Here are bits and pieces of one of our first newsletters. I thought it might be helpful for those wanting to go out and harvest some nettles....

Nettles!

Yes, the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica.)

This is my FAVORITE time of the year because I can harvest nettles and many other wild herbs. As I discuss in Roots and Branches, the best way to use herbs as medicine is to use them as food. We all know that an important part of staying healthy is to eat well. Vibrant food is our best medicine. Many of our wild herbs are far more nutritious than the vegetables we buy in the grocery stores.

Did you know that nettles contain the highest plant source of iron? It is an EXCELLENT source of vitamins, minerals and protein. It is literally a “super-food.”  Forget all these designer capsules and energy drinks. Nettles are far more nutritious, and they are FREE!

First, I will tell you how to cook with nettles.
(Bear with me, I’m going to work backwards here.)

I could list a bunch of recipes, but instead I am going to simply tell you to find any recipe you like that calls for greens, such as spinach or kale. Then, replace those greens with nettles.

Get out your favorite soup, stew, quiche, lasagna, pesto or even spanakopita recipe, and replace the greens in the recipe with nettles.

Kimberly actually made Nettle Spanakopita as a potluck dish at our friends wedding last week! It was all eaten up by the time I made it through the food line. :( In case you were wondering, she simply used the recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook and replaced spinach with nettles.

Heck, you can simply steam nettles and serve them as a delicious side dish. Sprinkling some Parmesan cheese on top is really nice.

What about the stings?!?!?!

Good question. Definitely use gloves to transport the nettles to your pan or pot, but as soon as it begins to cook, the sting goes away. The sting quickly dissipates once you steam or cook it.

How do I pick nettles?

I know there is the real barrier separating people from harvesting nettles. To make this extra clear, I even took a little movie on my digital camera for you.

First, the instructions…

Picking Nettles, the Motion Picture:

Here is the first little camera movie I made a few years back....