Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center Seedling Soirée

Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center invites the community to its annual Seedling Soirée, an unforgettable evening of seasonal cuisine, community connection, and garden-grown inspiration. Set in Olivewood’s vibrant spring garden, this signature fundraising event will be held on May 30, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will bring together local chefs, mixologists, brewers, and winemakers as the community gathers to celebrate Olivewood’s transformative work in nutrition education, environmental stewardship, and health equity, while raising vital support to further grow and make an impact.

Olivewood invites guests to indulge in a farm-to-table 'forage & feast' experience curated by esteemed chefs, Kitchenistas, brewers, distillers, and vintners from across San Diego County. Against the backdrop of the beautiful gardens, guests will savor one-of-a-kind appetizer bites crafted from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. The evening will include garden-inspired cocktails and food, live music, and the opportunity to participate in silent and live auctions.

Proceeds from the Seedling Soirée will bolster Olivewood’s mission-driven programs to nourish communities and cultivate a deep connection to the environment through nutrition education, sustainable urban agriculture, collective advocacy and intergenerational leadership.

The 2026 Seedling Soiree chefs and purveyors include:

Adrian Villareal - Tahona

Andy Weiss - The Smoking Gun

Aureny Aranda - Au Gourmet

Cindy Quiñonez - Parada Del Mar

Christina Ng - The Berry Good Food Foundation

Flor Franco - Indulge Catering and Casa de Flor

Kevin Templeton - barleymash, Spill the Beans, The Smoking Gun

Olivewood Kitchenistas

Olivewood Garden to Kitchen Interns

Sandra Orozco - Rancho Con Sabor

Logan Mitchell - Colins & Coupe

Charlie Knowles and Manny Da Luz - bica

Jiomar Diaz - Paella Chef

Robin Ross - Cupcakes Squared

Belching Beaver

BOOCHCRAFT

Hasta Mañana Cantina

Rejon Tequila

Snake Oil Cocktail Co.

Valentina Vineyards

Tickets for the 2026 Seedling Soirée are $250 per person, with a sliding scale offered to ensure accessibility for all members of the community. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Tickets can be purchased at https://olivewoodgardens.org/seedling-soiree/. For information about sponsorships, please contact Jennifer Walker at jwalker@olivewoodgardens.org.

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About Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center

Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center is a nonprofit organization in National City, California, dedicated to impacting and inspiring communities through food, health, and environmental education. Since 2010, Olivewood has provided hands-on garden and nutrition programs that inspire youth and families to make healthful and sustainable choices. Learn more at www.olivewoodgardens.org.  

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