So this week, I got there early. I was the 3rd person in line. I grabbed 2 bags! I was so excited to finally have stinging nettles in my hand.
But even more exciting was having them already picked and in a bag! Man, those things DO sting! And I am still stinging. But I really would love to find a wild patch and pick them anyway.
So last night, I sauteed some with some baby collards and garlic. Pretty good.
But I have also heard that dried nettles makes some good tea. So I am drying some. But first I put some fresh in a pot and boiled it for some fresh tea. I love it. It's really good. So next week, I will try to nab some more. She said she should have a lot more then. So this and dandelion tea, I should be good to go.
Let me know what you think of these prickly little buggers. Have you ever had any? Have you ever picked any? How do you eat them? Tell me, please. I want to know all about them.
15 comments:
I guess everything needs sombody to love it. I absolutely HATE those things and no matter how much you think they taste good in some culinary delight or libation, you will not convince me to partake! Those devilish plants make welts like the devil!! Enjoy!! Just count me OUT!!!
I'm so sorry. I know what you mean though. Just taking them from the bag to the drying trays, I got stung. Doesn't feel too good. But I do like the tea and hope it helps with the allergies.
I think I've pretty much eradicaed the stuff from my property. Maybe I should have given it a chance. lol
I have them everywhere, I mean everywhere, goats with eat thistles, roses, poison oak but not stinging nettles. Would you like some seeds?
I hope it helps your allergies too, Kris. It sure has been a long, wicked allergy season!!
I have been growning some in a pot for about a year now. I haven't tried coooking them, but I will now after reading your post.
When trimming them back I put a plastic grocery bag over my left hand, to hold and move them with, while clipping with scissors in other hand.
I have pulled out a few tiny little baby plants they seeded in the yard, and they didn't sting. I guess they don't sting until they get larger.
I think you can put some of the cutting you buy in water, and they will grow roots like mint. Then plant in a large pot or better yet a big cement mixing pan. Because they spread under ground, its best to keep them in a pot.
I made a warning sign for mine. It seems everyone wants to grab them when asking "What is this plant?"
Kimberly
I always heard that stinging nettles were good for goats and for some reason they don't sting them. I have seldom encountered stinging nettles, but when I have, they are not pleasant! I would love to have some for my goats, they can be wilted for them and maybe then they would eat them.
Yes, I would LOVE some seeds!! I want my own nettle patch SO bad. I will take some. Just email me my address. I'll pay postage or we can swap for some soap?
Kristin, this is a really big thing here right now. People are so into eating healthy real food in Chattanooga and all around here. They stand in line at the farmer's markets for 30 minutes to get good fresh foods. It's amazing. So you should see if you have any left and baby that stuff! You may have a market there where you live. People just need to know all the good benefits of all this natural food growing right in their own yards. Like dandelions. I just cry when I see those stupid chemical commercials about killing dandelions in their precious lawns. UGH! I eat the leaves and make tea with the flowers and make jelly too.
Kimberly, I'll hopefully get more next week and try that. Have you heard about rooting things in willow tree water? Some how that makes things root really fast and do better. I'll have to see how to do that.
Yes I have heard of using willow twigs in the water for rooting hormones.
I didn't understand how that worked, until I picked up some small willow branches out of the mud, and they were covered in roots.
No wonder they make everything root.
Linda, I know my goats love collards and kale so I guess they would like nettles too. They do eat rose bushes, stems and all. So why not nettles? I have heard there is a special way to eat them raw. They have raw nettle eating contests in Ireland I think. Somewhere over there. Like rolling the leaf up is supposed to keep them from stinging you. I don't even want to try that.
Maybe the stems of the willow are crushed to release the rooting hormones and soaked in water for awhile. My friends up the road have some willow trees in their front yard. I'll have to get some and try this.
You don't have to crush them. Just get a thin young branch and stick a twig or two in the water with the cuttings.
They were talking about this on the organic homestead gardening yahoo group awhile back.
Kimberly
Thanks for clearing that up. I really had no idea how. But that sounds really simple and I am definitely going to try it.
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