September 8, 2021
Hello Friend,

As we swing into fall, we are extremely grateful for your ongoing support which allows us to continue to grow our programs, impact and advocacy work. We are looking forward to hosting our first in-person Cooking for Salud® program in over a year, seeing students back at Olivewood for field trips, and slowly and safely getting back to in-person programming.


We are proud to be part of the Thriving Earth Exchange Project in partnership with the Fleet Science Center. As part of this project, Kitchenistas® will work to increase public participation in composting efforts and use the power of community composting to transform the waste system and build upon their work to further understand the connections between environmental justice and the food system.

As recipients of a Green Building Council Legacy Project for a second year, Olivewood hosted over 30 volunteers who recently spent a full day transforming our new acre of property. Thanks to this project, we have a new water catchment system, 300 blueberry plants, 14 new fruit trees, and 12 raised garden beds. A beautiful new mural graces our tool shed in the upper garden as well. All of this hard work means we can grow more food for our programs, our community, and our local schools and corner stores. Thank you to SDG&E, Healthy Day Partners, and Lumbercycle for providing supplies for this project. Click here to see more photos of our new transformation!
Thank you for making our work possible,

Jen Nation, Executive Director of Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center
Upcoming Events
Chefcitos: Totally Tomatoes // Totalmente Tomates 🍅

Saturday, September 11 from 10 - 11 a.m.

In this in-person class, chefs aged 5-14 will learn how to make delicious gazpacho (cold tomato soup) and fresh tomato pasta suace using late summer tomatoes.
Adult Cooking Class: Grilled Pizza Party // Fiesta de Pizza a la Parrilla

Saturday, September 18 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Join us in the beautiful outdoor garden to learn how to make your own pizza dough and add creative toppings before tossing on the grill.
Quarterly Lunch & Learn with ED, Jen Nation
Tuesday, November 23 from 12 - 1 p.m.

Join our Executive Director, Jen Nation for a virtual walking tour of Olivewood Gardens and a sit down Q&A for an inside look at all of our programs.
We're Building Sustainable Communities
Our Building Sustainable Communities - Youth Leadership Program leaders have been hard at work these past several weeks to implement a community build project at First Christian Church in National City. Over the course of their journey this year, they have completed a Sustainable Urban Agriculture semester with Olivewood, a Community ARTS Design Challenge with A Reason to Survive (ARTS), a leadership program with insight from Get Empowered Today and Stay Smilin and The Dojo Cafe, Pixca Farm, Project New Village and Art + Power + Equity, the San Diego Food System Alliance, UC San Diego's Center for Community Health, and our own inspiring educators; and finally a community listening and culminating build project.

A huge congratulations to these amazing student leaders for their achievements!

Bonus! – This work was featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Click the button below to read the full story.
Congratulations Jeni!
Congrats to Jeni Barajas, who will take on the position of Garden Support Manager! You may have seen Jeni around the garden supporting the produce stand, educating youth through field trips and leading our high school engagement programs. In Jeni's new role, she will take on the growth and expansion of our upper garden and continue to lead our high school programs.
Opportunities at the Garden
Are you a college student looking to get hands-on experience in sustainable urban agriculture, nutrition education, or community-centric marketing? Are you a high school student excited about giving back to your community while gaining job and life skills? Are you a passionate community member hoping to get involved with a community of support focused on health equity and food justice? Check out our volunteer and internship opportunities (more to come) and sign up to volunteer today!
We're Hiring!
If you love environmental science, gardening and working with youth, we have the job for you! Olivewood is hiring a part-time Environmental Education Specialist.
Recipe of the Month: Roasted Corn Salad
Ingredients
  • 2 ears corn (husk and silk removed; tip cut off).
  • 1 pint cherry, grape, or pear tomato, halved (or quartered if large).
  • 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and diced.
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced.
  • 1 ½ cups cooked black beans (or approximately 1 can of black beans, rinsed).
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice.
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil, such as safflower.
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper.
Instructions
  • Roast corn on the grill.
  • Stand ear in a large wide bowl; with a sharp knife, carefully slice downward to release the kernels. Discard cob.
  • Add black beans, tomatoes, avocado, scallions, lime juice, and oil to bowl.
  • Season with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.
Energy Tip of the Month
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. 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. Find details at sdge.com/ESAP.
  • If you’re behind on your SDG&E bill, you may qualify for financial assistance. Learn more at sdge.com/AMP.
To learn more about SDG&E’s assistance programs, visit sdge.com/assistance.
Building a Healthier and Equitable Community