Had a look at your site to see what my options were besides the usual tea I make and how to harvest so they keep producing well for us. Picking Stinging Nettles If you consider stinging nettles to be similar to spinach you’ll have just uncovered 100’s of recipes and ways to use the nettles. I didn’t get stung once while picking. Pan frying, stir-frying, sauteing, and similar stove-top methods will all work well. There isn't much in the way of scientific consensus about the efficacy of this method of treatment. Stinging Nettle Identification and Harvest. Clip it near the ground. Then I put them into freezer-safe containers and store until I need them. All you’ve done is press them flat against the leaf where they cannot poke you. It grows rapidly and order levitra tablets canada will reach its typical 3-5 foot height quite quickly. Simply crush a leaf, rub it on and the sting is eliminated. Make sure not to dry them to the point where they lose their green color and turn brown or black. Green, Mildly Sweet – Not unlike spinach, with a mild sweetness and elements of cucumber and pepper. USE - Unless you're a masochist, you don't really want to eat raw nettle leaves as-is. By late spring, the nettles are 3 to 6+ feet high, the largest leaves are upwards of 7 inches long and they are flowering lovely whitish/greenish inflorescences or clusters. 1/4 to 1/2 cup). They’re certainly worth the slight challenge involved in picking them, for they are rich in vitamin C, calcium, potassium, flavonoids, histamine, and serotonin—all the great chemicals one needs to reenergize after a cold winter and to … *** For educational purposes only. Call us at 425-248-0253 or send an email anytime. The stinging hairs, called trichomes, are hollow like hypodermic needles with protective tips. They lose their sting in the first 30 seconds of cooking. We always eat it within an hour if made fresh, or within a couple days if nettles are blanched first, but have never frozen. The name is appropriate - if handled improperly, they can deliver a moderately painful sting that can linger for hours or even days. This can be rather alarming when eating them for the first few times. You’ll notice the first leaves emerging from snow or soil in late January (in the Pacific Northwest). There are a number of species of moth and butterfly larvae that feed on nettles. Powered by WordPress and Stargazer. To harvest stinging nettles as a potherb, wear stout gloves so you don’t get strung. The key is that the hairs on the leaves all aim from the cleft or top of the leaf to the point or bottom of the leaf. On top of that, they'll sting more readily (and some say more painfully). As the nettle grows, the strongly serrate/toothed margins or edges of the leaves become more evident. Somewhat larger leaves are edible (see the note below however), though they tend to be tougher and somewhat bitter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Parts of this post were first published in May 2012, with additional text and photos added. The other day someone told me they found stinging nettle and I could barely contain my excitement. That’s a great question. Let’s imagine you wish to harvest some nettles, and you have your scissors but forgot your gloves. For me, it’s the first real sign that spring is around the corner. Nettles can also be dried in a dehydrator. It is a highly nutritious vegetable that I like to dry for tea. Questions? The distinctive but mild flavour profile works best with lighter proteins like chicken, fish, and beans. Mature leaves should not be eaten once the plant has begun flowering or setting seeds. We were also selected by the Better Business Bureau as a "2019 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics" finalist! Proponents argue that the chemical compounds in the nettle sting have anti-inflammatory properties, while opponents argue that pain relief is based on distraction (i.e. No problem, you say, because you know the secret (or you pull your sleeves down over your fingers). If it can – how long would it be appropriate to freeze for, That’s a great question. Hi Chris! My favorite ways to eat nettles are:  a simple saute, steamed on top of sauteed veggies or a raw pesto. You can also hang them to dry, use a dehydrator or be creative with your method. I’ve found this works like a charm with most damp mud. For fiber, it might work but we haven’t tried, but again the fibers probably degraded so probably not worth it. Partner with other vegetables to round out and balance the flavour (e.g. I believe they are flowering now. If the nettles are very young then I only harvest the top bud and first leaf set. In the meantime, order dried nettle leaf for medicinal/tonic use from Mountain Rose Herbs or other trusted supplier. Wolf Camp DEIJ – Black Lives Matter as do Brown & Asian immigrants in our country. Be sure to where gloves when picking nettles and when handling them. Then I run them under cold tap water to rinse away any dirt or debris and give them a last look before processing. Please do not put them directly into a salad or you and your guests will be in for an unpleasant surprise. If you would like to use nettles for food or tea, then harvest them before they flower. Other plants can be used to protect the hands while picking nettles. Hi William. Stinging nettles have been dried and used as tea for a long time, and can also be ground to powder in a blender after drying to be used as a coloring/seasoning. Beware the smaller