Hello Friend,
As we near the holiday season, there is much to be thankful for this year. Even as we continued to reimagine the way we worked, our commitment to community and collaboration shined through.
We are incredibly proud to announce that National City was selected as a 2020-2021 Culture of Health Prize Community by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Check out National City's featured video! National City has received this national distinction for our collective efforts to pursue innovative ideas, leverage our unique strengths, and bring partners together to ensure better health for all National City residents. Olivewood continues to work in partnership with local government, business and nonprofit entities to build a more sustainable and equitable community - focused on health and environmental justice. None of this work is possible without the voice of dedicated residents. As a Culture of Health Ambassador, our community is expanding opportunities among the multiple factors that impact health including education, jobs, housing, transportation, and systemic barriers to opportunity. Learn more at the prize celebration on 11/9 and 11/10.
As a RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner, our community will:
- Receive a $25,000 prize.
- Learn from and share with other national and community leaders working to build a Culture of Health.
- Have our accomplishments shared broadly to inspire change across the nation.
- Join a dynamic network of Prize communities – nearly 55 communities – working to put good health within their residents’ reach.
Another partnership that is growing is the relationship with National School District (NSD). Starting soon, Olivewood Gardens will hire two full-time staff who will work in all ten NSD elementary schools to develop and implement a school garden education program. All students at each school will schedule time in the garden, and all fourth graders will continue their education at Olivewood. In partnership with Healthy Day Partners, we will also be able to support the maintenance of the school gardens.
None of this work is possible without YOU! We are grateful to each one of our supporters, volunteers, program participants, and more for the commitment to education, advocacy, and access.
To help us continue on our mission, please donate below.
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Olivewood is growing! Are you passionate about food justice, health equity, environmental stewardship, nutrition, healthy cooking, and community? Check out our current list of job openings and apply today!
Available positions:
- Nutrition Education Specialist, part-time
- School Garden Specialist - part-time, school-based
- Environmental Education Specialist - part-time and full-time, Olivewood and school-based positions
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Saturday, November 20, 10am - 2pm
Come enjoy the beautiful gardens while you shop from a selection of artisanal items from Olivewood Kitchenistas and local small businesses. Event is free, optional lunch available.
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Lunch & Learn with Executive Director Jen Nation |
Tuesday, November 23, 12PM - 1PM
Tune in for the insider's scoop. You'll get a virtual tour of the gardens, learn about current and upcoming programs, and have an opportunity to get all your questions answered.
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Wednesday, November 24, 3pm - 5pm
This month's theme: Harvest Soup & Gratitude. Make a custom bowl of soup with some of the garden's fall harvest, create a gratitude garland, and enjoy the gardens. Register yourself or your high schooler today!
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Holiday Brunch
Sunday, December 12, 11am - 1pm
Looking for flavorful breakfast or brunch ideas? Come learn how to make seasonally-inspired recipes at our upcoming Holiday Brunch cooking class!
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Save the Date: 'The Kitchenistas' screening at the Fleet Science Center
Wednesday, December 8, 6PM
$10 admission, free for National City residents
More details and link to register to come!
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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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Program Spotlight: High School Clubhouse |
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Olivewood hosted our first High School Clubhouse on October 27. We welcomed 20 students to the gardens for pumpkin carving (thanks to donations from Sprouts Chula Vista), make-your-own seasonal flatbreads, outdoor rejuvenation, and community building. Participating youth included former interns and friends they invited to participate, students new to the gardens, and students from both local Sweetwater High School and other schools throughout San Diego.
This new program will take place every fourth Wednesday of the month and is open to youth from throughout the County. We are excited to invite students to the gardens to develop life and job skills, build community and networks, practice leadership, and improve holistic wellness through food and nature!
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Olivewood Gardens Internships |
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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 High School 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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Recipe of the Month: Vegetarian Pozole |
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Created by Chef Diego Madueño
Ingredients
2 ancho chiles rinsed, stemmed and seeded
4 guajillo chiles rinsed, stemmed and seeded
6 tablespoons coarsely chopped white onion
½ a white onion – left intact
1 head garlic
3 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
1 pinch ground cumin
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or more to taste
8 cups vegetable broth
2 cups diced cauliflower
3 cups cooked black or pinto beans
3 cups cooked hominy
Garnish: Lettuce, radishes, onion, limes, oregano
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Directions
1.) Boil chiles until soft.
2.) Blend chiles with a little of the boiling water and 6 TB white onion until a smooth paste forms. Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
3.) In a large pot add the strained chile paste, vegetable broth, cloves, bay leaf, ½ onion, the head of garlic and a pinch of cumin. Cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes.
4.) Add cauliflower and boil for 5 minutes.
5.) Add hominy and beans and cook for 5 more minutes or until tender.
6.) Remove the head of garlic, ½ of onion, bay leaf and cloves before serving.
Garnish with lime, lettuce, onion, oregano, and radish. Enjoy!
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San Diego Food System Alliance
Inaugural Gathering
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Superstar staff member and Kitchenista, Jackie Ante participated as a panelist at the San Diego Food System Alliance Inaugural Gathering. Jackie shared about her experience related to Cultivating BIPOC Leaders in the Food System. As Olivewood's Volunteer Coordinator, Jackie oversees our Kitchenistas Community Engagement Program, supporting leadership development and Kitchenista-led peer-to-peer education in the community.
In addition to Jackie's participation, Olivewood's Board Vice Chair Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, M.D. participated as a panelist focusing on Food, Public Health, and Social Justice; and the Olivewood staff and board showed up to the event in numbers to continue building our knowledge and community within San Diego's food system.
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Host Your Holiday Party at Olivewood Gardens!
Host your holidays at Olivewood! You can rent our beautiful outdoor space for year-end celebrations, or register your team for a fun private cooking class, garden project and more. Select dates open December 1 - December 20, and of course - into the new year! Contact Ellyse at ellyse@olivewoodgardens.org to learn more.
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You may qualify for a bill discount or home improvements. SDG&E’s assistance programs can help you lower your energy use and/or monthly energy bill while keeping your home comfortable.
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Save 30% or more every month on your energy bill. Find out if you qualify at sdge.com/CARE.
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: If you don’t qualify for CARE and your household has 3 or more people, you may qualify for FERA. You could receive an 18% discount on your electric bill. Visit sdge.com/FERA for more information.
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: You may qualify to receive no-cost, energy-saving improvements for your home, such as new appliances, furnace repair, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESAP.
Online applications are easy, fast and convenient. To learn more about SDG&E’s assistance programs, visit sdge.com/assistance.
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