Young nettles
Nettles are an amazingly versatile plant; the young shoots are high in protein and vitamins, the older plant can be used to make fiber and the leaves and roots can be used at any time to make a green dye.
Right now is a good time to harvest the young tender leaves. To find this valuable plant, look for blooming Indian Plum and sniff the air for Skunk Cabbage; nettles like a similar slightly boggy environment. As with any wild harvested plant don’t take it all and make sure the plant hasn’t been sprayed with anything. Put on a good pair of gloves and cut or pinch off the top section with 5 or six leaves. Nettles protect themselves with formic acid and other stinging substances that can leave a good welt that will burn and itch for quite a long while so be absolutely sure to wear the gloves!
Freshly harvested nettles
Once you have harvested the leaves blanch them to remove the sting. To do this put the leaves in a colander then dip in boiling water for 40 seconds and plunge into a sink of cold water to stop the cooking process.
Just blanched nettles. Put some salt in the water to keep the dark green color.
Once they are blanched they can be frozen or used like a spinach. Here is a recipe for a traditional nettle soup and here are several other ways to cook up your harvest.
Once the nettles have flowered and the stems are long and fibrous you can harvest them to make yarn or string.
Picture is from http://buzzardbushcraft.blogspot.com/2011/08/zen-and-art-of-cordage-construction.html
A lovely green dye can be made at any time. Here is what the yarn looks like:
Picture is from: http://blog.knittingcouple.de
Good luck and happy nettling!
Nettles are so under-rated! Thank you for drawing attention to this wonderful plant that is not only delicious but heals as well. Lots of interesting information at http://www.nettlesforhealth.com. Nettles can even be used to keep flies away . According to old english folklore, if you hang fresh nettles, flies go away.