In Search Of…

I’m in search of nettles… yes, stinging nettles…

I came upon a fabulous sounding recipe with nettles in it. Apparently they no longer sting once they are cooked and taste somewhat like spinach. I figure it doesn’t get much better than being able to eat a weed. I mean weeds are the only things that are indestructible and if we are going to wipe out all our bees then we’re going to need to learn to eat something that’s pretty hearty.

Dandelions are also edible, but very bitter. The leaves can be added to salad, but I would suggest a very small amount. The roots are good for you too! Bees like dandelions. I’m doing my part by letting dandelions grow in my yard. Ok, ok, maybe it’s just too much maintenance to get rid of them. It’s nice to know I might be helping those bees though.

I’ve kind of been on a save the planet kick lately. Well, save the human race really. We are slowly killing ourselves and our own children. It’s amazing that when I buy raw milk there is a warning on it that says it hasn’t been pasteurized and could carry bacteria, but the milk in the grocery store doesn’t have any warnings about harmful hormones and antibiotics given to the cows. Not to mention those cows are probably fed genetically mutated, processed corn along with other animal meat (which causes mad cow disease by the way). Not really the cows natural diet now is it?

I’m not sure I even trust the word “organic” in the grocery store anymore.

notes on nettles:
1. Stems and leaves steeped raw in a bucket of water for 24 hours released the formic acid into the water. The stems were then removed and the water used as an organic pesticide and applied to plants with mites or aphids. resource
2. When new leaves were collected in spring, and boiled in several changes of water, the resulting greens were said to make a good sprinach substitute. resource

notes on dandelions:
1. the greens are high in Vitamins A, C, and iron. resource
2. Some say that the roots of dandelions can be used to detoxify the liver and gallbladder. resource
3. There are no poisonous look-alikes. resource