In spring, nature wakes up and presents us with some of the most vitamin-rich grasses, herbs and foods rich in rare nutrients.
It’s April.
If you are in Villa Topi, you should not miss the opportunity to combine the useful with the pleasant. Both to take a walk by the river and to collect fresh and young spring nettles.
Since we are on a mission this time, it is good to get a basket (or bag), scissors and a glove for collecting spring nettles in advance.
Where to find an abundance of spring nettles?
Locking the main gate of the house, you go to the right along the street. At the end, turn right. Shortly after, to the left and again to the right, you will see a metal bridge on which you can cross the river. You turn right again and find yourself on a long dirt road. The river stays on your right. And from the left start the fields and cultivated areas.
It feels like Little Red Riding Hood.
Nature has turned green, birds are chirping, the weather is sunny and warm, but not summer heat… Perfect weather for a walk. The trail is about 5 km and will take you to the main asphalt road. Here you can cross the river on the stone bridge and return to Villa Topi on the other side.
Tip – judge according to the day and what time you went for a walk before lunch or after lunch. It’s always nicer to walk on the shady side.
Nettles grow in moist places.
Right here on the river bank we’re sure you’ll be able to find an abundance of nettles. And since you can afford it, we advise you to collect only the tips of young spring nettles. It’s nice to know her by appearance. If not her surest hallmark is burning to the touch. We advise you not to rely on this check, as the discomfort is not instantaneous, but lasts for some time.
What is nettle good for?
Nettle is one of the most beneficial foods for our circulatory system. It is often recommended for consumption in case of established lack of iron in the body or anemia.
Also nettle decoctions are useful for purifying the blood. It is great to do a cycle of about a month of consuming nettle tea in the morning on an empty stomach. This has an antibacterial and body-cleansing effect. It also strengthens the immune system.
In my childhood, the procedure of nourishing hair with spring nettle was known. Namely: when blanching the spring nettle, the water it was in is separated. Washed hair is rinsed with it and left to dry. The decoction is rich in many nutrients and minerals. It nourishes the hair and gives it shine. It also enhances its growth.
Nettle leaves can be dried and used for future use.
How to dry your nettle?
Given that you can get hold of nettles from nature, it would be a sin not to take at least some home with you. For this purpose, you can dry it. It is necessary to wash the petals and spread them on a towel in a shady and airy place. Every day the nettles are turned over, stirred and regrown. They will be ready in about a week. They are stored in the dark and in a paper bag so that the nettle can breathe, but not lose its useful properties.
And we, after walking, go to cook a delicious lunch in the summer kitchen of Villa Topi – spring nettle with eggs and cheese. And let’s eat it with delight on the patio in the sunshine.
