Stinging Nettle Babies

[so lucky]

I am determined to keep the stinging nettle patch under the stairs cleared out this year. My son showed me that if you grasp the stems of the small nettles, you can just pull them out without getting stung. I haven't tried this on anything over about 6" but under that, no sting. The babies, an inch or so, don't sting yet, anyway, so you can pull them out with abandon. But if they break off at ground level, they will grow back in a little bush form. so make sure the ground is soft enough to let you pull them out without breaking them. I wish my chickens would eat them; they are supposed to be so healthy for chickens, and people too.

 

[Kassaundra]

I thought they had to be wilted for chickens to eat them.

 

[so lucky]

I have tried giving them to the birds wilted and also dried. Picky Picky girls.

 

[journey11]

Healthier than spinach. One of the highest edible plant sources for iron too. Cooking them disables the "sting". Eat them just like you would any other green. Can also be dried and used as a tea.

Quickest way to wipe out a weed in your yard/garden is to start eating it.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Do a youtube search and you will find many ways to eat Nettles. Some people eat the leaves right off the plant.