October 2022
Hello Friend,


Last month, many of our staff, board members & volunteers attended the Annual Gathering of the San Diego Food System Alliance. This event gave us an opportunity to connect with peers, listen and learn from presenters on topics from climate justice to health equity, and determine next steps to co-create a food system in National City that includes community voices, ensures access to healthy, culturally-relevant and affordable food, and has minimal environmental impact.

Connecting with community and building lasting programs has been critical to Olivewood since we began and these learning opportunities help strengthen and reconfirm our values. Over the next few months, we have wonderful opportunities to enjoy the garden and learn more about Olivewood. We hope to see you on October 21st when we partner with Maker's Mark for our Celebrate Cultura with the Kitchenistas® dinner; or on November 19th at our 3rd annual Holiday Bazaar featuring local small businesses - many of them Kitchenista-owned. It's also a great time to start thinking about unique holiday teambuilding or celebration ideas like joining us for a private cooking or gardening class! Either way, we encourage you to join us in the garden someday soon.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

With gratitude,

Jen Nation, Executive Director of Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center
Upcoming Events
Celebrate Cultura with the Kitchenistas®
Saturday, October 21 6:30PM - 8:30PM

Join us for a special evening celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Heritage at Olivewood sponsored by Maker's Mark! In honor of the Kitchenistas, we will celebrate culture with an evening of dinner, drinks & camaraderie. Chef & Kitchenista Aureny Aranda will whip up a gourmet dinner & dessert to complement delicious drinks from Maker's Mark & we will have a special Q&A with some of Olivewood's respected Kitchenistas. Come to the gardens to celebrate food food, culture & community in the enchanting gardens!
Public Tour & Open Garden
Saturday, October 15
10AM - 12:30PM

Join us for an Olivewood 'Open Garden'! We'll have a public tour starting at 10:15AM & 11:15AM, and guests are free to enjoy the gardens and invited to learn more about our programs. No registration required!
Talls & Smalls
Friday, October 21
10AM - 11AM

Does your little one enjoy nature? Bring them to Olivewood to have a garden adventure! Talls & Smalls is a 1-hour class for children ages 2-5 with an accompanying adult. They'll explore our beautiful gardens, use their senses to smell, taste, see, listen and taste a garden snack.
Garden Explorers: How Does Your Garden Grow?
Saturday, October 22
9AM - 11AM

Join us for our October Garden Explorers: How Does Your Garden Grow? Garden Explorers (grades K-5) will be learning about how to help plants and flowers grow through hands-on activities in our beautiful outdoor garden!
Olivewood's Lunch & Learn
Friday, November 11
12PM - 1:30PM

Join Olivewood staff for an in-person walking tour of the property and a sit-down Q&A for an opportunity to learn more about the in's and out's of our programs!
Chefcitos: Spaghetti Squash Casseroles!
Saturday, November 12
10AM - 11:30AM

We invite your kids to join us at Olivewood for our November Chefcitos class! We will be making delicious spaghetti squash casseroles with seasonal vegetables and baking a seasonal crisp for dessert! Chefcitos (ages 5-14) will be exploring new flavors, textures, and skills in the kitchen.
Holiday Bazaar & Plant Sale
Saturday, November 19
10AM - 2PM

Come enjoy the beautiful gardens with us while you shop from a seasonal selection of handcrafted artisanal wares made from Olivewood Kitchenistas® and local small businesses. From a variety of Olivewood-grown plants, gifts for the foodie in your life, Olivewood gear, and handmade items, you'll find the perfect gifts to share with those you love.
Celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
In honor of the 375+ Kitchenistas who have made a commitment to health through Olivewood's Cooking for Salud program, we are elated to celebrate culture in community on Friday, October 21st! Join us for a special evening celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Heritage at Olivewood sponsored by Maker's Mark.

Kitchenista & Chef Aureny Aranda (Generation 7), are planning a gourmet dinner highlighting the distinctive flavors of Maker's Mark - corn, wheat & barley, while weaving in her own signature flavors. Aureny was born in Mexico City, but soon developed her passion for cooking through her early years spent in Guadalajara with her grandmother. After many years studying pastry at La Baguette in Mexico City and the Center for Professional Studies in Gastronomic Arts, Aureny moved to San Diego in 1999. She then formed Au Gourmet, dedicated to creating artisan granola, spices, bread and providing catering services. As an active volunteer chef for Olivewood, Aureny shares her knowledge with Cooking for Salud participants and our community!

