permaculture

[SArjuna@aol.com]

>      Jon asked how to identiffy wood nettles and if they'd be found in 
> coastal British Columbia.
> 
     They grow from Quebec to Manitoba and Nova Scotia, south to Florida, 
west to Oklahoma, Mississippi and Missouri, in low (dam) woods and along 
stream 
banks.   They resemble stinging nettle, but the leaves are much larger and 
wider.   They grow from 1 1/2 to 4 feet tall, depending on how happy they 
are.   
They are 20% protein and taste great.    The early season shoots are good, 
and 
the seeds can be harvested as well.

     You can google to find a photo of them.    Otherwise, if you see a 
nettle-type plant in a damp and probably shady spot and you want to know for 
sure 
if it's wood nettle, touch it.    You'll know immediately!

     Sam Thayer's book on foraging is really good, and is where I learned 
about wood nettles.   He has a website, too: www.foragersharvest.com/.     
And a 
Yahoo chat group, forageahead.

     Shivani in WI





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