The Nettle Patch
No Mow May
So you stumble a nettle patch... or some grow in the garden... what would you do? Let me change your mind As part of #nomowmay (No Mow May) I wanted to share this article about the benefits, properties, use and lore about nettles.
No Mow May is an environmental initiative that originated in UK and encourages people to avoid mowing their lawns during May. thus promoting the growth of wildflowers and providing a habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. By "rewilding" your lawns you support biodiversity and also rise awareness about the conservation of pollinators and other animals. So if you stumble upon dandelions (or nettles) please spare them as they have a very important role in the ecosystem. Plus perfectly polished gardens are overrated. So it's recommended not to mow your lawn (or part of it) so the wild plants growing provide food for pollinators and other small animals.
Above: No Mow May
Those stingy nettles!
Ouch! so you stumble upon a patch of nettles. First impression for most is that they are a nuisance. But the truth is that they are accounted for many environmental benefits. The common nettle is resilient growing in different kinds of climates and soils, and thrives abundantly in the wild and is even considered as invasive in some places. It's resilient and has a deep root system that contributes to prevent erosion and enriches the soil being an aid in restoration barren places.
Nettles are edible. From culinary to medicinal benefits, it's a versatile ingredient. They are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants. A source of essential nutrients. They are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and also minerals minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. The taste is soft (reminiscent of spinach's) and once they're washed and boiled they urticant hairs won't sting anymore.
It's recommended to use gloves, let's not forget that nettles were used in old days to "activate" circulation and that a bit of sting is considered therapeutically and traditional they have been considered a good herbal remedy to treat skin ailments, rheumatism, arthritis and other ailments. The stinging sensation caused by nettles was even considered to have beneficial effect and was used to stimulate blood circulation and relieve pain. Did you stumble upon a nettle patch and your legs are on fire? let them do their magic ;)
You can simply collect the leaves and let them dry. They won't be urticant and you can prepare Nettle tea with is actually also an diuretic and helps us to flush toxins
Always pick only the tender leaves up above the plant and let it grow again.
Some lore about nettles
Talking about magic, there is a lot of mythology and superstition around them too. In many cultures they're a symbol of protection, and used to be hung in your home as protection against witches or simply for luck.
In Norse mythology they're called "Thor's herb" Legend says that when fighting a giant, a stone broke his hammer and the scattered fragments became "nettles"
Cooking with nettles
From culinary uses to medicinal benefits. I decided to make a Spanish Omelet using nettles.
Nordic countries use it to prepare the typical Nettle soup cream which is delicious. And It's also typical to mix it in your baked goods. The flavour is earthy and soft, kind of reminiscent of spinach but with a distinct taste. You can also make green nettle pesto (instead of basil), or add it to your stews.
Take into account that cooked or dried nettles won't sting.
Preparing a Nettles omelet
Preparing a nettle omelet is a wonderful way to incorporate nettles into a delicious and nutritious dish. Here's a simple recipe to guide you through the process:
Ingredients:
A bowl of fresh nettle leaves (harvested and handled with gloves)
3 large eggs (4 if they're not humongous like my Pitichoo's)
Salt and pepper to taste2 tablespoons of olive oil for cooking
Half diced onion
For that I collected the tender shoots and leaves from the upper part of the plant (avoid the old bigger leaves at the bottom). Use gloves (unless you want to "experience" the benefits of stinging hahah) and collect at least half a Kg of leaves and they will consume once you blanch them.
Above: The bounty
Here some of the stages while cooking this recipe :). Eggs are my own from my happy "Pitichoos"
Make sure you wash it thoroughly with a colander, as it's a pretty popular species for bugs so you clean all the dirt, debris, bugs and their droppings from the leaves.
Once cleaned, blanch the nettle leaves to neutralize the stinging hairs. Bring a pot of water to a boil and carefully add the nettle leaves. I Let them boil for about 10 minutes (though less time is enough) I like them extra-soft. The drain and squeeze all the water, once soft I used a fork to break it even more.
Add some tablespoons of olive oil, let it heat and then add the mix.
In another pan I fried some potatoes and poached some onion. I usually do this all together in the same pan, just with a pinch of salt, and using olive oil, and a bit of water so they cook until soft.
Allow the omelet to cook undisturbed for a few minutes until the edges start to set. Using the spatula, gently lift the edges of the omelet, tilting the pan to allow the uncooked eggs to flow to the edges. If it feels it's set, I use another dish to flip it over.
Add the nettles, potatoes, onion, salt and pepper into the eggs mixture and I mix and distribute the ingredients evenly.
Enjoy !
Other uses
Nettles can be also used to obtain natural eco-friendly dye (brown, green and yellow tones) and the fibers are also used to make "nettle cloth" a kind of fabric.
They can be used also to make liquid fertilizer fermenting leaves (nettle tea compost). It doesn't smell great ;-) but it does the job. In the famous fairytale "The Six Swans" written by Brothers Grimm the princess must weave shirts out of nettles for their cursed brothers that were transformed into swans.
Nettle patches also provide an habitat for lots of wild species, from small mammals, reptiles and amphibians seeking food and a hideout from predators in the dense. Birds looking for insects and tasty caterpillars
Beetles and ladybugs are found often and nettles are their preferred plant to lay their eggs on. Ladybugs eat aphids and other pests that can harm plants, so it's always convenient to keep nettles for them.
And of course all these insects are also the base food for small mammals, birds. and spiders. Among the nettles you will find plenty of spiders thriving like this crab spider lurking for a prey.
They are very friendly for butterflies. You can keep a patch on your garden to attract butterflies. 'Nettles are the food plant for the caterpillars of some of the most common butterflies like red admiral, small tortoiseshell, painted lady and comma butterflies their appearance along roadside verges, field and meadows places is imperative for the survival of these species. And not only butterflies but also pivotal for moths, and both important pollinators, so please next time you see a patch growing on your yard, spare them.
Here Tortoise shell Butterfly in different stages
Nettles are key to the survival of many insects and pollinators including bees that are attracted to the nectar of the flowers.
Above: Blooming Common Nettle
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