Honoring Our Staff
Amidst Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight our Latinx staff and their ties to culture. Each one of us has different ways to honor our cultural identities. Culture can be celebrated through food, stories, music, language, clothing & many other ways. In English or Spanish, here is what brings joy to our Latinx team through culture:

  • "Something about my Hispanic culture that brings me joy is my close family dynamic, the delicious traditional meals, and the exciting Latin music!" -Alyssa Zurita, School Garden Specialist

  • "La comida es una manera de crear identidad. Los hijos de migrantes nacidos en el paĂ­s adaptan su propia identidad con la comida, en la escuela reciben alimentos no culturalmente sensibles y eso les permite diferenciar sus preferencias, al llegar a casa comen lo que mama les prepara y se siente cĂłmodos consumiendo. Eso para mi, es un acto de amor e identidad". -Rocina Lizarraga (Kitchenista, Generation #9) Special Project Coordinator & Garden Support Specialist

  •  "The term "orgullo" (pride) comes to mind when I think of what my Hispanic/Latinx culture means to me. As a Latina, I am proud to be a part of a culture that represents family, unity, perseverance, beauty, and love." -Sarah Suarez (she/her), Volunteer Coordinator

  • "Para mi representa un legado de nuestros antepasados que es una mezcla de culturas, colores y sabores. Lo que más me gusta es la importancia que se le da a la uniĂłn familiar y el crecer compartiendo comida, historias, aventuras y mucho amor." -Monica Lim (Kitchenista, Generation #10) Kitchenista Program Coordinator

  • "As a Kitchenista mi culture is an expression of what I see embodied in the beautiful colors represented in fruits, vegetables, flowers, and in the aromas of chiles, corn flour, herbs and spices. In the flavor of cacao, tequila, and mezcal. The texture of a “molcajete” and the warmth of a fire. For me, it is important to take my culture and traditions with pride wherever I go, because they are my roots, my identity and my heritage. Given to me by my ancestors, I can honor them by sharing with others. Wherever I go, there is a piece of Mexico."  -Patty Corona (Kitchenista, Generation #1), Director of Kitchenista Engagement & Cooking for Salud

  • "De ser agricultores compartir con las nuevas generaciones donde venimos. LosIndios-ellos nos ensenaron ser agricultores. Seguir sobre viviendo la agricultura y cosechando las verduras que sembramos. Preservando y conservar la herencia Hispana. Que no se les olvide a las nuevas generaciones que vienen. Aqui es DOS MÉXICOS. Tenemos las mismas raĂ­ces aquĂ­ y allá." -Adan Teposte, Garden Support
  • "My heritage and culture represent a tapestry made of beautiful colors, flavors and music. A connection to language, traditions, family and love.  Cooking traditional Mexican food and being around my family brings me the most joy." -Angelica Gastelum (Kitchenista, Generation #7), Communications & Marketing Manager

  • "We are hard workers, committed individuals; and ensuring I keep up with that, not only shows great character, it is a mirror of who we are as a community. I'm always proud of where we come from and how we are raised. We are motivated by community and love. There's no greater motivator than your own people, and being able to make them proud." -Paola Orjuela, Accounting Coordinator
Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
We are looking for passionate volunteers that want to extend their knowledge and skills in community education, group management, nutrition, environmental science, gardening, marketing and communications, and more!

For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah at: sarah@olivewoodgardens.org.

Check out our volunteer and internship opportunities and sign up to join us!
At Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, our natural environment is our teacher. Roots, are the lifeline of a plant, taking up air, water, and nutrients from the soil to support the livelihood of precious ecosystems.

Join our monthly giving program to become a root, inspiring healthy and active lives through organic gardening, environmental stewardship, and nutrition education!
Fall Pizza
Ingredients
  • 1 package pre-made whole wheat pizza dough
  • 1/4 cup Kabocha squash, roasted & smashed
  • 1 ear of corn, kernels removed
  • 2 TBSP dried figs, cut
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 TBSP basil or mint, torn
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Roll out pizza dough to 6-8 inches. Use flour if the dough begins to stick.
  3. Spread squash on crust to edges, and top with corn & dried figs.
  4. Drizzle with olive oil. Mix cinnamon and brown sugar together and sprinkle on pizza.
  5. Bake until crust is browned for about 12-15 minutes. Sprinkle with herbs & enjoy!
SDG&E Tips: Emergency Preparedness
Emergencies come in many forms, such as wildfires, storms, earthquakes or floods. There's no better time to prepare for an emergency than right now. Below are some tips and resources to help you plan and stay safe should an emergency happen. Visit www.sdge.com/emergency for emergency checklists and evacuation plan ideas.

  1. Develop an emergency plan. Identify a place to meet with family, safe routes and shelters, as well as what actions you will take. Discuss and practice the plan with your family.
  2. Prepare an emergency kit for at least three days. Keep essentials on hand like water (one gallon per person per day), a first aid kit, flashlight, canned goods, medicine, clothes, and cash. Stock your kit with items you and your family need, including those with a disability, seniors and your pets. Store supplies in easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks or plastic crates. For ideas, download helpful checklists at sdge.com/checklists.
  3. Help your neighbors. Being a good neighbor takes more than sharing the occasional sugar or hosting a potluck. It's important to help our neighbors during emergencies, especially those who are vulnerable, elderly or disabled.
  4. Update your SDG&E contact information. SDG&E will make every effort to communicate with you during emergencies. Go to sdge.com/MyAccount to sign in. From the MyAccount homepage, click on "Account", then select "My Profile". Here, you can make sure your contact information is up to date.
  5. Sign up for power outage notifications. Get notified when there is an outage in your area. Sign into sdge.com/MyAccount. From the MyAccount homepage, click on "Account", then select "Notification Settings".