Hello Ginette,

Thank you for subscribing to the Nourished By Netty Newsletter! First of all, this is a sacred space. What does that mean? Our content is curated with respect and mindfulness. As a society, we are bombarded with messages of negativity or influences that lead to self-critical mindsets and disbelief. Life moves fast and responsibilities are mounting.

There is a communal responsibility to create sacred spaces of acceptance, shared knowledge, and radical love to buffer life's blows and ground us as we experience growth. Sacred spaces are necessary for celebration and help cultivate pure joy.

Nourished By Netty hopes to make you smile, even if only slightly. We hope to encourage you to continue to go after your passions and exceed your wellness goals. Content will evolve and may include personal allegories and topics not limited to nutrition, herbalism, mental health, community updates, sales on Netty's Juicery, self-care, love, and spirituality.

Thank you for being here.

-Ginette Rhodes ☀️

🌿Herbal Spotlight: Nettle Leaf

Have you heard of Nettle (Urtica dioica) root? This tried and true herb is so simple and easy to incorporate into your routine for preventative wellness and beauty benefits.

What Vitamins Are in Nettle?

This nutrient-dense plant is rich in vitamins A, C, K, and several B vitamins, as well as minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and antioxidants that help protect cells from damage.

How Does Nettle Support the Human Body?

Native American tribes such as the Cheyenne and the Lakota have used nettle for its anti-inflammatory properties to treat joint pain and arthritis. The sting of the nettle was sometimes applied directly to the skin to alleviate muscle pain, a practice known as urtication. Some studies suggest nettle may regulate blood sugar levels, beneficial for individuals with diabetes or those at risk.

Nettle also supports urinary health with its diuretic properties and is sometimes used to alleviate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. Additionally, its benefits extend to skin health, helping to alleviate conditions like eczema and acne, and to digestive health, aiding in treating gastrointestinal issues such as constipation and diarrhea.

The plant is also renowned for promoting healthy hair growth and reducing hair loss due to its nutrient profile and potential DHT-blocking effects, while its high calcium and magnesium content contributes to maintaining strong bones.

How to Prepare Nettle?

Nettle can be prepared in various ways, whether using fresh, dried, or powdered forms. When using fresh nettle, which should be harvested while wearing gloves to avoid stings, it can be made into tea by rinsing the leaves, steeping them in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, and straining.

Nettle was a valuable food source for many indigenous cultures. The young leaves were harvested and cooked like spinach or added to soups and stews. This provided a rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially during the early spring when other food sources were scarce. Fresh nettle can also be cooked into a soup by adding it to sautéed onions, garlic, and vegetables with broth, then blending the mixture until smooth, or simply sautéed with garlic until wilted, similar to spinach.

Dried nettle can be used to make tea by steeping 1-2 teaspoons in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, or a more concentrated infusion by steeping a handful in boiling water for several hours or overnight. Nettle powder can easily be added to smoothies, soups, or sauces for an extra nutritional boost. Nettle supplements, available in capsules, tablets, or extract forms, should be used according to the packaging instructions or as recommended by a healthcare professional.

Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications. The versatility and health benefits of nettle make it an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Sources:

• University of Maryland Medical Center. (n.d.). Stinging Nettle. Retrieved from umm.edu
• U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Nutrient Data Laboratory: Nettle. Retrieved from usda.gov
• Chrubasik, J. E., Roufogalis, B. D., Wagner, H., & Chrubasik, S. (2007). A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles. Phytomedicine, 14(7-8), 568-579. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.03.012
• Mittman, P. (1990). Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Medica, 56(1), 44-47. doi:10.1055/s-2006-960888
• Dar, S. A., & Sharma, S. (2011). Evaluation of anti-diabetic potential of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(4), 60-65.
• Safarinejad, M. R. (2005). Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 5(4), 1-11. doi:10.1080/J157v05n04_01
• Claudel, J. P., Auffret, N., Leccia, M. T., Poli, F., & Corvec, S. (2019). Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica): A review of its preventive and therapeutic properties in skin diseases. Phytotherapy Research, 33(3), 537-545. doi:10.1002/ptr.6258
• Dobetsberger, C., & Buchbauer, G. (2011). Actions of essential oils on the central nervous system: An updated review. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 26(5), 300-316. doi:10.1002/ffj.2043
• Murray, M. T. (1995). The healing power of herbs: The enlightened person's guide to the wonders of medicinal plants. Prima Publishing.

Bold Journey Magazine Feature: Portraits of Resilience

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Great question, I believe the three qualities and skills that have been most impactful for me on my journey to entrepreneurship have been patience, persistence, and passion.

