leonard Vargas

Nutrition Program Coordinator
Cherianne Barry

Coordinator of Volunteers and Outreach
Cristina Juarez
 
Development Assistant
Claire Groebner
 
Garden Support Staff
Ananda Gunasekara
Michael Ramirez
Adan Teposte

Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center was created by the 
International Community Foundation  to further its mission of ensuring healthy communities and healthy economies in the cross-border region.

Follow the Seasons with Fresh Veggies!
Olivewood Gardens offers
Farmer's Market Boxes from Specialty Produce!  The box ($20) includes a weekly selection of California-grown fruits and vegetables.  Specialty Produce donates $2 for every purchase to the Olivewood Gardens program fund.  To learn more or enroll, contact Cherianne Barry.
Board of Directors

Chair:  Mary L. Walshok, Ph.D.
Vice  Chair: Sam Dychter, M.D.
Treasurer:  Richard L. Romney
Secretary:  Jacqueline Reynoso
Cathe Burnham
James Clark
Dennis Doyle, Ph.D.
Irma Gigli, M.D.
Anne McEnany
Eleanor Navarra
Susana Villegas
Trish Watlington
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ThankYouSpring is in the air!!
The year has been flying by and these last two months have been jam-packed full of events, programs, and exciting developments.  

April was National Volunteer Month and we want to thank our amazing volunteers! You are critical to our programs and we could not do it without you!  From teaching in the kitchen to helping out in the garden to working on spreadsheets in the office - everything our volunteers do here at Olivewood helps to support our goal to build healthy families and a healthy environment. 

THANK YOU!!

 
UpToWhat We're Up To...March & April
  • We graduated our 7th generation of Kitchenistas.  These inspiring ladies completed our 7-week Cooking for SaludTM program and will go on to encourage healthy lifestyle changes in their families and their communities.
  • We hosted Volunteer Orientations and Open Houses.
  • We visited one of our partner organization, the San Ysidro Health Center, to learn more about their programs - in particular the Salsita Program.  This program is designed to teach nutrition and healthy cooking to families with children identified as pre-diabetic or diabetic.  As part of the Salsita Program, participants visit to Olivewood gardens for a family field trip.
  • We served as the South County pick-up site for the Resource Conservation District's annual School Garden Plant Giveaway.
  • The Kitchenistas met at the Gardens for art classes with Artist Roberto Salas and for writing workshops with the Playwrights Project to learn how to express their stories and feelings through visual and dramatic arts.
  • We worked with the Kitchenistas to participate in the National City Chamber of Commerce's Mariachi Festival, handing out samples of healthy Cauliflower Ceviche.  It was a huge hit!
  • "The Kitchenistas of National City" was screened at the San Diego Latino Film Festival, UCSD Library, and a private home.
  • Educators from throughout the County joined us for the Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden Teacher Training Academy.
  • We hosted our second Cultivating Conversation: A Dine and Learn Series dinner.  Tender Greens created an amazing and abundant meal featuring ingredients from Olivewood and other local farms, and San Diego Magazine food critic Troy Johnson spoke about the Farm-to-Table vs. Farm-to-Fable conundrum.  Thank you to all who participated!
  • We continued working with high school students from Sweetwater High School to learn about all the basics of gardening, the food system, and to spread their new knowledge to other families through lawn-to-garden conversion projects.
  • We hosted field trips for students from National City and throughout the County, as well as our first ever Spring Break Camp!
  • We invited our volunteers out for a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon catered by Cristina Ng of Chinita's Pies.  Thank you, volunteers! 
  • We hosted and participated in the SDG&E Energy Solutions Partner's Luncheon.
  • We exhibited at the Day of the Child event in Chula Vista.                                 and finally....
  • We celebrated volunteer Patty Corona, who received the San Diego Community Champions Award, at the beautiful Molina Healthcare Dinner and Ceremony.
May 21, 2016

The 2016 Seedling Soirée will feature some of San Diego's hottest caterers and restaurants collaborating to create unique dishes that showcase San Diego County's organic and sustainably produced meats, seafood, produce, and confections.



 
Upcoming Events and Programs

Open House
Visit our beautiful gardens, historic Victorian home, and learn about our programs!  Open House is on Saturday, May 7th from 10AM to 1PM.  Tours start at 10:15AM and 12PM.
Click here for details



Wanderlust Family Yogayoga
Join us for family friendly yoga out on the lawn.  There will be yoga sessions and tours starting at 11AM and 1PM.  Bring your mat and your sunscreen and get ready to have fun!
Stay tuned for more details

Gardening Workshopgarden
Come and learn about Waterwise Gardening.  This hands-on training will teach you about low flow irrigation systems and how to grow food using less water. June 11th from 9am-12pm.
Click here to sign up


Volunteervolunteer
Looking for a new and fun way to get engaged in the community?  We have a role for you!
We are seeking volunteers to help with the Seedling Soirée and Day of Play!  
Find out more here


"The Kitchenistas of National City"KNC
This short documentary showing the struggles and triumphs of participants of our Cooking for Salud TM  program is making waves!  Check out the trailer or purchase the DVD Click here .

SDG&E Tipssdge
April blooms with appreciation for Mother Nature on Earth Day. Help our environment with SDG&E programs.  Click here to find out more #espsdge 

Day of Play DoP
June 25, 2016

Join us for a free community event for the whole family!!
Enjoy hands on cooking and gardening activities, tasting stations, physical activities, take-home art, nutrition games, a raffle, and activity booths from partner organizations

For more information and to register:  
recipeFeatured Recipe
Veggie Pesto Pizza
Created by Kati Christensen

Ingredients for Pizza
1 large beet, shredded
¾ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ leek, diced
1-2 leaves of swiss chard, torn
1-2 leaves of kale, torn
1 cup fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 package of whole wheat pizza dough (can be found in the refrigerator section at the grocery store)
Cilantro-cotija pesto

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