permaculture

[Marsha Hanzi <mhanzi@yahoo.com>]

The book "Stalking the Wild Asparagus" (or Stalking the Healthful Herb- don´t remember which Euell Gibbons)has a whole chapter on how to cook and use stinging nettles.  The secret is to harvest them early in the spring otherwise they are grainy and rather unpleasant. After cooking or wilting they no longer sting. The "poison" is very rich in micro-nutrients.

He gives a recipe for "nettle beer", which is basically a very strong "tea" of nettles with brown sugar, lemon, and ginger, which you then ferment with bread yeast.  After three days it is bubbly- I like it a lot! (Supposed to be good for rheumatism...)

Marsha

 

 

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