I it safe to pick Stinging Nettles from my local Park?

[DreamKitty]

There is plenty of stinging nettles in my local Park & I would like to pick some to eat or make a hair rinse with it. But I have a few questions in my mind which stops me from picking them & makes me freak out lol . I would appreciate answers to my questions as it has been bugging me for ages.

1. The stinging nettles that grow in the park, could they be sprayed with toxic chemicals like Herbicides, Pesticides etc?

2. Could the leaf be infected with bacteria? as Im assuming that dogs, cats, foxes & many other wild animals may have touched them.

3. Is there any microscopic insects, eggs inside the leaf which might make you ill? Im just thinking about poisonous insects

[gregorach]

1. They're unlikely to be sprayed with anything - herbicides would kill them, and nobody's going to waste pesticides on a weed.

2. Everything is "infected" with bacteria, including the air you're breathing right now. However, they're extremely unlikely to have sufficient levels of harmful bacteria to cause you any trouble unless you're immuno-suppressed.

3. I've certainly never heard of any. There are some caterpillars that you wouldn't want to eat, but they're fairly noticeable.

Finally, points 2 & 3 can be handily dealt with by washing and cooking. Do you imagine that the produce you buy in the supermarket is grown in a sterile environment? It's grown outdoors just like the nettles - they just wash (most of) the bugs off before you see them.

[greenorelse]

What gregorach says plus you only pick the young top leaves anyway, which animals are unlikely to have peed on!

I'd say, don ye the Marigolds and good luck!

[Annpan]

They'll be fine, in a park they'll tend to be very natural and fresh as gregorach says just as clean as any fruit or veg you would buy at a shop.


I personally wouldn't pick anything grown within a few yards of a busy road.... but that is because I don't like the idea of the petrol fumes filling it full of poison

[DreamKitty]

Thanks guys. Im happy that the replies are positive, logical and reassuring. Im going out today shopping with my mum so I told her can, we just take a walk near some greenspace or the park because I want to collect nettles. I waited for the replies before heading out. Im excited to collect them and love the idea of foraging fresh leaves. I don't like insects though, so I hope to pick clean young leaves that are catepillar free.

[greenorelse]

We're having nettle fritters and occasionally cooking nettle tops with spinach.

Eat with a source of vitamin C and they're superfoods!

[southeast-isher]

Good luck. You can make a lovely pesto from them.

I haven't tried this recipe on YouTube but it might be worth trying: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1nD9aDNX-k

[DreamKitty]

Stinging nettle fritters and pesto sounds absoluetly delicious!, you guys are making me want to cook it straight away lol. Great video, that was fun to watch. I guess if you can make pesto, you can make a chutney with it as well.

People say it tastes like spinach? I really hope so because I LOVE spinach & green leaves in general.

The only thing that is putting me off is those tiny black, white bugs or green ones that are on some of the leaves. I spent 45 mins examining the leaves & giving them a good wash in a carrier bag. Then I washed them in the bathroom sink. I washed several times, I was worn out by the end of the hard work.

What does everyone else do when washing the nettles? I mean the lady in the video just gave it one wash and cooked them right away. I know this sounds ridiculous but then wouldn't you be eating the insects too?

[southeast-isher]

Well cooking them helps kill off bacteria doesn't it? And isn't it bad to use water from the bathroom sink for washing food?

[southeast-isher]

You want the Urtica Dioica

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?Lat ... a%20dioica

[DreamKitty]

You are right Southeast-isher. I shouldn't have washed them in the bathroom tub lol, I just thought it was easier to handle since my mum was busy in the kitchen.

I definetly know it is Urtica Dioica because my mum collected some with her bare hands & she got stung in the finger. Im not worried about the sting, im most worried about eating the insects even if they are cooked lol. Thanks gor the link, some interesting health facts that I didn't know about. I might make a hair rinse out of it, I heard it's supposed be anti-dandruff, give healthy, shinier hair.

[southeast-isher]

If eating make sure you get the young leaves, as it states on the PFAF database entry.

[DreamKitty]

If eating make sure you get the young leaves, as it states on the PFAF database entry.

I was thinking of doing this. I did collect young leaves as well as medium ones. I think I will dry the leaves & then seperate them. The young leaves can be used for cooking & the older ones for making my home made shampoo.

[southeast-isher]

Good idea

[frozenthunderbolt]

Dont worry about the insects - they are a good source of protein. In many parts of the world insects like crickets and grasshoppers (among many others) are harvested especially for human consumption. I PROMISE that they will cause you no ill effect.