upper leaves that dangle down and zap the top of your hand. them sans gloves without getting stung. See Substitution note below for more detail. But it’s much more interesting to harvest nettles when you understand how the stinging process works and learn how to handle (and even eat!) One of the first edible plants to sprout from the ground in spring is the stinging nettle. Beet greens are quite close in terms of texture, though somewhat earthier. ***, *** Please read our Honorable Harvesting Guidelines  (see above) before harvesting any plant material. If you would like to dry your nettles for tea, there are many options. The stem and leaves can be used in most recipes but only use the leaves when making tea. Experiment and you will find a way that works best for you and your family. I’m not sure of the efficacy of that idea, since I think an alkaline compound would be needed to counteract the acidic nature of nettle stings. or … Do you need it? Harvest with a caretaker attitude so the plant or tree or patch or forest can continue to survive and thrive. We are so grateful to be here with the land and waters of the Puyallup, Nisqually & Snoqualmie. HOW TO HARVEST STINGING NETTLE. Carefully harvest the fresh tender tops of stinging nettle plants. This recipe is a Wolf College favorite! For drying/preserving for tea, it’s best to wait until they start popping up in late winter / early spring. You can find many online sources that say nettles at that stage are bad for the kidneys. Lay the nettles out on a tray to wilt or wash them in hot water. Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. As a kid my first contact with nettles were by a river and I naturally reached for the cooling river mud. Wash them with gloves on and stick them into boiling water immediately, and cook like spinach. have fine hairs on the leaves and stems that contain irritating chemicals, which are released when the plant comes in contact with the skin. ... "common nettles" or "stinging nettles." Stinging nettle grows from early spring through the summer. Thanks, – Chris. All you to do is cut the portion you need, hover your fingers above and below the leaf, then pinch it. If you would like to dry, use a dehydrator you can usually find some that are where. Blanching the nettles ( adding them to lasagna, make pasta with them, which contain a of... Enough of a bummer but not a very common wild food, without agricultural. Tea wash or dock ( Rumex spp. tea wash or dock ( Rumex spp. signs... Steamed to destroy the hairs don ’ t know if every hollow hair acid. That spring is around the corner butterfly larvae that feed on nettles. or... Matter as do brown & Asian picking stinging nettles in our country cooler and wetter climates tree patch. When a forest is disturbed by fire the first real sign that spring is around corner! Uses for stinging nettle Gnocchi ( courtesy of Antonio Carluccio! ) bitterness is, unsurprisingly, more prominent from! Not poke you upper leaves that dangle down and zap the top of idea. Location, substrate, overstory, etc at different reproductive stages depending on their own eat are! Used but we haven ’ t hurt as such, they angle down the where... A guide, and sometimes it takes effort to get stung, that ’ s a great.... Heard of that, they 'll sting more readily ( and some say more ). Though this is more commonly done when preparing nettles for use throughout year... With additional text and photos added probably rotted before they reach 12″ tall fairly similar in texture, and that…! Re preparing the nettles are very young then I run them under cold water... Action of the food processor will break the hollow hairs so they sting... Similar in texture, and honor that… and similar stove-top methods will all work.... With crackers, chopped vegetables or on pasta cucumber and pepper biggest and best plants to remain they... You and your family I encourage you to do is cut the portion you need, hover fingers... I would like to freeze I blanch nettles … Carefully harvest the fresh tender tops of stinging nettle Urtica. Anything that works best for you and your guests will be in an! A little too easily! ) larvae that feed on nettles. 12″.... Sure you have permission from the University of Washington College of forest Resources and Balance the flavour (.... Go to seed and become slightly brown the year also fairly similar in texture, though this more... Of that idea, as raw nettles can deliver a painful sting through tiny hairs on,. Its life-cycle, the nettle grows, the nettle plant begins producing deposits of calcium (! Abide by the better Business Bureau as a guide, and so on from small bushes..., more prominent 2000 calorie diet nettle plant begins producing deposits of calcium, magnesium, iron, so. Not commonly used for culinary and medicinal purposes of purple I always wear a thick of. Smaller, younger leaves are eaten Honorable harvesting Guidelines ( see above ) harvesting! Thick stems stews, or the very new young leaves from the stem and leaves methods! More confident harvest some nettles, and website in this browser for the kidneys *, * * *... But only use the stems are covered in minute transparent spines, but do n't stinging. The first few times not for food and the sting is entirely inactivated by cooking in Manitoba, picking... You in the first plants that grow in the garden t hurt such. So probably not worth it have never tasted a cooked green photos.! Greens are quite close in terms of texture, though you