Thank you to our newest supporter, the Hervey Family Fund
at The San Diego Foundation Welcome to the Olivewood family!


OWG-logo
 A young chef makes guacamole 
at the Day of Play
internFall 2014 Internships
Learn, have fun, and give back!

Olivewood is now accepting applications for our Fall Internship Cycle! We are seeking passionate individuals interested in education, food justice, organic gardening, and community engagement. Interns will learn real-world skills in their fields of study and gain hands-on experience at a working non-profit organization.

 

Open Positions:

- Kitchen Education Internship

- Program Coordination Internship

- Elementary Education Internship

 

Apply and Learn More:

Olivewoodgardens.org/get-involved/volunteer-positions/
 


Volunteer Josephine and Dietetics Intern Elizabeth pose with a nutrition game at the Day of Play
openhouseOpen House
  
Join us for a free public event! Tour the gardens and the historic Noyes House. Learn about our community programs.


 

Date: Saturday, 8/16

Time: 10am-1pm

LocationOlivewood

2525 N Ave, National City, 91950

Suggested Donation: $5

 

For more information, contact

Diana Bergman at (619) 434-4281


Guests dine at beautiful serpentine tables during the 2014 Seedling Soiree 
(photo: @DiningOutSD)
Fmb
 
Try Something New Every Week: Recipes Included!
 
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.
 
Specialty Produce 
Farmers' Market Box contents
Want to Bring YOUR class to Olivewood Gardens?
 

A future farmer constructs his own mini-farm in our Gardenville play box


Executive Director

Healy Vigderson

healy@olivewoodgardens.org 

 

Program Director

Diana Bergman

diana@olivewoodgardens.org

 

Head Gardener

Martha Prusinskas

martha@olivewoodgardens.org

 

Chef Educator

Kati Christensen

kati@olivewoodgardens.org

 

Volunteer Coordinator

Ally Welborn

ally@olivewoodgardens.org

 

Events Coordinator

Scott Medina-Brzezinski

events@olivewoodgardens.org

  

(619) 434-4281
2525 N Avenue
National City, CA 91950


Board of Directors
  • ChairMary L. Walshok, Ph.D
  • Vice ChairDennis Doyle, Ph.D.
  • TreasurerRichard L. Romney
  • SecretaryJacqueline Reynoso
  • Cathe Burnham
  • Irma Gigli, M.D.
  • Eleanor Navarra
  • Jacqueline Reynoso
  • Trish Watlington


Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  View our photos on flickr

 

ICF

Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center is a Type 1 supporting organization of the 
happy

  

Join us for a celebration of the 2013-2014 School Year as we look ahead to next year! Mix and mingle with Olivewood supporters, volunteers and staff. 10% of all food sales will be donated to Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. Ages 21+.

 

Photo credit: @DiningOutSD

 

Win Jack Johnson Tickets! Purchase a $5 raffle ticket for the chance to win two tickets to the August 30th Jack Johnson Concert. Raffle proceeds benefit Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center.

 

Can't make it on 8/5? Craft & Commerce is donating 10% of all Happy Hour (3p-7p) food sales to Olivewood throughout the month of August!

 

Date: Tuesday, August 5th

Time: 5pm-7pm

Location: Craft & Commerce675 W Beech St, Little Italy

RSVP: ally@olivewoodgardens.org OR 619-434-4281

seedling
Success at the Seedling Soir�e!
Guests Carlos Chavarria, Mayor Ron Morrison, and Leslie Deese smile while sipping garden-inspired cocktails from Starlight San Diego. Photo by Galdino Sanchez.

This year's Seedling Soir�e was a tremendous success: 
  • We welcomed over 200 guests to the Soir�e, many of whom were visiting for the first time.
  • Over 85 volunteers donated over 420 hours during the week of the event. 
  • Our fundraising goal was $75,000 and we surpassed our goal, raising $83,000 for our garden based education programs!
Thank you to the amazing guests, sponsors, chefs, speakers, volunteers, committee members, and board members who contributed to this beautiful event!

Event planner and florist Ryann Gaspara volunteered to create beautiful tablescapes. Photo by Galdino Sanchez.

