NETTLE

URTICA DIOICA

DANTE DESCRIBES THE SIXTH CIRCLE OF HERESY as a countryside of pain and angusih, prety much the what you will encounter should you come across a field of stinging nettles. It is here that heretics of every sect are denied the immortality of the sould and the afterlife.

Nettles have been used by mankind since the Bronze Age. Closer to our time, Julius Ceasar’s troops were reported to beat themselves on the ankles as a way staying awake and beating the cold in the their Northern campaaigns.

Nettle fibers are stromng and they have been used in the making of textiles together with cottom and hemp at various times throughout history. Their sturdiness makes them a creat choice for making natural cordage, so next time that you are stranded in the woods, you might look at our dear nettles in a different light.

FOLKLORE - The Danish believe that there are elves buried wherever nettles grow, and in Scandinavian mythology, Thor, the God of Thunder, is often represented by nettles, which is why they are thrown int he fire during storms.

OTHER USES - Nettle soup, nettle vinegar and even nettle beer are all popular recipes worth trying and you should defenitely go for it after investing ina good pair of gloves. But how about this alternative thought to help bring back your garden to life.