I'm sorry I have missed the weekly challenges, this post probably doesn't fit anywhere but I wanted to share the joy I felt when I mixed my own nettle powder today. It wasn't my plan at all. It started yesterday when I asked my mom if I could use the sauna. I could, but she had been using the space for storage lately and some stuff needed to be removed first. I had a look and discovered some dried nettles. I knew my mom mixes them into a powder and I decided to try this myself 🙂
So I took them inside and separated the leaves from the stem and threw them into a mixer. It was so much fun watching them turn into powder. I don't know, I felt like a kid, making my own medicine or something. And the smell just felt so nice. In the way that you could tell this is very good for you.
I got so excited I wanted to find a nice jar. I didn't have time for this until this evening though so unfortunately the daylight was gone and I wasn't really able to get a nice picture.
I know this is really basic and I sound like a child writing about this but that was actually what I really liked about it. I tend to think that everything about herbalism or harvesting and preparing things like this is really complicated and time-consuming. And I tend to lose interest. And also doubt that I will actually ever use this tea/tincture/oil etc. But I can't deny there's a special feeling when you actually know exactly where the herb is coming from and also to prepare it like this. I know, I didn't do this from the very first step because my mom had already picked the nettles and dried them. But honestly, with all the nettle abundance she has where she lives and also with all the space she has, she could easily dry so many nettles here if she wanted.
I got very inspired, and this wasn't planned at all. I simply wanted to take a sauna bath and discovered these nettles instead 🙂. (To be honest the sauna bath didn't happen, I got a bit distracted today and mom's car broke down, but that's another story).
Now I feel next summer will be the time when I start to harvest local herbs. One herb I'm planning on drying is raspberry leaves since I know they are good for period cramps. And my mom has a lot of raspberries.
I think this experience with the nettles today also reminded me of my childhood. Because I used to pick them as a child and my dad always made nettle soup of the very tender ones, when they just came up. It was a sign of spring. And I remember I was so fascinated by that you could actually just go outside and pick something growing wild and make a meal of it.
My mom is always telling me that I need more iron and the nettle powder will help with that. She actually told me I shouldn't take more than one teaspoon a day. I will not (I tend to forget these jars she gives me from time to time) but this one I will leave on my cabinet so I can see it daily.
I feel so inspired at the moment. I think next year will be a great year. I believe it'll be a year when I take more action. I feel ready.
We have an expression in Sweden that's goes Det får bära eller brista. The closest expression in English would probably be It's now or never but that's not quite right. The direct translation would be something like It either bear or break. Well let's see. I think that's it for tonight 🙂.
Thanks for reading 🌸
Love and blessings to you all 💚
Really good job, I might second you on that, so much nettle over here. Yes, raspberry leaves are good with cramps, and we used them during our home deliveries to "induce".
I was smoking them also 😄 just because
Oh bloody hell Ed is there anything you don't smoke?
Thank you 🙂
That's really nice to hear that you used raspberry leaves during your home deliveries.
Haha, I didn't know it was possible to smoke just any leaves. Or more, if there is any point in doing so? 😉
Is there any point in smoking anything you may ask hahah.
I was using it as a filler with my weed to replace the tobacco!
This is absolutely fantastic. I keep meaning to return to this and comment but things got away from me. I'm so impressed with you! Now you can add it to soup, smoothies, biscuits, home made gnocchi - so good for you and yes, you are a herbalist now! So proud of you, can't tell you how COOL this is!
Haha, thank you for your enthusiasm, that sure is encouraging ❤️
If you say I'm a herbalist now I'll accept 🙂 (A baby herbalist).
i have an abundance of nettles at my home (and a nearly complete tiny cottage if you want to come visit :-)
More pictures here https://ecency.com/hive-130560/@atma.love/tiny-house-construction-and-magic
Last year i did the same (make nettle powder) but a friend told me recently its better to just stuff the leaves in a jar without powdering them as the metal blade in the blender increases the oxidisation thus reducing the available nutrients. i think i got that right :-)
So, when i use the nettles i can either use as they are, in slightly crushed dried leaf form, or blend the amount i need if i need in powder form.
!PGM
Thank you for sharing. That makes sense and I'm aware some of the nutrients are probably lost when making a powder. For me it was just more convenient but I didn't make powder of all of the nettle leaves shown in the first picture.
As long as you are doing it in small batches it's fine, ie as you need it, and yeah, convenient, so you're still getting the nutrients, don't worry!
Great!
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Thank you for the encouragement 🙂
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I love nettles, there are a super food and so medicinal. I wish I had enough around me so that I could dry them and make my own powder. Yah for raspberry leaves as well, they are another wonderful plant to have on hand. Thanks for sharing @mamrita xxxxx
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Your powder must be great, I didn't know Nettles has a lot to offer so good, it is a nice thing to get to know this