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Hello Claire,
From educating our youth about the vital role bees, worms, and butterflies play in our ecosystem; to providing high school internships that foster leadership and job skills, to promoting healthy habits that benefit families and offering a support network to combat feelings of isolation, to being a champion for access to nutritious food and green spaces, Olivewood has remained dedicated in fulfilling our mission and centering the needs of our community. In nearly 15 years we’ve provided hands-on environmental science and nutrition education, food access, leadership development, and advocacy support to nearly 150,000 people. Through this time our values of Equity, Community, Health, Integrity, and Transformation remain the core of all we do.
As we approach our 15th anniversary we, along with thousands of other nonprofits in our ecosystem, are facing some uncertainty regarding select funding sources. While we are fortunate enough to have diversified funding streams, we are asking our community of supporters to rally together during these challenging times. Your generous gift will ensure we can continue to deliver our programs at the high level our community has come to expect. You can support us with an unrestricted gift, by joining our monthly Roots for Health Giving Program, by registering for a program or event, or hosting a private event at our beautiful garden.
We are excited about our upcoming Valentines Day Dinner, featuring Chef Wilmer Braulio from Kyoto Gift and Food.
Save the date for May 10th for our annual plant sale hosted by our high school Sustainable Urban Agriculture students. Our 31st generation of Cooking for Salud starts soon with a new Saturday format. As always, we invite you to sign up for Garden Explorers, Talls and Smalls, Chefcitos, an adult cooking class, or to visit our monthly Open House and Gardens.
On behalf of the entire Olivewood team, we are so grateful for the ongoing support from our amazing community, and are committed to working collectively to continue our critical work,
With gratitude,
Jen
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SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars for our Seedling Soireé:
Saturday, May 31, 2025! Tickets and more information will be available soon!
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Fall and winter High School Internship Programs at Olivewood Gardens! | |
Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship | |
Youth Community Leadership Program (YCLP) | |
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Olivewood Gardens offers four hands-on internship programs for high school students to explore food systems, sustainability, leadership and culinary skills. Today we are highlighting two of them.
Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship
A 20-week leadership program where interns propagate plants and seeds for our annual plant sales on April 19th and May 10th. Students also gain hands-on experience by building grow benches for the greenhouse and learning about sustainable agriculture.
Youth Community Leadership Program (YCLP)
A 8+ week program focused on food justice and civic engagement. Interns participate in a community listening forum and design projects based on community needs. This year’s interns are cultivating the hillside for a safer space, creating seating areas, and building a worm bin for our field trips.
These programs allow students to develop leadership skills, engage with their community, and gain real-world experience in food systems and urban agriculture.
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Talls & Smalls
A Nature Adventure!
Friday, February 7th,
11:00 AM -12:00 PM
Join us for February's Talls and Smalls adventure in the garden! Spend time exploring with your little one (ages 2-5) by using your five senses together. See what vegetables look like while growing, taste the fruits, smell the herbs, listen to the sounds of wildlife, and of course, feel the dirt in your hands. We can’t wait to see you then! This class is funded in part by First 5 San Diego.
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Garden Explorers: 5 Senses in the Garden!
Saturday, February 8th, at 9:30am
This month, we'll be celebrating love with art in the outdoors! Catch the love bug and sign up your garden explorer today!
We will be making DIY seed paper to then turn into Valentine's Day cards. Design our own Love Bug textured collages AND heart watercolors! It's going to be SO fun!
Spaces are limited! Sign up below.
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Family Gardening Workshop at Paradise Creek Community Garden!
Saturday, February 8th,
10am- 11am
Join us and Mundo Gardens at Paradise Creek Community Garden for a FREE gardening workshop! Bring your friends and family, ask questions, learn about gardening and plant something!
All ages are welcome and no registration is required. See you there!
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National City Healthy Culturas Coalition!
Monday, February 10th,
5:30pm- 7pm
The National City Healthy Culturas Coalition in collaboration with Mundo Gardens is taking action to create a healthier, more equitable future for our community.
From advocating for flood victims and pushing for long-term infrastructure improvements to opposing a polluting fuel transfer station in the overburdened Westside, we are committed to standing up for food and environmental justice.
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Annual Valentine's Dinner!
Friday, February 14, 2 SEATINGS: 5pm and 7pm
Join us this Valentine’s Day for a magical evening at our historic Noyes House, featuring a farm-to-table dining experience with loved ones.
Special Guest: Chef Wilmer Braulio of Kyoto Gift and Food will lead an exclusive hands-on sushi demonstration before dinner!
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of food, connection, and celebration. Limited seating.
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Garden and House Tours!
Saturday, February 15, 10am- 12:30pm
Join us for our monthly Olivewood Open Garden & Public Tour on the third Saturday of every month: Saturday, February 15th, 10 am-12:30 pm.
Tours start at 10:15 AM & 11:15 AM, and guests are free to enjoy the garden, learn more about our programs and tour the unique and historic Noyes House built in 1896!
No registration required.
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Enjoy making our Chefcitos Beet Hummus Recipe at home with your child! | |
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Help our gardens and kitchens flourish in 2025!
- Make a gift online
- Text-to-Give: Simply text 'Olivewood' to 53-555 to make your gift.
- Make a gift of stock or a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA: contact claire@olivewoodgardens.org
- Send your gift to Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center, 2525 N Avenue, National City, CA 91950
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SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass: Did you know that anyone 18 and under can ride public transit for FREE in San Diego? This is a great way for youth to get around town while reducing our local carbon footprint! Check out the SANDAG info page to learn more and help get the youth in your network enrolled. | |
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SDG&E Programs and Services:
SDG&E’s Residential Energy Solutions (RES) Program can help you increase your energy
efficiency and lower your energy consumption at home by offering no-cost energy-efficiency
products and services. Eligible customers can benefit from complimentary upgrades, including
smart thermostats, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and more. Learn more at
sdge.com/RES or call Synergy Companies, SDG&E’s authorized contractor, at 1-888-272-8394.
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