The Greenbuild San Diego Legacy Project seeks to leave a lasting positive impact on the National City, CA community. In 2005, residents were already voicing their concerns about the lack of affordable healthy food in National City and its impact on their daily lives in an environmental health coalition community survey. In 2007 the ICF Center for Cross-Border Philanthropy was established by the ICF Foundation.
The center later became the Olivewood Gardens to respond to the need for healthy food education, production, and access. Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center’s historic 7.85-acre property in National City, California serves as an interactive, indoor-outdoor classroom for children and adults from around San Diego County.
Their purpose is to build healthy families and a healthy environment. They do this through science-based environmental education and nutrition lessons, hands-on gardening and cooking classes, and job skills and leadership development programs for youth, adults, and families. Olivewood Gardens offers a unique opportunity of existing infrastructure, programs, partners, and community buy-in to allow the legacy project to aid in a thriving non-profit; knowing that our efforts will be well utilized and maintained into the future by Olivewood Gardens.
Just as their community programs give back to the community long term, the legacy project will be able togive back to the community long term. With proven positive impact on the National City, CA community, Olivewood gardens remains a vital asset to the city. Because of Olivewood Gardens’ efforts, 91% of parents reported that their families are eating more fruits and vegetables. 83% of third grade students report that they are adventurous eaters and like to try new foods. 83% of teachers report that their students demonstrated environmentally consciousbehavior after their Olivewood Gardens field trip. 100% of Cooking for Salud graduates report they are confident sharing information about healthy eating with others in their community. 100% of high school internship participants report increased job readiness.
We, the Greenbuild San Diego Legacy Project Committee, are excited to assist them with their vision of inspiring youth and adults to be healthy and active citizens through organic gardening, environmental stewardship and nutrition education. The scope of Olivewood Gardens’ development of the new one acre plot of land includes produce gardens, food production, processing and washing, an outdoor kitchen, several gathering and seating spaces incorporated with shade, trails, community art installations, and various educational and sustainable elements such as an outdoor classroom, rainwater catchment, aquaculture, and grey water reuse.
The proposed legacy project would allow them to expand their capacity to grow food for their programs, help them to address food security in their community by growing food for the local school district and their donation-based produce stand, and increase educational opportunities - in particular to work with high school Sustainable Urban Agriculture Interns and community service volunteers to teach agricultural practices and sustainable use of the land.