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| Photo by Denise Haugh |
If you grew up in New England, you have unwillingly visited a stinging nettle patch and remember standing in a small area of knee high stocks and leaves, then starting to feel a itch and burn.
A new wildcrafter, reading this, is reliving the experience of finding a patch of itchy nettles and thinking I definitely am not eating them.
This may be one of my favorite wild edibles. They are edible and taste very good.
The stinging nettle is a fan of sunny locations along water beds, but also likes to live in areas that have been disrupted by humans. I happen to have a small patch that comes back every year right beside my vegetable garden. These nettles like rich soil.
The stinging nettle is a fan of sunny locations along water beds, but also likes to live in areas that have been disrupted by humans. I happen to have a small patch that comes back every year right beside my vegetable garden. These nettles like rich soil.
How to identify the stinging nettle.
- The stock is square and hollow.
- Leaves are 2 to 5 inches long.
- Leaves are oppositely arranged along the stem.
- Fine hairs or teeth on the undersides of their leaves.
When picking the nettles wear gloves. If you do not wear gloves you will feel the same pain that you remember, but, when cooked all of that sting leaves; I promise.
Fry them into a Garlicky Nettle Pesto and you will never feel the same about that ugly plant that you have in your memories.
Stinging nettles not only taste good but they have endless vitamins an nutritional values. They have also been used for medicinal purposes. Check out LiveStrong.com's take on these delicious wonders.
Fry them into a Garlicky Nettle Pesto and you will never feel the same about that ugly plant that you have in your memories.
Stinging nettles not only taste good but they have endless vitamins an nutritional values. They have also been used for medicinal purposes. Check out LiveStrong.com's take on these delicious wonders.
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