Patience is first because it is synonymous with self-forgiveness in my book. You may not always do things right the first time. I believe it takes 10,000 hours to master anything? I’ve learned to have patience in improving my craft and not freaking out and throwing in the towel if I do something incorrectly. I’m patient with the growth of my company, the funding and exposure that my brand receives because it’s all in God’s timing.

Next is persistence, persistence comes from a commitment to a desired outcome. No matter what, I chose to not give up and go all yin for Netty’s. I take it bit by bit at my own pace because I know the “turtle wins the race”. I do not rush or stress myself to perform in a way that will harm my growth. I stay persistent by going at a safe and sustainable pace.

Passion drives it all! Choose a niche that you’d love to explore even if it wasn’t able to capitalized on. I love health and wellness, I love cold-pressed juices and I love herbalism. I also love you, the planet earth, and Netty’s. All of this love fuels me to keep going. 🙂

Now Available! Indoor & Outdoor Garden Towers🍅

We had an AMAZING turnout at our Vertical Veggie Vibes event. Together we learned how convenient and affordable hydroponic gardening is. So many of us want to start gardening and growing our food. We know the benefits of eating from the land and want to take back food sovereignty but many of us live in apartments or are discouraged by the idea of breaking open land to garden.

Our Garden Towers can be outdoors or indoors and can grow hundreds of different varieties of produce including:

Vegetables

• Amaranth (vegetable type)
• Arugula
• Baby greens
• Bayam
• Beans: Lima, bush, pole, shell, fava, green
• Broccoli
• Broccoli raab
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage and Chinese cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Chard, all types
• Chicory
• Collards
• Cucumbers
• Cress
• Dandelion, Italian
• Eggplant, European and Asian
• Endive
• Escarole
• Garbanzo beans
• Gourds, edible and ornamental
• KaleKinh gioi
• Kohlrabi
• Komatsuna
• Leeks
• Lettuce, all types
• Mesclun varieties
• Melons, all types
• Misome
• Mizuna
• Mustard greens
• Ngo gai
• Okra
• Pak choy
• Peas, all types
• Peppers, all types
• Radicchio
• Sorrel
• Spinach
• Squash, all types
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes, all types

Herbs

• Angelica
• Anise hyssop
• Basil, all types
• Bee balm
• Borage
• Calendula
• Catmint
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Chervil
• Chives
• Cilantro (coriander) and culantro
• Citrus basil
• Cumin
• Cutting celery
• Dandelion
• DillEchinacea (Coneflower)
• Epazote
• Feverfew
• Flax
• Garlic chives
• Goldenseal
• Hyssop
• Lavender
• Leaf fennel
• Lemon balm
• Lemongrass
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Mexican mint marigold
• Mibura
• Milk thistle
• Mint, all varieties
• Nettle
• Oregano
• Parsley (leafy types only)
• Passion flower
• Pleurisy root
• Pyrethrum
• Rosemary
• Rue
• Sage
• Salad burnet
• Saltwort
• Savory
• Shiso
• Stevia
• Thyme
• Valerian
• Wormwood

Edible Flowers

• Calendula
• Carthamus
• Dianthus
• Hyacinth bean
• Marigolds
• Monarda
• Nasturtiums
• Pansies
• Salvia
• Scarlet runner bean
• Sunflowers (dwarf varieties only)
• Violas

Ornamental Flowers

• Ageratum
• Agrostemma
• Ammi
• Amaranth, globe
• Amaranthus
• Artemisia
• Aster
• Bells of Ireland
• Bupleurum
• Cardoon
• Centaurea
• Celosia
• Coleus
• Cosmos
• Craspedia
• Datura
• Delphinium
• Digitalis
• Eucalyptus
• Euphorbia
• Forget-me-not
• HibiscusImpatiens
• Kale, ornamental
• Morning glory
• Nigella
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Poppy
• Polygonum
• Ptilotus
• Safflower
• Salpiglossis
• Rudbeckia
• Sanvitalia
• Scabiosa
• Snapdragon
• Statice
• Stock
• Strawflower
• Sweet Peas
• Thunbergia
• Verbena
• Yarrow
• Zinnia

The Urban League Women's Business Center Grand Opening!

Netty's Juicery is sending tons of love and encouragement to the Urban Leagues Women's Center as they open their historic new location. The Urban League has made massive strides in the community and personally supported Netty's Juicery in so many ways! We love providing juice for the community at the events the Urban League hosts. Cheers!

WEPOWER WEEKEND

WEPOWER Weekend is focused on uniting the community through engaging, meaningful events and activations designed to inspire and enact change. This year will feature three events, a Garden Party, Yoga, and Canvassing! #Weoutside

By participating, you’re not just attending an event; you’re joining a movement dedicated to building POWER in our community and driving social change.

Your voice and influence can truly make a difference. Join us in celebrating and propelling our community forward.

Bronze Juice Plan

Silver Juice Plan

Gold Juice Plan