It's true, folks. This could be my favorite time of year. All those sweet little juicy nettle tops are making their way through the dirt to begin the next cycle of the growing season. I feel so lucky to be a part of it all.
Nettle (Urtica dioca) is super mineral rich and good for the kidneys and delicious. These greens are so rich in vitality, they need a lot of ummmph to make it through the surface of the soil. They are the pioneers of springtime, they let us know that warm soil is just around the corner, and the time to plant is nearly upon us. It is also a good time to cleanse our bodies, get rid of that winter funk and the heaviness of winter that we may have accumulated from too much heavy food over these long months. This is the plant world's way of making us stronger for the planting season, they need us to go out there and get those gardens ready...Makes me wonder who is really in control here...
Grandmother Nettle also demands respect, if you have ever mistakenly reached down to touch one of her stalks then you know what Im talking about...Ouch! Yes she has a way of letting you know that she is the one that makes the rules. Wearing gloves while harvesting is a must.
I harvested some nettle yesterday with my herb class in an old growth forest near the Gorge. It was a magical and soul enriching day for many reasons, but the feeling I got when I kneeled down on the ground to meet her was the most incredible feeling. I was praying down to Grandmother Nettle, this was her church and I was the conduit for the plant world. So I sang her a song and told her how beautiful I think she is, grandmothers do like that kind of stuff.
Thank you Nettle.
Here are some of her uses, although she has so many I couldnt possibly list them all.
Nettles - cook it like spinach and it is a delicious green to include in recipes.
-Nettle soup
-Nettle quiche
-Nettle pesto
-Nettle greens stir fried with kale, tamari, and sesame seeds
Nettle Vinegar- with all those minerals still intact. I like to use apple cider vinegar.
Nettle hair wash- make a tea and add some vinegar to preserve. Use to strengthen hair.
Nettle- dried for tea...to drink all winter long when you are dreaming of spring!
The plant itself is excellent to add to the compost, brings nutrients to the soil, and the dried stalks can be used to make cordage. Like I said, so many uses.
Nettle tea can be enjoyed by children, the elderly, and regular old adults. It is strengthening to the kidneys and is an overall health tonic, mineral and nutrient rich. It also is an alterative, helping our bodies function more effectively over a long period of time.
Paul Bergner says it is the quintessential Pacific Northwestern herb, it is drying to the constitution and perfect for taking on the cold, wet, rainy winters we get here. This is especially true when there is mucous in the respiratory tract or just that overall cold, sluggish, bogged down feeling we get from living with too much rain and not enough sun!
Enjoy the nettles!!
