FLOURISH |
 |  Nourish Wellness' director, Nia Hill, and Merritt's Basic Needs Center coordinator, Susana Abdurahman |
HARVESTING & DONATING PRODUCE
Last December, Nourish Wellness donated leafy greens to a local soup kitchen called GRIP, (Greater Richmond Interfaith Program).
After a near year long hiatus, Nourish Wellness has resumed donating produce. We recently donated bags of tree collards and kale to Mercy Retirement Center's
Mercy Brown Bag Program.
Mercy Brown Bag Program.
 Harvesting tree collards for donation  Tree collards and perennial variegated kale |  Elaine, Mercy Brown Bag's Operations Manager, accepts produce donation from Nourish Wellness |
Mini-Farm Maintenance Support
In July, gardeners Jesus and Carlos string-trimmed half of Nourish Wellness' Mini-farm. Now there is finally more room to cultivate beds for spring planting!
 Half of mini-farm engulfed in weeds |  Before string trimming work |
After string-trimming work
Just last month Carlos and Jesus mulched the mini-farm pathways. This gave our space a needed upgrade. :)
Jesus and Carlos mulching pathways
Fall Blooming Plants
This fall we have a number of plants in bloom, (mostly salvias). Our pineapple sage, Mexican Bush Sage, zinnias, Mexican marigold, lavenders, pomegranate, eucalyptus, and rosemary are all flowering. It's wonderful to see a nice pop of color during overcast, rainy, and dreary days.
 Salvia leucantha - Mexican Bush Sage  Punica granatum 'Nana' - Dwarf Pomegranate |  Lavandula x ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Gray'  |
Mama Nia's Chicken Soup Recipe
INGREDIENTS
* seasoned chicken (sliced and chopped)
* chicken broth 2- 32oz cartons
* rotini pasta
Root veggies
Cut root veggies medium dice.
* burdock root
* carrots
* potatoes
* onion
* garlic (minced)
Herbs & spices:
These herbs can be tied together with food grade string, or put in cheesecloth or a muslin bag. Use a few sprigs of the following herbs:
* fresh thyme
* fresh rosemary
* fresh culinary sage
* bay leaf (2 medium-sized leaves)
Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Step 1:
After chopping ingredients, bring chicken stock to a boil in a medium to large-sized pot.
Step 2:
Add potatoes, burdock root, celery, onions, garlic, and carrots to the pot.
Turn the burner down to simmer, after twenty minutes has passed.
Step 3:
Cook the soup for another half hour, and then put in the seasoned chicken and bay leaves. Continue to stir the pot occasionally.
Tip:
Add a little bit of cornstarch if you need to thicken up the broth. Be sure to stir it until it dissolves. Cook the soup at least 15 minutes after adding cornstarch so that it won't affect the soup's flavor.
Step 4:
15-20 minutes before the soup is ready, add the sprigs/ bundle of herbs. (Remove these herbs before serving the soup.)
Step 5:
Cook the pasta separately, and then run cold water on the noodles after draining them. Once the soup is nearly ready, pour in the noodles. Stir them in, and let the soup cook for 5 more minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
* seasoned chicken (sliced and chopped)
* chicken broth 2- 32oz cartons
* rotini pasta
Root veggies
Cut root veggies medium dice.
* burdock root
* carrots
* potatoes
* onion
* garlic (minced)
Herbs & spices:
These herbs can be tied together with food grade string, or put in cheesecloth or a muslin bag. Use a few sprigs of the following herbs:
* fresh thyme
* fresh rosemary
* fresh culinary sage
* bay leaf (2 medium-sized leaves)
Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Step 1:
After chopping ingredients, bring chicken stock to a boil in a medium to large-sized pot.
Step 2:
Add potatoes, burdock root, celery, onions, garlic, and carrots to the pot.
Turn the burner down to simmer, after twenty minutes has passed.
Step 3:
Cook the soup for another half hour, and then put in the seasoned chicken and bay leaves. Continue to stir the pot occasionally.
Tip:
Add a little bit of cornstarch if you need to thicken up the broth. Be sure to stir it until it dissolves. Cook the soup at least 15 minutes after adding cornstarch so that it won't affect the soup's flavor.
Step 4:
15-20 minutes before the soup is ready, add the sprigs/ bundle of herbs. (Remove these herbs before serving the soup.)
Step 5:
Cook the pasta separately, and then run cold water on the noodles after draining them. Once the soup is nearly ready, pour in the noodles. Stir them in, and let the soup cook for 5 more minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Farm Visitors
Most of our visitors are wildlife, (including insects). Cooper’s hawks reside in our windbreak of eucalyptus trees, squirrels chase each other across tree limbs, and gophers aerate the soil (jk). Hummingbirds, lizards, tiger swallowtails, bees, cabbage moths, ladybugs, earwigs, spiders, ants, and other creatures frequent our plot as well.
 Southern Alligator Lizard |  |
 Farm kitty giving homage to catnip. :) |  Farm puppy |
Volunteers Needed
* Weeding plants in containers, raised beds, and garden beds
* Cultivating more garden beds
* Planting seedlings and nursery stock
Please email [email protected] if you would like to volunteer.
Put "Volunteer Support" in the subject line.
* Cultivating more garden beds
* Planting seedlings and nursery stock
Please email [email protected] if you would like to volunteer.
Put "Volunteer Support" in the subject line.
Nourish Wellness has tote bags and t-shirts for sale.
Please go to our FUNDRAISING PAGE for more details.
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Donations are appreciated. Any amount, small or large, can help Nourish Wellness continue to help others.
Funds will help pay for supplies, printing holiday meal brochures, and operating costs.
We're looking forward to 2026 when we will share more gardening, culinary, and food resources with individuals, families, and communities who need them.
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