Nettles and their uses

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Official Name - Utrica dioica

Family - Urticaceae

Actions: Used to prevent scurvy, lowers blood sugar levels, tonic, astringent, promotes milk flow, nutritave.

Traditional use:

Nettle Soup - This is a great spring boost for your system as Nettles are high in Iron and Vitamin C.

Nettle Tea - This makes a lovely tea Infusion and like the soup a great boost in the spring.

Cost: FREE to anyone in the countryside & even in towns I bet you could find this easily enough if you keep an eye out.

When: Most of the recipies I have come across say Spring and pick the young leaves quite small. Remember to take care when picking. They aren't called Stinging Nettles for no reason!!!

One to Try?

Something a wee bit different - I have seen a chef on t.v. Make pasta using Nettles. The pasta turned out a lovely green colour. Can't comment on the taste but will be able to at a later stage, this is one I am looking forward to trying.

Or

I was told this one - Mix some nettles in to cook with your Cabbage, it will improve the vitamin and mineral content of your meal, another I am looking forward to trying.

Garden Use:

We use our nettles to make a wonderful fertilizer, Just rot some down in a barrel with water

Step 1: We chop up the nettles using our hedgeclippers

Step 2: Immerse in water - weigh down if you want.

Step 3 Leave for a few weeks

Step 4 Water the mix down until it's like a light couloured tea (anything from 5 to 10times the amount of water to nettle water.

Step 5 Use like a liquid fertilizer.

Also nettles are great for wildlife - we never cut the hollow stems down in winter as nettles can harbour some great predator bugs overwinter that will be a real help in the garden to you.

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