I went out to pick nettles today.

I found a huge patch of Wood Nettles a couple days ago. They come up earlier then the type of stinging nettle I usually pick. It is so early the jewelweed I use to kill the sting when I mess up is still tiny and a little hard to see. I picked a good bag full of nettle. I ended up blanching and freezing half and drying half for tea. I am going to to make nettle and ramp soup also depending on time try brewing some nettle beer. If you have never had stinging nettle its a spinach substitute maybe a little sweeter and less slimy. Has a ton of medical uses also, but I just got it to eat and use for tea. It’s my favorite herd tea if you add a little lemon and honey.. I also grabbed fiddle heads.

Notes:

You can use baking soda past on your skin to stop a nettle sting if there is no jewelweed. I think jewelweed works better. Also both only seem to work if you get it fast enough.

Cooking or drying kills the sting, but take care till then.

You can use a burdock leaf as a glove if you forgot yours.

Take young plants 12in and smaller or just the tops.

Check for bugs or spray down, unless you like to eat bugs or need protein 😉