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In fact, he proved their edibility during an outdoor session on wild edible plants he gave on May 17 at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve near La Farge, Wis.
Just about anyone who spends much time outdoors has learned to recognize the stinging nettle, with its tall hollow stems and deeply toothed oval leaves that cause a very annoying itch when touched. The irritation is caused by toxins delivered through tiny hollow hairs along the stems and leaves.
Surprisingly, thorough cooking by sautéing or steaming neutralizes the toxin and makes the plant totally harmless. Pureeing or running them through a blender is also said to make them safe. The tender young leaves (top four inches) of the growing plant (less than four feet and not flowering) are, in fact, quite good as a cooked green, especially when mixed with other greens.
To avoid getting stung, use gloves or tongs when handling the plant. Some people fold the young leaves from underneath like a taco to minimize touching the stinging hairs. It is said that the stinging sensation in the mouth is minimal and does not last long, but cooking the leaves until they are well wilted is the surest way of rendering them harmless.
Nettles have long been known for their beneficial qualities in addition to their flavor. The plant is high in minerals and iron, along with vitamin C. A tea that Gale made from nettle leaves was not only refreshing and tasty, it was very nutritious as well.
Oh yeah, Gale showed us another good trick. If you do manage to get stung by the nettles, he showed how to chew on some leaves of the common plantain, that oval rosette of leaves with the spiky seed stalk that grows so aggressively in our lawns, and then rub the mush on the exposed area. It will relieve the itch.
As with any wild food, before trying it make absolutely sure that you are picking the right plant and preparing it correctly. I would suggest reading more about it for your own assurance. If you can access a computer, an Internet search of “edible stinging nettle” will give you plenty of sources to look at.
There are also several good books on the general subject as well, such as Samuel Thayer’s, “The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants.” Look at several sources to get a better idea of what seems to be the most consistent and reliable information on a particular plant.
Of course, the best way to learn about wild edibles is to go out with an expert like Gale to see the actual plants and how they are prepared. Another regional opportunity will come on Aug. 2 when The Houston Nature Center in Houston, Minn., will offer a course on wild edible foods with chef Monique Hooker.
No bull
A surprising thing happened to me a couple weeks ago. One day, I decided to pass on looking for morels to give my aching legs and back a break. So instead I headed to an area where I had seen a couple bullsnakes in the past, thinking it would be nice to photograph one. Of course, I wasn’t really looking for one — I see them so rarely.
For some reason I was thinking about them, though, and even cautioned myself to drive slower in case one was crossing the unimproved road of a public hunting and fishing area near Melrose. But I was stunned when I had hardly entered the area and a four-foot long bullsnake was indeed crossing the road. Think of the odds against that!
Fortunately, the field was quite open, so I was able to get quite a few good shots of the snake before it crawled away under some pine trees.
Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer) are another snake that once was rather common around the Coulee Region but has since received protected status in Wisconsin and is a species of special concern in Minnesota. They are found in some of our bluffs, sandy prairies and savanna habitats around the Mississippi River and some of its tributaries in both states.
They are definitely one of our largest snakes, easily reaching six feet or more in length. The body starts with a heavily marked diamond shaped head and a rather pointed nose. The body has three distinct patterns along the length starting on the first third or so with a pattern of irregular black blotches and chain-like sides on a cream to white background.
The next section has a similar pattern but the irregular blotches and chain-like sides are brown on a yellowish background. The end part of the body is marked with increasingly more distinct and darker markings all the way to the tail, all against a yellow background.
That unique design distinguishes the bullsnake from our other large snake, the fox snake, which has a fairly even pattern of similar blotches along the body. Both are harmless, though capable of giving a good bite if bothered. The bullsnake, in particular, puts up a pretty good fuss when disturbed, hissing very loudly and sometimes vibrating its tail like a rattlesnake without the rattle.
The one I saw recently hissed as usual when I first got near it and it even struck once. After the brief photo session though, it seemed happy to crawl back into the grass and pine trees where it was originally heading to continue its search for mice and ground squirrels.
Whaditiz
The fiddlehead is the growing tip of fern plants.
Contact Jim Solberg at (608) 782-2560 or
nitefrogger@charter.net.
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