uch, something bit me!"
Maybe kids don't play in spaces where nettles grow anymore,
and nettles are not one of the learning experiences of
growing up. But the plants are still there in vacant lots, roadsides and if
you are lucky enough to
have parklands with wilderness areas and wetlands, it's
almost sure that nettles will be growing there. They're a
listed weed.
The sharp sting from the fine hairs on the leaves and stems
does feel like an ant bite. The chemical cocktail it
releases when you brush against it and they break off, has
formic acid, just like many ants.
And the effect is pretty much the same, although intensity
of nettle stings tend to fade quickly, and many people find
they can just ignore them (or enjoy the pain).
Just as Jonathan Swift said " It was a brave man that first ate an
oyster" it must have been with some trepidation, that people
first ate nettles. Cattle will eat them if chopped, and some
humans can
eat them raw, but if it's cooked for a few
minutes, the chemicals disappear and you're left with a
superior green vegetable. Nettles are full of nutrients, and
protein. At around 20% protein, they are one of the highest
known sources of protein in a green leafy vegetable.
So how come we don't eat them?
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