Hello Friend,
We are proud to share our 2020-2021 Impact Report. The past fiscal year was one of considerable creativity, flexibility, and collaboration. We are incredibly thankful for all the ways that YOU support Olivewood Gardens. Every volunteer, financial supporter, and community partner helped ensure we could move the needle on building a more equitable, just, and sustainable community and food system.
As we reflect on the past year and look forward to what’s next, we know we can’t do it without the collective support of collaborative partners, volunteers, staff, and donors. We have some big partnerships on the horizon, including offering school garden-based environmental and nutrition education for all K-6 grade students in all 10 National School District schools. Our Cooking for Salud® and Kitchenistas® programs continue to thrive (in fact, check out our new BLOG post featuring Olivewood Kitchenistas) and our high school students will be learning entrepreneurial and leadership skills in our upcoming urban agriculture internship program.
As we kick off our year-end campaign, we hope you are inspired by our impact and we invite you to donate to support the important work we are doing. A special thanks to Sprouts Chula Vista & Eastlake, who is generously matching the first $3000 that is given. Your gift ensures we can continue to offer the highest quality and most impactful programs possible.
We hope you’ll continue to join us through programs, events, bazaars, and more in 2022.
On behalf of the entire staff at Olivewood Gardens, we wish you a happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season and can’t wait to see you at the garden soon.
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TODAY: 'The Kitchenistas' screening at the Fleet Science Center
Wednesday, December 8, 6PM - 8PM
Join us for a special screening of The Kitchenistas and panel discussion. $10 admission, free for National City residents
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Adult Cooking Class: Holiday Brunch |
Sunday, December, 11AM - 1PM

Come join us for a Holiday Brunch Class in our beautiful outdoor garden space. This unique brunch class will give you some ideas for a festive holiday meal.
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Family DIY Gifts Class
Saturday, December 18, 1PM - 3PM
Join us in our beautiful gardens for a hands-on, DIY gift-making. This family-friendly class is the perfect opportunity to make meaningful, food-inspired gifts for your loved ones!
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High School Clubhouse: Sweather Weather |
Wednesday, December 22, 3PM - 5PM

Make a snack. Do an activity. Spend time hanging out with new friends and old friends.
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Adult Cooking Class: Build-a-Bowl Soup & Salad |
Saturday, January 15, 11AM - 1PM

Start the new year with new recipes! Be inspired with a plant based, garden fresh soup and salad class with our expert educator Ellyse.
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Program Spotlight: Welcome Sarah Suarez |
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Welcome, Sarah! We are so excited to welcome our newest staff member to the Olivewood team. Please join us in sharing a warm welcome and congratulations to Sarah Suarez - our new Environmental Education Specialist! She is a San Diego native who was first introduced to Olivewood as a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Intern. She is currently attending San Diego State University where she will receive her B. A. in Sustainability with a minor in Spanish in the coming Spring. Sarah’s passion for spreading environmental awareness and the environmental justice movement has inspired her to get involved in community-level outreach. In her free time, Sarah loves to go for runs, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends.
As the Environmental Education Specialist, Sarah will support the Children's Field Trip Program, leading hands-on environmental and garden science education for youth and supporting the development of program curriculum, as well as the maintenance of the garden. We're so pleased to have Sarah join the team and can't wait for you to meet her!
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Looking for a unique gift idea this year? Give the gift that keeps on giving by sharing one of Olivewood's cooking classes with your loved ones! Purchase a Gift Certificate today to be redeemed for one of our Adult Cooking Classes. In these classes, participants will join Olivewood's nutrition educator for a fun and interactive cooking class to learn new cooking techniques and make delicious seasonally-inspired recipes! |
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Olivewood Gardens Opportunities |
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We are looking for passionate volunteers that want to extend their knowledge and skills in community education, group management, nutrition, and environmental science. Volunteers will be supporting our Nutrition Education and Environmental Education Specialist during in-person field trip lessons. Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays between 8AM - 2:30PM. School credit available. For more information, please contact Jackie Ante at: jacqueline@olivewoodgardens.org. Additional volunteer and internship opportunities are available. |
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Our application is open for our Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship! This session is all about ornamental plants: house plants, succulents, and more! Students will learn all about propagating houseplants and food crops, maintaining the health of plants, gain knowledge about starting a business, and conclude with running our Spring Plant Sale for the National City community! This internship will look FANTASTIC on your resume and college applications!
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Olivewood is growing! Please visit our job opportunities page to see part-time and full-time positions.
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Recipe of the Month: Seasonal Fruit Compote |
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Ingredients
- 2 pears, peeled and diced
- 2 ripe fuyu persimmons, peeled and chopped
- 1 TBSP lemon juice
- 3 or more TBSP agave nectar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
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Directions
- In a saucepan combine all ingredients.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes or until the persimmon is just soft throughout (do not overcook or the fruit will turn to mush).
- Add more sweetener or spice to taste.
- Use to top cheesecake, Avocado Mousse or Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream.
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Did you know the demand for energy is higher between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.? Shifting your use to before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. can save money when rates are less expensive. For example, turn on your dishwasher after 9 p.m. or run a load of wash before 4 p.m. Save even more by taking advantage of the lowest-priced electricity during super-off-peak hours, typically when you sleep, from midnight to 6 a.m. Recharge your devices while you do the same, so your devices will be fully charged when you wake up.

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