Selfsufficientish.com

Just been doing a bit of research for herb of the month and found that there is going to be a national nettle week in may. So that is herb of the month sorted for may http://www.nettles.org.uk/ any suggestions of what to write about?

What they look like ie, how you recognise them - they are supposedly naturalised here, but I can't think that I have ever seen them!

have a look at the nettle soup article - http://www.selfsufficientish.com/nettles.htm there is a picture there. I will update that at some point with one that is easier to see.

Having tried Nettle soup for the first time last year, I would recommend it to everyone!

Have decided that Nettles are fantastic - I can't believe that I used to curse them (although I still get fed up with the roots everywhere ) They make fantastic soup, can be steamed as a side veg (a little like spinach) they freeze well and make a brilliant organic spray for the growing veg.

Hail to the nettle, thats what I say

Wellcome, realwildchild. Would you believe it, the first thing I actually planted here was nettles and dandelions.

judyofthewoods wrote:Wellcome, realwildchild. Would you believe it, the first thing I actually planted here was nettles and dandelions.

I quite like the story you said about nettle leaves and salads Judy, sounds like the sort of thing I would do.

Hmmm, dandilions. I've never tried these, I've been told that they are quite bitter?

Did you make a nettle salad? I know that they are supposed to lose their sting an hour or so once picked but I've never been brave enough to put it to the test.

....or is there a more sinister story linked to this? [/quote]

I thought if I ate very young raw nettle leaves they would be fine in a slad, with painful consequences.

ouch!

How long did you leave them between picking and eating? I'm sure that I have read that after 2 or 3 hours the sting goes, but have never tried this out to see if it is true.

Has anyone any idea if this is true or not?

I just did a bit of research myself Lesley Bremness in "the complete book of herbs" list in the nettle uses section "eat in a salad".

The leaves muyst loose their sting once picked in that case I guess. Still after hearing about judy's experience I would be pretty reluctant.

I'm sure I read somewhere about the use of nettles to make a hair rinse. Not sure of the method though. Any ideas?

whoops! Me again! Can't seem to make my computer log me in automatically...

nettle scalp conditioner

125 g of nettle tops
600 ml water
600 ml cider vinegar
4 drops of rosemary oil

boil nettle tips, vinegar and water for half hour. Cool and strain..
Transfer into a sterilised bottle add the rosemary oil. keep in the fridge and use within a month.

Message into the scalp daily and let it dry naturaly. This is suposed to promote hair growth and conditions the scalp.

I have just bought a book on full of natural body treatments so there should be a page popping up at some point. Will experiment with a few first.

I can assure you, they don't loose their sting after picking! They might be suitable after blanching perhaps, minimum cooking just for the nettles and added to a normal salad.