Harvesting
In my first year as a herbal student I wrote 1000 words about nettle (as I did about almost all the herbs I studied) and under the 'harvesting' section I have written:
"Young growth can be used in spring and later in the year nettle should be harvested before flowering from June to September. May to June is a good time for harvesting on a fine day in the morning after the dew has dried from the plant. Older nettles should not be harvested as they contain calcium carbonate deposits and can cause mild kidney irritations by increasing the amount of kidney 'gravel'."
Firstly, let us ignore the appallingly structured sentences and general abuse of the English language. Reading back over this it is clear that while I studied I didn't have time to go out and actually harvest nettles. (This is true. I had no time to gather or prepare any herbs or herbal remedies the entire time I was a student...but that is another story for another time.) What I now know is that yes, young growth should be used and older should not (no lie about the calcium carbonate), but harvesting from a nettle patch regularly will encourage a supply of young tender growth right through into summer. I cut the tops off then, if drying, strip the leaves off and compost the stalk.
What I also now know from experience is ignore those sections in herbals where they tell you to "gather your herbs on a fine day after the dew has dried from the plant". Yes, in an ideal world and climate that is exactly what I would do but come and live in my house for a few weeks and you will see that 'fine' days are few and far between and I have to be content to gather in a downpour. I would rather gather my herbs at their peak than wait a few more days for a dry day and risk them being past it...although at the moment, with a heatwave, it is not a problem.
My only real advice for harvesting nettles is to wear gloves of the thick rubber variety...and wear a long sleeved shirt, and maybe cover your legs... I have a habit of wading through nettles.
Preparations
Fresh
As far as I am concerned the easiest way to use your harvested nettle is as a vegetable in soups, curries, pies, samosas, risotto etc or as a fresh herb tea. Put a good handful of fresh leaves in a teapot, let stand for 10 minutes, strain and drink. Just don't eat it uncooked. Unless you are a masochist of course.
Dried
There are a few ways to dry your nettles: 1)Lie your harvested nettle leaves out on a tray or cloth and leave out for the sun to dry them. As we have already established this is not really an option for me. 2) Lie your leaves out on a tray or cloth and leave in the airing cupboard. 3) Use a dehydrator.
I use option 3 because I can dry large quantities of herbs over a few days and I get a consistent result.
(I would recommend wearing gloves even when handling dried nettle as I have had skin reactions in the past...plus, it's more hygienic if you plan to share your dried stash.)
Juiced
The whole plant, stalk and all, can be put through the juicer. A centrifugal juicer just does not cut it I'm afraid. I use a great big heavy duty grinding juicer although the little hand cranked juicers will also work. It is surprisingly bland as a juice but good mixed in with other fruits or vegetable juice. It has a tendancy to make everything murky brown though...not pleasing to the eye.
Frozen
Yep. That's an icecube bag. Use a funnel to pour your fresh juice into the bag and then freeze. Do it all as quickly as you can and you'll lose very little nutrients.
Vinegar
Use fresh or dried nettles and cram as many into a jar as possible. Cover with as much organic cider vinegar as humanly possible. That is as technical as I get. Leave it somewhere to infuse. Mine is currently sitting in the greenhouse , because it seemed as good a place as any, but I'll move it somewhere cool and dark this evening.
Cordial
Drinking it as I type and very refreshing it is too. I'll post about this one seperately...it deserves it.
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