Empowering Youth to Build Sustainable Communities |
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Friend,
In December, the inaugural cohort of high school students completed the first part of our year-long Building Sustainable Communities program. This program, funded by The San Diego Foundation, is a partnership with A Reason to Survive (ARTS) where students explore urban agriculture, creative placemaking, environmental justice, food systems, and build transferable job and leadership skills.
Students from Sweetwater High School in National City spent eight weeks engaged in virtual programs with the support of take-home kits, and brought learning into action and collaboration. Students commented ‘My favorite part was getting feedback from my neighbors to improve our community,’ and ‘Seeing my plants flourish’ as top highlights.
In April, these youth will join the first Youth Resident Leadership Academy in National City, where they will continue their leadership journey.
Thank you, Berry Good Food for their recent support of our high school Garden 2 Kitchen program.Their support ensures students have take-home kits available to cook, learn and lead!
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🌿 Updates From the Garden 🌿 |
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Learning with Leonard on Facebook Live: Seasonal Plantings and Q&A
When: Friday, February 12 at 10 a.m.
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Virtual Chefcitos Cooking Class: Sugar Cookies
When: Saturday, February 13 at 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
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Valentine's Day Brunch Cooking Class with Chef Christina Ng 💕
When: Sunday, February 14 at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Check out the menu:
- Winter Inspired Caprese Salad with Herb Pesto
- Shakshuka with Handmade Flatbread
- Lemon & Berry Fool for Dessert
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Seasonal citrus & rosemary spritzer
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Quarterly Lunch & Learn With Jen Nation, Executive Director
When: Tuesday, February 16 at 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
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Garden Explorers: Art in the Outdoors
When: Saturday, February 27 at 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
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Spring Fresh Cooking Class: Salad Dressing Shindig // Fiesta de Aderezo de Ensalada Clase de Cocina
When: Tuesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
This class will be in English and simultaneous Spanish translation will be available.
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February is Black History Month, a time for intentionally honoring, celebrating, and echoing Black voices and experiences. Here are a few ways you can engage with its history and spotlight Black achievement.
Listen and learn from local Black leaders and Black led-organizations including:
Continue to support and uplift Black-owned businesses such as:
Engage with the community by celebrating:
Over the next few weeks, we'll share information and resources about important Black food movement leaders, the history of food justice and its connection to the Civil Rights Movement, and more on our social media channels.
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To encourage interest in STEAM for families and students, National City STEAM Collaborative has recently launched the National City 16 Weeks of STEAM Initiative. Together with its local partners, such as Olivewood Gardens, the Collaborative has developed a free and open to the public, 16-week at-home STEAM curriculum for families with students in grades K-8.
Through activities and challenges, the curriculum will provide participants an awareness of our region’s natural resources and ways to preserve them for future generations. Additionally, many of the projects can be completed with materials readily found at home.
The initiative will close on May 14, 2021, but the partners plan to release new activities annually and scale the curriculum to also include high school students in future years. For more information, including how to download the activities and projects, and earn prizes, click the link below.
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Opportunities At Olivewood |
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Who says you need gardening tools for a garden to thrive? We just need passionate, growth-minded people here at Olivewood. Check out the creative ways you can intern or volunteer for our virtual programming.
Are you interested in supporting live virtual field trips? Or perhaps you're itching to flex your administrative skills. Check out these open opportunities and if you don't see a fit, send us an an email.
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Try This Month's Featured Recipe |
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Brown Rice Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Created by Chef Marguerite Grifka
Serves 4
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Ingredients & Direction for the Salad
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 cup green beans, cooked and cut
- 2 celery stalks, sliced thin
- 4 green onions, sliced thin
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup peanuts, chopped
- Soy sauce to taste
- Lime Vinaigrette to taste
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To cook brown rice, combine 1 cup brown rice and 2½ cups water in a pot, bring to simmer, and cook 40-50 minutes.
Combine all ingredients. Add Lime Vinaigrette and soy sauce to taste.
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Ingredients & Direction for Lime Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch red chili flakes
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Add all ingredients into a jar and shake well. Use immediately. |
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Being on the right pricing plan can make a difference on your bill. Compare pricing plans to ensure you are on the best plan for your household. #sdge #energytips4u
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Help Provide Healthy Food and Nutrition Education |
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