Why "More Than A Relish?" What "more" is there to this recent start-up in the heart of Norfolk's inner-city? For owner Colleen James, the bottom line is more than money. She also wants to profit (or as she might say, "bless") the lives of the people who work with her. So along with a paycheck she adds liberal dashes of mentoring and encouragement. A strong Christian, Colleen believes that elbow grease and prayer oil the gears of growth, and that God will provide the wisdom and resources she needs. Case in point: to get her business off the ground, Colleen required a kitchen certified for food production. We're talking big-time expense here–unless she could plug into an existing facility. But where would she find such a place? Right down the street, so it happened. The pastor of nearby Park Place Baptist Church invited her to use their professional kitchen when the time came to refresh her stock. Amen! So far Colleen's staff is small, like the acorn's promise of an oak tree. Norma Wyatt (in photos) is Colleen's second hire and, for now, her sole employee. Not surprisingly, after hours spent working side by side the two have become more than employer and employee. They have also become friends. (Update: In 2007 Norma discovered she needed a kidney transplant. Though she's on a transplant list, as of 2008 she has not yet found a match, and exhaustion from her illness prevents her from working. Colleen now has 3-4 other helpers from her low-income neighborhood or similar ones nearby.) It's this savor of relationship that makes More Than A Relish so special. Yes, people do love the product. It's tasty and robust, good enough to eat straight from the jar. But there's more... In our tech-driven society where it's easy to feel more like a number than a person, Colleen's down-home warmth stands out. The fact is, talking to her you feel like she welcomes more than your business, she also welcomes you. Now relish that! (Text and photos © Naomi Lasdon. All Rights Reserved.) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-show-tha/108858630_QpQuG-Ti-1.jpg http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/gallery/2106774_87nY8/ 2008-10-11T01:58:12Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Colleen James (left) and Norma Wyatt prepare relish in the kitchen of Park Street Baptist Church, Norfolk.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#391382256_Wc9C4" title="Colleen James (left) and Norma Wyatt prepare relish in the kitchen of Park Street Baptist Church, Norfolk."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-Norma-clean/391382256_Wc9C4-Th.jpg" width="150" height="121" alt="Colleen James (left) and Norma Wyatt prepare relish in the kitchen of Park Street Baptist Church, Norfolk." title="Colleen James (left) and Norma Wyatt prepare relish in the kitchen of Park Street Baptist Church, Norfolk." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-09-17T03:18:28Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-Norma-clean/391382256_Wc9C4-Th.jpg 2006-10-03 23:12:01 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Colleen shows Norma how to use the electric chopper.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858558_PVEug" title="Colleen shows Norma how to use the electric chopper."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-make/108858558_PVEug-Th.jpg" width="150" height="116" alt="Colleen shows Norma how to use the electric chopper." title="Colleen shows Norma how to use the electric chopper." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:50:48Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-make/108858558_PVEug-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Norma peels and chops ingredients as Colleen finishes washing produce.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858743_RKMyJ" title="Norma peels and chops ingredients as Colleen finishes washing produce."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-chops-veggies-for-th/108858743_RKMyJ-Th.jpg" width="119" height="150" alt="Norma peels and chops ingredients as Colleen finishes washing produce." title="Norma peels and chops ingredients as Colleen finishes washing produce." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:48:18Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-chops-veggies-for-th/108858743_RKMyJ-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:13:46 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Making this relish is a hands-on process.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858490_7Uao5" title="Making this relish is a hands-on process."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-chop/108858490_7Uao5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="108" alt="Making this relish is a hands-on process." title="Making this relish is a hands-on process." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:51:00Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-chop/108858490_7Uao5-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Colleen (right) helps Norma hone her cutting technique.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108867186_S75ss" title="Colleen (right) helps Norma hone her cutting technique."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-chop-veg/108867186_S75ss-Th.jpg" width="115" height="150" alt="Colleen (right) helps Norma hone her cutting technique." title="Colleen (right) helps Norma hone her cutting technique." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-08-13T02:00:18Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-chop-veg/108867186_S75ss-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />The hand chopper takes stamina, but friendship lifts the spirit.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858586_B3UXy" title="The hand chopper takes stamina, but friendship lifts the spirit."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-Norma-an/108858586_B3UXy-Th.jpg" width="115" height="150" alt="The hand chopper takes stamina, but friendship lifts the spirit." title="The hand chopper takes stamina, but friendship lifts the spirit." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-08-13T01:11:36Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-Norma-an/108858586_B3UXy-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:21:07 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />How many jobs let you banter with the boss?</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108867287_6NDaL" title="How many jobs let you banter with the boss?"