pick from the tops of the leaves and avoid the undersides and stems! the hairs that cause the stinging reaction aren't as present. the best way i've found is to pinch the tops of the leaves near the base of the stem to either pick or clip the greens

Some people like the stings. You can use the stinging as a treatment for joint pain.

⁠@@Lynn-Lynn-LynnNope, speaking from way too much experience, my body has never built antibodies from being stung enough. 😂

You have to get a firm grip on it. If you gently touch a nettle it will sting you for your pains, Grasp it like a man of mettle, soft and silk it remains. Hope this helps. Additionally, if you do happen to get stung, use a Dock leaf.

I just allow it to sting me! I love the feeling and even after a shower, the next day my hands will still be tingly

It makes a very nice tea too, like a slightly minty green tea

We drink it as tea or use it alongside other greens in pies

Do they cook it before giving it to the cattle?

No, the cows don't require it! Lol

@jturtle5318 Yes, mainly after they deliver babies. Roots and leaves are boiled in water, milk is also added. It's like a stew☺️😀

I never knew it could help with cramps, definitely trying this the next time I’m on my period, thank you!

Yup scrambled eggs and pretty much any pasta with red or white sauce is good with stinging nettle too. I always dice them up really fine

nettles are high in iron, definitely help with blood loss!

​@@FlapjackR Rose Tea works well for me, but my cramps aren't very bad to begin with.

Btw, when you steep you green tea in 80°C water instead of boiling water, it won't be bitter.

Oh really? Do you have any tips on how to do it or do I just boil it?

We also live in the city (Pittsburgh) and don’t have very much money because of some chronic health problems. We grow our food in rented community gardens and forage on public land. Of course things are different for everyone, but I’m confident if you adjust your expectations of this lifestyle a little bit you can make it happen in some way wherever you are 🙂

People can touch them because they aren’t allergic, obviously, and won’t have a huge reaction as someone allergic would.?

@kinixzen Yeah, it's just surprising. I have legitimately never met anyone who has zero reaction. I thought it was fairly universal to have some sort of reaction, even if not as extreme as mine.

Itches like hell, for days.

Then learn :)

@@nizara4168 I’m trying, my anxiety gets the best of me 👍

​@@anna-ij8rb Anxiety is the worst man. I really do believe in you. Just picture the feeling when you can show your friends your new skills!!

@@BubOfficial comments like these is what keeps me going 😎😎 Also your kitty is the cutest.

@@anna-ij8rb Life is worth living. It'll always get better. I promise. Take it day by day hour by hour. And thank you 😂 🐈

I love your description… Singing nettle as opposed to stinging nettle😁

Commenting for the algorithm

Good idea, thanks

Should be okay if you find in like a wooded/forest area, or let your yard go - stop with the pesticide/herbicide, and you’re good to go. We stopped chemicals, yrs ago, on 7 acres. Looking forward to foraging on our property this year!

There are different kinds of stinging nettles, some barely sting others will lead to painfull blisters

The dried seeds allegedly also taste nice, like nuts (never tried it but it's from decent source).

SoCal here and same. It is not like IceeHot at all. It is excruciating and goes through fabric. I had a visceral reaction then picking all that bare handed! I’ve done it before when the plants are older and you can grab them close to the roots, but the young plants are the worst.

​@@WillemPenn i can attest to the pain, though i have a rather bizarre reaction to stinging nettles in that i only feel the stinging pain and not get any blisters or hivs, the stinging hairs are sharp enough to pierce through certain kinds of gloves too. SInc ei was just a inexperience highschooler who gardens for a hobby, i used the stinging nettles in a fermented garden tea (weed tea) rather than eating them.

There's like, a six subspecies of stinging nettle. One is the United States and there are a few Eurasian ones that have been introduced. Actually, very recently it's been discovered that Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (the American subspecies of nettle) is actually pretty genetically distinct from the other subspecies, so I'm not sure if it's considered it's own species now, or what the consensus is. They look very similar but ssp. gracilis (north American native) is monoecious while most european ssp. are dioecious, and the American subspecies has way fewer needles on it, making it a lot less irritating. But there are actually needless European subspecies too, they're just not the commonly found in the states. So you were probably picking a different subspecies from the ones in the video. But it's hard to tell which ssp. they are until they flower.

*one is native to the united states. Why won't yt just let me edit it lmaoo

What! What state? That’s so crazy!

Can you got outside of your state?

We have them in Maine! Trying to think whether I’ve seen them with dock (I’m assuming yellow dock)… probably? They’re not out now because we are currently up to our arses in snow. Again. Sigh.

Why

With me, I soak them in a sink with a little vinegar and salt to kill any bugs and stuff, and rinse multiple times very thoroughly