Chef Carlos Anthony (left) poses with his Fennel Rosemary and Pork Sausage. Volunteer server Erika (right) shows off Chef Karrie Hills's Lemon Rosemary Salt Seared Chicken with Toasted Couscous, Roasted Tomato, and Marcona Almonds. Photos by @DiningOutSD.

The Seedling Soiree would not have been possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors, including:

Golden Sunflower Sponsors: 
Eleanor and Jerry Navarra

Monarch Butterfly Sponsors: 
SDG&E, Mary Walshok Ph. D., Christy Walton

Hummingbird Sponsors:
Cathe Burnham, Carlos and Anthony Chavarria, Ron and Lucille Neeley, Rick and Marci Romney, Specialty Produce, Trish and Tom Watlington

We are also grateful to the amazing local food community for embracing Olivewood's cause and donating their time, creativity, energy, and resources:
UpTo
What We're Up To:
July and August
  
In July, Olivewood hosted an Open House, Yoga Classes, visits from a Mexican sister organization (Raiz del Fondo), and field trips from the San Ysidro Health Center, Summercrest Apartments, and the La Mesa Children's Center. We also wrapped up the 2014 Fiscal Year and began preparing for the coming school year.

Happy visitors from the Summercrest Apartments smile after their field trip to Olivewood

In August...
facts
Olivewood Fast Facts:
2013-2014 School Year

Between July 2013 and June 2014:
  • Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center received over 9500 visitors.
  • Over 2000 youth and adult students participated in our programming.
  • Over 6600 volunteer hours were donated to Olivewood.
  • 28 interns learned real-world skills while serving their community
  • 100% of adult Cooking for Salud! graduates reported that they increased the amount of vegetables and decreased the amount of salt in their cooking. 
  • Adult gardening class attendees reported an increased confidence in the garden.
  • 31 schools attended teacher trainings for school gardens and nutrition education programs. We estimate that could impact 20,000 children.
  • Youth program participants from National School District showed an improved ability to recognize fruits and vegetables by name and their teachers and parents reported that the students are consuming more fruits and vegetables as a result of their participation in programming at Olivewood.
compostRecycle Your Food Waste:
Beginning Backyard Composting Class


  
Join us for an adult composting class that includes 
site-based garden education and hands-on volunteer work. Come ready to get your hands dirty and learn by
doing!
Topics:
  • Composting science and strategy 
  • Building home compost piles
  • Tour and explanation of on-site compost types (including pallet compost boxes, home compost boxes, vermicompost, and manure compost)

Date: Saturday, 8/16 

Time: 9am to 12pm

Location: Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center

2525 'N' Ave, National City, CA 91950

Suggested Donation: $20

Free for National City residents

 

Sign-Up: OlivewoodGardens.org/gardening-classes/

 

Contact: Ally Welborn, ally@olivewoodgardens.org

(619) 434-4281

 

Students must be at least 15 years old to attend.

familyftFood and Farm Family Fun Day
Learn, cook, and grow together!


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. 

 

Who: Families with children ages 3+

When: Saturday, 9/6; 10am-12pm

Saturday, 11/22; 10am-12pm

Where: Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center

2525 N Avenue, National City, CA 91950

 

To register: 

- Contact Diana Bergman at (619) 434-4281 or diana@olivewoodgardens.org

- $15/person

DoP
Day of Play 2014

Thank you to the partners, volunteers, neighbors, and attendees who made our 2014 Day of Play a huge success! On June 28th, we had almost 400 visitors who participated in free family activities. Attendees made guacamole, sampled summer smoothies, created recycled can wind chimes, played nutrition games, fed chickens, met local wildlife, and much more! Over 70 volunteers, three sponsoring organizations, and thirteen community partners helped with the event.

Why Should You Try New Foods? (Day of Play video by Never What You Think)
"Why Should You Try New Foods?" 
(Day of Play video from 

Sponsoring Organizations:
 
 

Community Partners:
          


Summer Smoothie
Created by Kati Christensen

Serves 2 

 

Ingredients and Directions

2 cups watermelon, cut into smaller chunks
� lime, peel removed
1 peach
1 banana
10 strawberries
6-8 ice cubes
water, as necessary

 

Add all ingredients to blender and mix together well. Note: It works best to put watermelon and lime in blender first since they contain the most water. Enjoy!