For herbalists and wildcrafters, nettles (Urtica dioica)  mean spring has arrived. They have been a spring staple for centuries and have been enjoyed over much of the world. Nettles leaves and roots are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silica iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulfur.. Many of these ingredients act as antioxidants in our bodies.
They also provide chlorophyll and tannin, and they are a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and B complex vitamins. Nettles also have high levels of easily absorbable amino acids. They contain ten percent protein, more than any
other vegetable. They also contain quercetin which many people find to be helpful in dealing with seasonal allergies.

USES

Rennet can be made for for cheese making from boiling nettle in water! This helps the cheese curds to coagulate and stick together. I have mostly has success using rennet for soft cheese as I haven’t figured out how to get it to set a semi-hard cheese well enough. Practice, practice!

I use the leaves before they are flower and the roots are harvested in the fall. Two year old roots are better than first year roots. The roots are often used to support men’s health as they support the prostate and urinary tract. The older stems make good fiber and can also be used as a bow-drill for fire starting. Most folks tend to wear gloves when harvesting them.

By cooking nettles, you break down the sacs that hold the acid which stings you. Once cooked or even ran through a food processor, it wont be able to sting you. can use it as you would spinach. You can also make a decoction from it by placing a couple teaspoons of the dried herb in a mason jar and pouring warm water on it. Cap it and leave it over night to draw out the constituents and drink it the next day. It will have turned a deep beautiful green which is chock full of vitamins and minerals.

HOW IT GROWS

Nettles are an indicator plant. When you see them, you can assume that the soil they are in is rich, moist and may be cooler than the areas around it. It can grow anywhere but it prefers the cool, moist areas with rich soil. . It is spreads itself through fine roots or runners. I am not aware of any look-alikes that will sting you.

I have posted recipes for using nettles, nettle pesto (nesto) and Nettles in Dashi. Comment below on which are your favorites or share one of your own so others here can benefit from your experience.

To learn more about Marilene, Songcroft, and permaculture ethics, visit www.songcroft.com. Oh, and if you like this article, you will love our courses.