Frank Cook (internationally renowned edible wild plant expert) discusses the importance of Nettle (Urtica dioica) as food and medicine.

Frank gives us a fascinating insight into the many uses of Nettles, and the why it needs to become the national food of England.

The nutritional profile of this fantastic plant is impressive…

Nettle Nutritional Profile
(calculated on a zero moisture basis per 100gm)

Aluminium: 13.8 mg
Ash (total): 8.4%
Calcium: 2900 mg
Calories: 0.60 /gm
Chromium: 0.39 mg
Cobalt: 1.32 mg
Crude Fibre: 11.0%
Dietary Fibre: 43.0%
Fat: 2.3%
Iron: 4.2 mg
Magnesium: 860 mg
Manganese: 0.78 mg
Niacin: 5.20 mg
Phosphorous: 447 mg
Potassium: 1750 mg
Protein: 25.2%
Riboflavin: 0.43 mg
Selenium: 0.22 mg
Silicon: 1.03 mg
Sodium: 4.90 mg
Thiamine: 0.54 mg
Tin: 2.7 mg
Vitamin A: 15,700 IU
Vitamin C: 83.0 mg
Zinc: 0.47 mg

Source: Nutritional Herbology: Mark Pedersen

Running time: 6:38

Dave & Andy Hamilton from Selfsufficientish take us on an urban forage in Bristol. They uncover the edible plants found on their way which include Goosefoot Chenopodium, Nettles Urtica and Dock Rumex.

In this video you’ll discover that Quinoa is part of the Goosefoot family. Some goosefoot where cultivated in Britain before spinach came along. Goosefoots that grow by the coast have a tendency to take on the salty flavour of the landbase. Andy also talks about a tasty way to cook and serve Goosefoot.

In the talk about Nettles Dave tells you to avoid the leaves that are lower down the plant as they have a kind of gritty taste and are not that pleasant. So it’s best to harvest the top few leaves, or in Spring you can eat most of the fresh new growth that occurs. And Nettles are a good spinach substitute.

One of the properties of Nettles is that it is quite high in the amino acid Tryptophan which is a precursor to Serotonin. Serotonin regulates sleep, appetite, mediate moods, and inhibits pain. So use of Nettles can be used as a mild natural anti-depressant.

During the Second World War, Germany had to resort to making their military uniforms out of Nettle fibres. And Nettles also produce two different types of coloured fabric dye. The leaves make a green dye which the military used in WW2, and the roots boiled with salt make the most wonderful yellow dye.

And finally  you’ll discover how Dock seeds can be used to make a flour.