In This Issue

contact2Contact Us

Executive Director
Healy Vigderson

Program Director
Diana Bergman
 
Gardens and Facilities Manager
Leonard Vargas

Nutrition Program Coordinator
Cherianne Barry

Coordinator of Volunteers and Outreach
Cristina Juarez
 
Development Assistant
Claire Groebner
 
Garden Support Staff
Ananda Gunasekara
Michael Ramirez
Adan Teposte
ICF
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.

Follow the Seasons with Fresh Veggies!
Olivewood Gardens offers
Farmer's Market Boxes from Specialty Produce!  The box ($20) includes a weekly selection of California-grown fruits and vegetables.  Specialty Produce donates $2 for every purchase to the Olivewood Gardens program fund.  To learn more or enroll, contact Cherianne Barry.
Board of Directors

Chair:  Mary L. Wlashok, Ph.D.
Vice  Chair: Sam Dychter, M.D.
Treasurer:  Richard L. Romney
Secretary:  Jacqueline Reynoso
Cathe Burnham
James Clark
Dennis Doyle, Ph.D.
Irma Gigli, M.D.
Anne Mcenany
Eleanor Navarra
Susana Villegas
Trish Watlington

Dine for a Cause at Puesto!

For every Coliflor Asada taco trio purchase, Puesto donates a dollar to Olivewood Gardens!  For locations and more about the restaurant, go HERE.
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January 2016
Thank you for your tremendous support in 2015!  
With your generous donations, we raised over $14,000...way over our goal of $10,000!  A special thank you to Ron Cohn and Sprouts Chula Vista for the $2500 matching gift and additional $10,000 gift, the Beyster Family, and the Union Bank Foundation for their recent gifts.

This year is making it's way fast into February, and the garden is noticing! We are growing all kinds of brassicas oleracea (AKA cole crops) 
veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage.  Stay warm! We hope to see you soon at the Gardens! 




Saturday, February 6th, 2016 10AM to 1PM
Bring your son or daughter on a Valentine's lunch date to Olivewood!       As part of your date, you will harvest vegetables from the garden, work together to prepare a healthy, seasonal meal, share a delicious meal and spend quality time together! 
Sunday, February 14th, 2016

Join us in a celebration of love and food through a unique cooking class for couples. Guest Chef Christina Ng will tea ch couples how to make tasty Asian tapas and healthy homemade soda. Couples will then enjoy private picnics in the beautiful spring garden! This unique and romantic Valentine's Day date will satisfy your stomach and your heart. 
You can reserve a spot at
http://vdayfarmtopicnicblanket.brownpapertickets.com 
Sessions will start at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM. 
intern
Olivewood's Internships
Are you looking to spend more time at Olivewood? We have several internship positions open, and we are currently accepting applications and interviewing candidates for this semester's internships. 
Open Positions:
UpTo What We're Up To...January
  • Students from National School District are starting the year off right learning about decomposers, composting, and salad making! 
  • The Kitchenistas continue to meet monthly and to explore their creativity through art classes hosted by Artist Roberto Salas.
  • Our High School Nutrition Intern Vanessa, Elementary Education Intern Megan, Program Coordination Interns Cody and Jessica, and Nutrition Education Intern Haley are on board for this semester.
  • We're are accepting applications for four more internship positions.
  • The selection process for the next Cooking for Salud(TM) program has been finalized, and participants are excited to start on February 4th. 
  • Olivewood staff began the Project Impact training to learn more about measuring the impact of our programs.
  • We hosted our first San Diego screening of "The Kitchenistas of National City" for members of Be There San Diego.
  • We participated in the San Diego Food Systems Alliance 2016 Planning Workshop.
  • Olivewood staff and Kitchenistas will attend the annual National City Chamber of Commerce dinner to support volunteer Patty Corona-Morales, nominated for a community leader award.
  • We will host an Open House and Season Extenders and Cover Crops gardening class on January 23rd.
Upcoming Events and Programs
gardeningGardening Workshop: Season Extension and Cover Crops
Saturday, January 23rd
Learn to extend the life of your plants by modifying the environment!  Class is from 9AM to 12PM. Your can walk in! 
Saturday, January 23rd
 and February 27th
Visit our beautiful gardens, historic Victorian home, and learn about our programs!  Open House is from 10AM to 1PM.  Tours start at 10:15AM and 12PM.
Open House Details
Saturday, February 27th
Registration for our family field trip is now open! Don't miss this opportunity to have fun with your kids while learning about gardening and healthy eating! 
Register Here
Saturday, March 11th
Find us at National City's Mariachi Festival and try a healthy food sample made by the Kitchenistas!   Visit their webpage
volunteer2Volunteer Orientation
Every second Wednesday of the month, we have an orientation at 6pm  in the Noyes Dining Room for people interested in volunteering at Olivewood.   
sdgeSDG&E Energy Tips 
teachers
Teacher Training Academies
Generously Sponsored by Kaiser Hospital Foundation
Interested in how you can create or enhance a school garden program? This workshop covers planning and designing a school garden, basic gardening skills, curricular connections, and outdoor classroom management-everything you need to get growing in the right direction! 
How do you get kids to eat fresh fruits and veggies? With new ideas for recipes, age appropriate cooking activities, and food related books, this workshop covers how you can use your existing school garden to enhance nutrition education for youth and promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables. 
recipe Featured Recipe
Winter Squash Tacos
Created by Chef Marguerite Grifka
Winter Squash Taco
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds winter squash
  • 1 can black beans
  • 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • fresh cilantro
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin
  • corn tortillas
  • queso fresco or cotija cheese
  • 2 beets cooked and peeled, diced small
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