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2525 N Avenue
National City, CA
619-434-4281
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Did you know you can make a gift of stock to support the garden and nutrition programs at Olivewood?
Email or call us to talk about the possibilities:
619-434-4281
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 Contact Us
Executive Director
Jen Nation
Gardens and Facilities Manager
Leonard Vargas
Director of Development
Claire Groebner
Director of Programs
Callie Brust
Rebecca Hershberger-Howat
Cooking for Salud Coordinator
Patty Corona
Schools Coordinator
Angelica Gastelum
Volunteer Coordinator
Jacqueline Ante
Administrative Assistant
Angelica Bastida
Community Outreach Assistant
Rocina Lizarraga
Garden Staff
Adan Teposte
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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.
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Board of Directors
Chair:
C
athe Burnham
Vice Chair: Trish Watlington
Treasurer: Jacqueline Reynoso
Secretary:
Evelyn Wiggins
Dennis Doyle, Ph.D.
Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, MD
Daisy Gordon Crompton
Stephanie Jensen
Anne McEnany
Susana Villegas
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E
Olivewood Gardens is a Humble Partner! Humble Bundle is a
leading retailer of digital games and eBooks. You can now support us with every purchase you make by using this link.
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Summer 2019
Summer is well underway and so are the summer programs at Olivewood! We've led several classes of Chefcitos, teaching kids kitchen skills and fun, tasty recipes. Our Garden 2 Kitchen graduates came back for a hands-on lesson with Chef Phil Esteban, learning the basics of French cooking. We hosted our Garden Dinner at Dusk with Chef Jorge Fuentes, sharing a special and delicious evening. Finally, we are in the home stretch preparing for our annual Day of Play, to be held on July 20th. The summer is a great time to join us in the gardens - come for a Thursday tour or monthly Open House, or join us for one of our many engaging programs!
A special thanks to
and the
Serenity Grace Foundation and for their recent gifts to support our work!
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Upcoming Events and Programs
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Day of Play
July 20, 10AM - 1PM
Join us for a free community event for the whole family! Enjoy hands-on cooking and gardening activities, take-home arts and crafts, physical activities, recipe testings an opportunity drawing, and more!
Title Sponsor :
Gold Sponsor:  
Silver Sponsor: 
In-Kind Sponsor:  
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Healthy Summer Grilling
Come to the gardens for an engaging, hands-on class to brush up on your summer grilling menu. Tour the gardens, harvest produce to take home, and prepare and enjoy a feast on the lawn.
July 13, 11AM - 2PM
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Hearty & Healthy Southern Cooking
Think "healthy" and "Southern food" is an oxymoron? Think again! Join us for a fun afternoon of creating healthy twists for Southern favorites.
September 7, 11AM - 2PM
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Open House & Produce Stand
Visit our beautiful gardens, historic Victorian home, and learn about our programs! Fresh produce will be available at our new produce stand.
July 27, 9:30AM - 11AM
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Gardening Workshop: Growing Succulents
Our garden experts will lead you through the basics of growing and caring for succulent plants.
July 27, 9:00am-11:00am
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Program Spotlight
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Children's Field Trip Program 
Our Children's Field Trip Program teaches students about the science of the garden, the essential nutrients for our bodies to be healthy, how to grow and care for plants, and how to prepare nutritious meals at home. These students learn to be adventurous eaters and environmental stewards. Starting this fall, we will add two schools to our partnership program with National School District so that 6 of the 10 elementary schools in the district will come to the gardens three times throughout the year to participate in this garden-based nutrition education and standards-based program. We are excited to continue to reach more and more students from our local community! |
Internships at Olivewood Gardens
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Interested in summer internships? We are looking for motivated helpers! Check out the intern descriptions and send us an email!
For more information, click
here.
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Volunteer at Olivewood
Looking for a fun way to help our community become healthier? Why not volunteer with Olivewood Gardens? We have a role for you!
Special opportunities:
- Day of Play
For more information on volunteering, click
here.
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SDG&E Tips for Using Energy Smartly this Summer
- Keep blinds, curtains and other window coverings closed during summer days to help block unwanted heat and reduce cooling costs
- Program your thermostat to precool your home to a lower temperature up to three hours before 4 p.m.
- When possible, use heat-generating appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers later in the evening during off peak-hours.
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It is officially summer and we the gardens are plentiful! We've got summer veggies like tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and basil, as well as chard, leeks, and cilantro. Our stone fruit have started to ripen and we've gotten bushels full of tiny, delicious apricots! Come check the gardens out during our Thursday 10AM tours or at our July 27th Open House.
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Ingredients
1 pound ripe tomatoes, chopped
¼ sweet onion, finely chopped
½ cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped, plus extra for garnish
½ bell pepper (red or green), seeded and chopped, plus extra for garnish
1 stalk celery, chopped, plus extra for garnish
1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 Tablespoon of fresh herbs, such as chives, oregano, basil, etc.
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Put all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth. Garnish with celery, bell pepper, and cucumber. Add hot sauce, if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!
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