><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-make-rel/108867287_6NDaL-Th.jpg" width="115" height="150" alt="How many jobs let you banter with the boss?" title="How many jobs let you banter with the boss?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:51:22Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-make-rel/108867287_6NDaL-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:20:35 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />More than employee and employer, Norma and Colleen have also become friends.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108892281_sJMj7" title="More than employee and employer, Norma and Colleen have also become friends."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/The-heart-of-More-Than-a/108892281_sJMj7-Th.jpg" width="150" height="114" alt="More than employee and employer, Norma and Colleen have also become friends." title="More than employee and employer, Norma and Colleen have also become friends." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:43:01Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/The-heart-of-More-Than-a/108892281_sJMj7-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Putting it all together: apple vinegar adds zest...</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858424_LVqBe" title="Putting it all together: apple vinegar adds zest..."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Mixing-the-chopped-vegetab/108858424_LVqBe-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Putting it all together: apple vinegar adds zest..." title="Putting it all together: apple vinegar adds zest..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:47:24Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Mixing-the-chopped-vegetab/108858424_LVqBe-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:15:05 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />...and mustard seed adds a layer of flavor...</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108857735_ANMt4" title="...and mustard seed adds a layer of flavor..."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Adding-turmeric-to-the-col/108857735_ANMt4-Th.jpg" width="113" height="150" alt="...and mustard seed adds a layer of flavor..." title="...and mustard seed adds a layer of flavor..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:50:55Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Adding-turmeric-to-the-col/108857735_ANMt4-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:15:17 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />...to a colorful landscape of ingredients.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858839_xZAL3" title="...to a colorful landscape of ingredients."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Relish-ingredients-CU151-copy/108858839_xZAL3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="...to a colorful landscape of ingredients." title="...to a colorful landscape of ingredients." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T17:46:42Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Relish-ingredients-CU151-copy/108858839_xZAL3-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Washing jars, working together.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858699_G7QKh" title="Washing jars, working together."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleens-hands-copy/108858699_G7QKh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="104" alt="Washing jars, working together." title="Washing jars, working together." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:48:21Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleens-hands-copy/108858699_G7QKh-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />Sterilizing the jars...</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858661_eAmsz" title="Sterilizing the jars..."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-steriliz/108858661_eAmsz-Th.jpg" width="125" height="150" alt="Sterilizing the jars..." title="Sterilizing the jars..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:47:45Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-steriliz/108858661_eAmsz-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />...sealing them...</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858342_XnzVa" title="...sealing them..."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-puts-lids-on-jars-copy/108858342_XnzVa-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="...sealing them..." title="...sealing them..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:47:03Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-puts-lids-on-jars-copy/108858342_XnzVa-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:16:47 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />...cooling them on the cart.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858393_Kg6PE" title="...cooling them on the cart."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-puts-lids-on-relis/108858393_Kg6PE-Th.jpg" width="107" height="150" alt="...cooling them on the cart." title="...cooling them on the cart." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:50:23Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Colleen-puts-lids-on-relis/108858393_Kg6PE-Th.jpg 2006-10-05 16:17:09 <p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com">Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon)</a><br />All done but the cleanup. Colleen and Norma complete a batch of More Than A Relish that's headed to a food exhibition in Washington, DC.</p><p><a href="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/2106774_87nY8#108858630_QpQuG" title="All done but the cleanup. Colleen and Norma complete a batch of More Than A Relish that's headed to a food exhibition in Washington, DC."><img src="http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-show-tha/108858630_QpQuG-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="106" alt="All done but the cleanup. Colleen and Norma complete a batch of More Than A Relish that's headed to a food exhibition in Washington, DC." title="All done but the cleanup. Colleen and Norma complete a batch of More Than A Relish that's headed to a food exhibition in Washington, DC." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-15T19:47:11Z Naomi Lasdon (naomilasdon) http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com http://naomilasdon.smugmug.com/More-Than-A-Relish/More-Than-A-Relish-The-Story/Norma-and-Colleen-show-tha/108858630_QpQuG-Th-1.jpg