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I have an abundance of nettles around my smallholding, and although my goats are happy eating them, i wondered if anyone knows if there is anything else i can do with them, other than digging them up and composting them.

any suggestions would be appreciiated

maggie

I have a recipe for dandelion & nettle soup, although I haven't tried it yet so can't tell you what it's like but am happy to pass on if you fancy giving it a try. My boyfriend isn't keen & I don't actually like soup much, hence my not getting round to trying it.

I understand that nettles also indicate a nitrogen rich soil (willing to corrected by those more knowledgeable than I) so you could try digging them out & planting something else which will thrive in those conditions. Of course, this would mean keeping the goats away & I do appreciate that is easier said than done.

I've heard that people put nettles in a bucket with also any comfrey they happen to have and a handful of animal poo if you can get it, then cover with water and let it steep for a month. They then apply it to their heads as a cure for baldness, which just goes to show how desperate bald men can get. Actually that's not right. What they do then is strain it and dilute it to the colour of tea to use as plant food.

I haven't tried it myself but it sounds like it would work. Also sounds like it would stink to high hell.

check out the front page for a nettle beer recipe from stonehead

I ws contacted by someone once who wanted to write an article about making rope from nettles, she never did though.

Chickpea wrote:

I've heard that people put nettles in a bucket with also any comfrey they happen to have and a handful of animal poo if you can get it, then cover with water and let it steep for a month. They then apply it to their heads as a cure for baldness, which just goes to show how desperate bald men can get. Actually that's not right. What they do then is strain it and dilute it to the colour of tea to use as plant food.

I haven't tried it myself but it sounds like it would work. Also sounds like it would stink to high hell.

My plants did well on the stuff ... what was left after the dog raided it ... never left it as long as one month, though. One week and the neighbours are baying for an asbo.

Nettle soup is fantastic.... I've never made it, but a friend made some for me a few times.... I believe you just boil nettles.... I am sure google will tell more details instructions...

I make nettle beer and have made nettle soup and occationally nettle tea. but I would deffinatly advise them as a liquid feed.you can do the bucket method or I use a large bin. But another way is to get an old drain pipe plug one end drill a small hole at that end and fit a cork or bung the tip it up on its end fill with nettles and comfrey then fit a circular piece of wood that fits tightly into the drain pipe and way it down with a couple of bricks or something heavy. You can fix it to a wall but as long as it is upright its ok. then check it periodically when thick black liquid drips out collect and dilute with water, and use as feed for plants.

Pick 'em (with gloves on!!!) wash , boil and use like spinach in home-made pasta dough or in an omelette. Only use the newer leaves though.

er yep if you google for a recipe you might find this one http://www.selfsufficientish.com/nettles.htm

also links to nettle haggis and beer on that page too.

Thanks everyone i will definately give the nettle soup a try, and i would love the receipe for danelion and nettle soup, which i will give a go next year when i have dandilions in my garden.

thanks guys maggie