Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Nation.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in the Midwest, it was impossible to not develop a passion for environmental education and a taste for delicious fresh veggies! Every summer my family planted a garden at our house, and I watched and waited for carrots, tomatoes, corn and peppers grew! Our meals always tasted better when we used our homegrown vegetables.
I studied recreation and non-profit administration in college knowing that I wanted to give back in some way. After college, I got a job at a Girl Scout council in Iowa, where I developed programs, oversaw summer camps and trained volunteers. I was able to be creative, work with kids and parents and be outdoors! Our office was in a historic Victorian House, and one summer I decided I wanted to till up the backyard and grow a garden! I worked with kids who weren’t making the best food choices and wanted them to understand where their food was coming from and inspire them to eat healthier. It was a fun adventure and we all learned something – and I think we even managed to grow some good food!
I moved to San Diego in 2007 to work at Girl Scouts San Diego. I expanded my program development knowledge and worked more strategically building partnerships, connecting resources and facilitating training and adult development. I am grateful for all the opportunities that job gave me, as I was able to take risks, expand my knowledge and learn more about the broader San Diego community. It also helped set me up to move on to my new role as executive director at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center.
While I’ve only been here two months, it feels like it’s where I was meant to be! Every day I’m inspired by the staff, volunteers, interns, kids and families. I see people visiting our property and instantly a smile comes across their face, I watch kids try fruits and vegetables they’ve never eaten before and like it, and I’ve seen adults make simple changes to long-standing family recipes while still honoring their culture, thus taking control of their health. It’s very rewarding already.
Has it been a smooth road?
Moving to San Diego was a huge risk in itself, but honestly, I was too excited to know it at the time. I was leaving my family, friends and comfort zone, but as an outdoor enthusiast, I knew this was the place for me, plus I was following my passion to work in the non-profit industry. I came here knowing only one other person and being in a leadership role at my organization limited my ability to make friends at work. It was lonely at first, and I second guessed my sense of adventure for a while. I quickly started volunteering for other organizations, joined Women Give San Diego and went through LEAD San Diego’s Impact program, which helped me meet people and get to know San Diego more in-depth.
Professionally, I had a great job and was able to grow both professionally and personally, but I still missed my family. It has gotten easier over time, I feel like I was meant to be in San Diego. Everyone I’ve met along the way has been nothing but warm and welcoming. I feel like I’m the party of a community, and that has only been amplified working at Olivewood Gardens. Everyone here embodies the spirit of community and that is a very special feeling.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center story. Tell us more about the business.
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center sits on 6.85 acres with beautiful organic gardens and a Victorian house. Our purpose is building healthy families and a healthy environment. We do this through hands-on cooking, nutrition, gardening, and environmental stewardship classes for children, adults, and families. We launched our first children’s field trip program in 2010, and since that time, we have received over 60,000 visitors from around the county and beyond.
We provide parent education, teacher training, school wellness support, and a robust high school and college internship program in addition to our signature programs: the Children’s Field Trip program, Cooking for Salud, and our Sustainable Urban Agriculture program for high school youth. Olivewood takes its name from the Olivewood Terrace neighborhood in which it is located in National City. Our program delivers a highly effective model of environmental and health science curriculum in our indoor/outdoor laboratory.
Children rotate through three structured sessions of hands-on science, gardening, and culinary and nutrition lessons. Olivewood is an extension of the classroom and lessons are tied directly to Common Core Curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards.
Our Cooking for Salud program has garnered national attention and our graduates, also known as ‘kitchenistas’ continue to learn and explore health and nutrition long after graduating. They also act as peer educators, providing training and learning opportunities for other adults and kids to inspire a healthier community.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Parts of National City are considered food deserts, which means there is limited access to healthy fruits and vegetables. Residents in National City have a higher rate of obesity and type 2 diabetes than in other parts of the county. What we are doing is not only relevant, but people’s lives depend on making substantial changes to their diet.
Our vision is to reach every family in National City through one of our programs or education classes. We don’t promote any specific type of diet, we promote healthy eating. It’s important to understand how to make healthy choices within your own culture and lifestyle. Our Cooking for Salud program is unique because we look at the foods that make up our culture and help participants understand how to make small changes to family recipes to improve the health outcomes for their families.
We are seeing changes slowly, and hope over the next few years people better understand where their food comes from and the impact of eating a healthier diet can have on their overall health. Food always seems to be at the center of our social interactions, and we need to be able to make educated choices to ensure we can all live healthier lives.
Pricing:
- Our field trip programs serve 33 people and cost $500, Other classes cost as little as $10, but financial help is available.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2525 N Ave National City, CA 91950
- Website: http://olivewoodgardens.org
- Phone: 619434
- Email: jen@olivewoodgardens.org
- Instagram: olivewoodgardens
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivewoodgardens/
Image Credit:
Paul Nestor and/or Stephania Bina
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