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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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OLIVEWOOD'S PRODUCE STAND
EVERY TUESDAY AT 10AM
Looking to add fresher veggies to your meals? How about organic fruits and veggies straight out of our garden? During this high production season, we will be having a produce stand with freshly harvested produce from the garden every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm. For a donation, you get to take what you need. Come in early as the produce
goes quickly.
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 Contact Us
Interim Assistant Director
Claire Groebner
Interim Assistant Director
Cherianne Kestner
Gardens and Facilities Manager
Leonard Vargas
Coordinator of Volunteers and Outreach
Cristina Juarez
Nutrition
Educator
Robin King Novara
Schools Coordinator
Corrie Madueño
Administrative Assistant
Angelica Bastida
Garden Educator
Ethan Cole
Garden Support Staff
Reyna Rodriguez
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
Anne McEnany
Susana Villegas
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Visit
De Passion Fruit,
a
family-owned healthy eatery in National City. Support this delicious, Kitchenista-owned business and help us strengthen our community.
We highly recommend the portobello wrap, the chicken torta, the rainforest smoothie and the chia seed pudding.
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We're thrilled to announce our partnership with National School District to facilitate parent-to-parent presentations about healthy eating during the 2017-2018 school year. The Kitchenistas have been in training
to build community leadership skills and are eager to share their experiences to fellow parents in the schools.
Partnering with
Operation Samahan
, we will welcome our 11th generation of Cooking for Salud™
participants
on September 28th as they begin their journey towards a healthy lifestyle.
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Students getting ready to do a relay to review the importance of
My Plate and eating a balanced diet. |
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What We're Up To...September
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- We began hosting schools for our 2017-2018 field trip program, including Lincoln Acres, Olivewood Elementary, and Las Palmas.
- Our high school and college internship began, and we have over 24 interns with us this semester.
- Our interns participated in Olivewood's group management training, where they identified strategies for managing groups of children, recognizing behavioral tendencies, and learning about students' developmental and academic needs.
- The 10th generation of Cooking for Salud™ participants graduated on September 21st.
- Olivewood staff hosted a two-part training for our Kitchenistas on public speaking, leadership, and nutrition education to prepare them for peer-to-peer presentations in schools and community centers.
- The Kitchenistas began giving parent presentations at schools and community centers, including Loma Verde Recreational Center and O'Farrell Community Charter.
- We held our first men's cooking class for family members of Kitchenistas. The participants learned about how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets.
- We held our first Chefcitos Cooking Class for kids, where kids learned how to make healthy and delicious snacks.
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Congratulations to the 10th Generation Kitchenistas!
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On September 21st, 16 Kitchenistas graduated from our Cooking for Salud™ program. We congratulate them on their commitment to improving their health and the health of their families. We look forward to seeing all that they do in the community! |
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INTERNSHIPS
We are n
ow accepting applications for the fall internships!
A
re you looking to
get more experience working in a professional but alternative environment with children and youth? Do
you want to learn different teaching styles? Do you want to learn new skills?
Do you want to build up your resume?
Please help us spread the word about these great opportunities!
Open Positions:
For more information click on each position or click
here to go our website.
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Upcoming Events and Programs
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Cultivating Conversation: A Dine and Learn Series
Saturday, October 28th, 5PM - 8PM
Visit Olivewood Gardens for an intimate outdoor dinner, guided tour, and thought-provoking discussion in our beautiful garden setting.
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Healthy Tapas Cooking Class
Join us for a hands-on cooking class as we prepare delicious and healthy tapas using produce from the gardens!
Sat, October 14th, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Mommy and Me
This program is designed for children 2 - 5 with an accompanying adult. Activities include harvesting, a garden walk, and a tasting!
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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.
October 28th, 10:00am - 1:00pm
November 21st, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Tours start at 10:15am and 12:00pm.
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Gardening Workshop:
Gardening with Kids
Come learn how to engage kids in a garden setting, including what to plant with kids and how to use the garden as an opportunity for nutrition education.
October 28th, 9:00am - 1:00pm
November 18th, 9:00am -11:00am
Composting, Vermicomposting, and Cover Cropping
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FREE Pilates classes at the gardens
Looking to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine? Check out the Pilates classes and strengthen your body inside out.
Every Thursday, 8:30am - 9:30am
No registration required
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FREE CardioFIT classes at the gardens
Coordinate your moves and dance to different rhythms while raising your heart beat in these cardio dance classes.
Mondays and Wednesdays
8:30am - 9:30am
No registration required
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Volunteer
Looking for a fun way to help our community become healthier? Why not volunteer with Olivewood Gardens? We have a role for you!
Find Out More Here
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In the Community...
Friday, October 6th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, October 12th, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Saturday, October 21st, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, November 28th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Grant due Friday, November 3rd
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| Growing in the Garden...
The garden team has been working hard to transition the garden from summer crops to fall crops. After having a successful corn harvest this past month, we are looking forward to the new season. Keep an eye out for kale, chard, carrots, and more!
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Featured Recipe
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Eggplant Stuffed with Sesame-Peanut Masala
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts or sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons water
3-5 eggplants (1.5 pounds total)
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
1.
Preheat oven to 425 F.
2.
Slice eggplants into thin discs, about 1/4 inch think.
3.
Lightly brush both sides of eggplant slices with olive oil. Alternately, you can brush each slice with vegetable stock. Place eggplant slices on non-stick baking tray.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until golden brown on both sides. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Decrease oven to 375°F.
5. While eggplant is cooking make the filling. In a food processor to grind the sesame seeds, peanuts, sugar, salt, turmeric and cayenne to a crumbly texture. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the cilantro and water to create a compact, spreadable mixture.
6. Spread a small amount of filling on an eggplant slice. Top with another slice of eggplant the same size and add more filling. Repeat until you have a stack 4 layers deep, leaving the top of the last disc bare.
7.
Place eggplant stacks in an oiled baking pan. Cook for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through. Serve hot or warm.
Fun Facts
From Yu Xiang Qiezi to Baba Ganoush, it's hard not to love this summer nightshade. Originally from India, eggplant has been cultivated for more than 1,500 years. At Olivewood this year we grew two types of eggplant and have enjoyed them in a variety of dishes. Mark Bittman's Indian Eggplant Stuffed with Sesame-Peanut Masala is our favorite showstopper. We adapted the recipe to use the long, oval eggplants commonly grown in Southern California. Instead of stuffing the eggplant we recommend forming tall stacks.
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