| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Stinging Nettles: The Delicious Spring Edible ‘Weed’ That Is Easily Tamed
Image source: Pixabay.com
Stinging nettles are a common forest plant found in Northern regions around the globe. They prefer rich soil near the edges of streams, lakes, springs and other sources of cool, clean water. Although they can be a nuisance for any person tromping through the woods in shorts, stinging nettles are an incredibly versatile and important wild edible.
Most people in our society no longer view nettles as a plant of value, but for early homesteaders and Native f of the nettle was used for treating joint pain and inflammation. Clearly, stinging nettle is a plant with multiple purposes.
So how does one find, harvest and utilize nettles? First, it is important to properly identify this plant in the wild. Nettles are characterized by the following features:
- Nettles grow in dense clusters or groves near water and begin to emerge shortly after snowmelt in the spring.
- Young nettle leaves have a heart-shaped appearance and may exhibit a purplish tint.
- Leaves are opposing in orientation along the stem, and range between two and five inches in length, with serrated edges and a pointed tip.
- Veins of the nettle leaves are indented.
- Nettles have small, glassy hairs on the underside of their leaves and along their stems.
Source: http://www.offthegridnews.com/alternative-health/stinging-nettles-the-delicious-spring-edible-weed-that-is-easily-tamed/
