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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 THURSDAY AT 10:00AM
Looking to add fresh veggies to your meals? How about organic fruits and veggies straight out of our garden? We will be having a produce stand with freshly harvested produce from the garden every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For a donation, you get to take what you need. Come early as the produce
goes quickly!
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 Contact Us
Interim Director
Claire Groebner
Gardens and Facilities Manager
Leonard Vargas
Director of Programs
Callie Brust
Coordinator of Volunteers and Outreach
Cristina Juarez
Rebecca Hershberger-Howat
Cooking for Salud Coordinator
Patty Corona
Schools Coordinator
Corrie Madueño
Administrative Assistant
Angelica Bastida
Community Outreach Assistant
Rocina Lizarraga
Garden Educator
Ethan Cole
Garden Staff
Reyna Rodriguez
Adan Teposte
Adam Guy
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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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Ent
One of our Kitchenistas is part of
WE Boutique
- an amazing project that gives women the opportunity to start their business venture.
Visit them Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm at 4305 University Avenue, Suite 130, San Diego CA 92105
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Tickets can be purchased
here.
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Greetings from the Olivewood Gardens team! It has been an exciting month as we continue our garden-based nutrition education programs for children, families, and adults. Keep reading to learn more about our upcoming events and other news from the gardens!
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We are excited to announce the hire of our new Executive Director, Jen Nation. Jen comes to us from Girl Scouts San Diego where she served as the Director of Programs. Jen will bring years of experience in leadership, management, strategic planning, fundraising, program development, and budget oversight to her new role at Olivewood. We look forward to introducing her to all of our wonderful supporters and partners after she officially joins the Olivewood team on April 16th. Thank you all so much for your support during this time of transition!
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Let's all gi
ve a warm welcome to our new Director of P
r
ogram
s, Callie!
Callie
is
a
Regist
ered
Dietitian, a Certified Health Education Specialist, and has her Masters in Public He
alth.
She is also interested in gardening and hopes to improve her gardening skills from our very own garden experts here at Olivewood
. One of her main goals that she hopes to
accomplish is to positively impact the National City community through healthy and educational programs. We can't wait to see all the great things you will accomplish, Callie!
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- We attended two wellness fairs at National School District to share healthy recipes and gardening tips.
- We hosted 11 field trips for students in grades preschool to high school. The schools included Lincoln Acres, Olivewood School, Hilltop High, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, Warren Walker, and Head Start programs. Students made herb bouquets and created delicious veggie tacos in the kitchen!
- One of our National City community members taught fellow Kitchenistas how to make her signature overnight oats recipe at the monthly Kitchenista to Kitchenista Cooking Class.
- Students from Sweetwater High School continue to be active in our Cross-age Tutoring internship, Sustainable Urban Agriculture internship, and a pilot Garden-to-Kitchen internship.
- We hosted an informational booth at the Mariachi Festival in National City and connected with community members about our programs.
- Almost 40 children attended our Spring Break Chefcitos classes where they created delicious recipes such as our Olivewood Pizza and Beet Pesto!
- We hosted two separate family field trips, from San Ysidro Health and San Diego Youth Services. Families learned how to make veggie tacos, explored the garden, and were able to take home fresh herbs and produce!
- We had an engaging, open enrollment Mommy and Me class for community members. Participants harvested herbs and kumquats, and fed our hungry chickens, too!
- The Kitchenistas distributed healthy food samples and showed employees how to make a delicious brown rice salad at Sprouts Chula Vista and Eastlake.
- The Olivewood Gardens staff went on an informative and inspiring field trip to Coastal Roots Farm.
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The Kitchenistas met for their monthly meeting to discuss ways to further their involvement in the community as health advocates.
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The children from the Chefcitos Class loved learning how to make a vibrant green pesto from cilantro and basil!
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These students from Sweetwater High School have been active participants in our pilot internship program focused on nutrition and cooking.
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The Kitchenistas had a wonderful time giving a healthy food demonstration at Sprouts Chula Vista.
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This little girl enjoyed picking lavender at our Mommy and Me class.
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Congratulations, 12th Generation!
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It is with great honor and pride that we welcome the 12th generation of Kitchenistas to the Olivewood family! Seventeen women graduated from our Cooking for Salud program and shared their journey of health with community and family members at their graduation ceremony this past month. We are looking forward to seeing the impact that these Kitchenistas will have in National City and beyond!
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Upcoming Events and Programs
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Healthy Grilling Cooking Class
Get ready for summer with some healthy and delicious recipes! Come ready to harvest, grill, and eat in a beautiful garden setting.
Saturday, June 16th
11:00am - 1:30pm
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FREE Zumba classes at the gardens
Coordinate your moves and dance to different rhythms while raising your heart beat in these cardio dance classes.
Mondays and Tuesdays
8:30am - 9:30am
Walk-ins welcome
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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.
May 19th, 10:00am - 1:00pm
June 23rd, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Tours start at 10:15am and 12:00pm.
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Gardening Workshop:
Integrated Pest Management
Come learn how to keep those unwanted pests away by using natural practices that don't require the use of harsh chemicals. We hope to see you there!
May 19th, 9:00am-11:00am
Next Class:
June 23rd, 9:00am-11:00am
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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!
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SDG&E Tips
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 Rehearsals Have Begun!
Olivewood Gardens is hosting a full staging of the play Fefu and Her Friends by Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés. The play will be performed in and around Olivewood's Noyes House, for audiences limited to 20 people at a time.
In this high spirited, absurd and slightly disturbing play, set in 1935, eight women gather in a country home for a weekend party and discover that one of them has fallen victim to a mysterious force. Be present for an intimate understanding of their friendships, dreams, and nightmares.
Tickets can be purchased at HERE.
PERFORMANCES:
May 12th - June 3rd
Saturdays at 2:00pm and 5:00pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
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- South Bay Earth Day, April 7th, 11:00am - 4:00pm
- Mid-scale Composting Management Workshop, April 14th 9:00am -11:30am
- El Toyon Earth Day Celebration, April 20th, 10:00am - 3:00pm
- Mid-scale Composting Regulations Workshop, April 21st 9:00am - 11:30am
- NSD Wellness Committee Meeting, April 25th, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
- 2018 City Nature Challenge, April 27th - April 30th
- Mid-scale Composting Benefits Workshop, April 28th 9:00am - 11:30 am
- National City World Market, April 29th, 11:00am - 4:00pm
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Growing in the Garden
Our gardens look beautiful thanks to the hard work of our garden team and garden volunteers! We have had recent harvests of celery, beets, and kale, and have recently transplanted tomatoes and squash for the warm months to come.
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Beet Pesto
Inspired by Chef Christina Ng
Ingredients
3 medium beets roasted, peeled, large diced
1/2 shallot, peeled
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, toasted
2 teaspoons tarragon (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions
1. Place beets, shallot, and sunflower seeds in food processor and pulse until small chunks form.
2. Add lemon juice, tarragon and olive oil and pulse until a coarse paste is formed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Serve pesto with flatbread or fresh vegetables. Enjoy!
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