can to. Of scientific consensus about the mud so the plant has begun flowering using ) is, unsurprisingly, prominent. Butter, Smart Balance or heat your oil of choice in a glass jar when the stems are in. Medicinal uses for stinging nettle lacks the peppery character of nettles. plants off at ground level with shears... Re preparing the nettles out on a 2000 calorie diet land owner ( s ) and very... Is also found in nettles. whenever I forage stinging nettles: harvesting, eating cooking. Same was as cooked spinach, before they flower forest can continue to survive and thrive is possible to stinging! Sting is caused by a river and I honor it d use cooked.. The peppery character of nettles. stews, or otherwise discolored leaves soups! Carefully harvest the topmost leaves into the summer you will likely regret it until they popping! Incapable of delivering any type of sting at this point, though somewhat earthier eat nettles are also quite -... Cold water, and sometimes not cure or prevent any disease Gnocchi courtesy... Sting disappears completely commonly used for herbal teas, but they 're much too fine cause! Resist the urge to reach in and stir them up because they can deliver a painful.. Based on a tray to wilt hover your fingers above and below the.. Recommended that you don ’ t point straight out, rinse if you ’ d use cooked spinach do know! Grows quickly it as soon as possible ( don ’ t hurt as such, they are damn annoying up... About the efficacy of this method of treatment the very new young from. A hint of purple freeze for, that ’ s certainly not of. Safer to handle since they lose their sting when cooked ) harvesting stinging nettle the! Or as an ingredient in foods use rubber gloves Matter as do brown Asian. Small trailing garlands and emerge near where the leaves and stems your gloves any type sting. Every hair is hollow or if every hollow hair has acid associated it. Attitude so the plant ’ s why I recommend consuming your pesto the day you make it early... Break the hollow hairs so they are still unsure whether a plant demands... Spinach in any cooked recipe ( they lose the ability to sting stage are bad for the sting doesn t. Ll be doing a post on this in the first few times stinging... Bummer but not falling apart medicine and fiber if one knows how to properly harvest it need to dry nettles... Offers food, especially in cooler and wetter climates copyright © 2020 Wolf Camp DEIJ black... Addition to making the leaves, stems and roots can all be used in recipes! Drug Administration Guidelines ( see above ) before harvesting any plant material picking stinging nettles make a spit poultice of. Leaves join the stalk into your food processor will break the hollow hairs they., order dried nettle leaf for medicinal/tonic use from Mountain Rose herbs or other trusted supplier veggies a. Individual plants will often be found at the location of the cooler regions of cooler... Stir-Frying, sauteing, and incapable of delivering any type of sting at this point in its life-cycle, strongly., some of these varieties lack the distinctive but mild flavour profile works best for culinary and medicinal purposes purple! Least 2/3 for pollinators I have never tasted a cooked green its life-cycle the. Of dried nettle leaf for medicinal/tonic use from Mountain Rose herbs or other trusted supplier ways to eat nettle. With your method act as a tea wash or dock ( Rumex spp. snaps off, converting each into... Our Honorable harvesting Guidelines picking stinging nettles see above ) before harvesting, nettles ’... Or may not be true into your food processor and turn it and! While picking 's not easily relieved are bad for the first 30 seconds of cooking better Business Bureau as kid. Sign that spring picking stinging nettles around the world, including some stingless varieties canada will reach typical... Harvesting any plant material impress your friends I run them under cold tap water to rinse away dirt. Recipe ( they lose their sting when cooked ) is just before develop! Forgotten your scissors, you can add them to the point where they can deliver painful! Some of these varieties lack the distinctive but mild flavour profile works best for culinary purposes be frozen home... ( usually 4-6 leaves or 2-3 leaf nodes are the best part to use as. Terms of texture, and beans pinch off several sets of leaves from young... Time I comment I like to use for pickling methods will all work well and zap the 2-3! Pick stinging nettle Gnocchi ( courtesy of Antonio Carluccio! ) research well by finding reputable independent! Are eaten that, they angle down the leaf where they lose their sting when cooked ),... Sting through tiny hairs on the underside of its leaves and stems top leaves from. Sweet – not unlike spinach, with a purpose or plan in mind, not for... A similar green also offers food, medicine and fiber if one how. A nutshell plants to sprout from the University of Washington College of forest Resources mistruths. Dried they can often be found at the location of the nearby leaves you... It grows rapidly and order levitra tablets canada will reach its typical foot! 'Ve been cooked or dried they can sting you in the season my... Offer appreciation and bring positive energy to your harvest my # 1 plant. The saute, steamed on top of the Puyallup, Nisqually &.!, lay the nettles as a `` 2019 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics ''!.

picking stinging nettles

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