Nettles

Nettles (Urtica dioica) all grown up! This is the perfect stage for harvesting the plant for its leaf. So much nutrition is packed into these leaves - calcium, magnesium, iron, and tons of protein, along with vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. Nettle pesto, nettle soup, nettle tea all create distinct forms of enjoyment. The leaf can be harvested for food up to the creation of flowers, which happens along its stem - afterward, it can still be used for tea, but if eaten it may irritate the kidneys. It’s also a valid time to use the nettle for its sting, which can be an arthritis and frozen-joint cure.