NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2005

Ever wonder where spring fever comes from? Look around you, buds are beginning to open, sap is rising in the trees. Here in Skagit county, we see eagles mating on the wind. We ARE connected with the plants and animals, whether we believe it or not. As the sap rises, as plants are beginning to awaken, as animals begin to mate, our own sap begins to rise, we can feel restless. Our thoughts turn to...

Nettles!!!! Well, maybe not your thoughts, but mine sure do! And, perhaps after you read this article, nettles may be on the top of YOUR list.

Nettles... Urtica dioica. Dioica meaning "of two houses." This common species of nettles has male flowers on separate stems above female flowers. Nettles grow in rich, moist soil along year round desert sagebrush streams, up on the passes, in farmers' fields, down to the ocean woodlands. The key words here are wet and moist soil.

Nettles have squarish stems and opposite leaves like all plants in the mint family, look like a giant mint plant on steroids, but they are not in the mint family, just to be confusing.

Hollow hairs which cover the underside of the leaves and stems of the plant and sporadically on the top of the leaves contain a collection of acids, causing the “sting” for which they are so famous.

Nettles' constituents include ascorbic acids, histamine, choline, vitamins A and D, iron, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and silica. The plants are best harvested before they flower. Ingesting nettles gathered after flowering can cause uncomfortable digestive upsets.

Nettles make a superb "compost tea" for our garden and house plants being so high in nitrogen. Nettles, eaten freely and drunk as a tea, feed our adrenals and kidneys, help to heal and strengthen the lung tissue and intestines, tonifies the arteries, nourishes the hair, helps to promote lots of rich milk in lactating mothers, and can even help prevent and stop seasonal pollen based allergy attacks.

Dry the plants for infusions later in the season. I put dried nettles in my spaghetti sauce, soups, and stews for their superb mineral and vitamin content.

Last year, I had a urinary tract infection that lasted only 3 days because I immediately drank a quart of strong nettle decoction upon feeling the "burn." Knowing that I was using the last of my dried nettles gathered the year before, I reached into my freezer and took out and drank the quart jar of juiced nettles and horsetail that was just waiting for the perfect use. Easy-squeesy total relief! I have had no reoccurrence.

This is a great year for nettle gathering...last month's wildcrafting group was able to meet and harvest nettles to be eaten steamed like any cooked green, and dried for future use. I have harvested (and eaten) literally buckets of nettles and will be harvesting more.

The apprentices and I have gathered nettles many times now, have juiced the nettles, eaten them in lentil soup, in a goat cheese casserole (we even made the cheese!), the list goes on. One apprentice told me that in a recent checkup, her naturopath expressed delight in the changes in her health and asked what she was doing different. My apprentice said, I have been drinking nettle juice and nettle tea every day for the last 5 weeks. Gone are some of her health problems she has had for 3 years!

For much more information (I can talk about nettles for hours...), sign up for my wildcrafting and foraging workshops.

Remember to check back frequently for updated workshop schedules, learn a thing or two and buy our products confident that they work well and are good for you!

Do you have suggestions for workshops you are wishing to attend that you don't see presented at this time? Are there 100% natural products that you are looking for that you don't see in our online store? Email us your requests and we will do our best to accommodate you!

Also, we are going to add a testimonial page. If you have purchased products from us, are currently one of my students or have been one in the past....here is your chance for 15 minutes of fame! Let us know what how well our products have worked for you, how you have been inspired to make wild plants a part of your daily life, grow a garden, become more healthy and you may be included in our page!

As the plants wake up and begin to mature, there will be much happy harvesting and product making! We will be offering Desert Sage Bundles starting the 3rd week in May (my apprentices and I will be harvesting sage and other high desert plants that second weekend), our Canoe Puller's Massage Oil will be making it's comeback when the St. John's Wort and Arnica begin to flower. We will also present a clay and herbal facial mask in the next month!

Everywhere we go, we're told "Hey! This is the real deal, here. No fluffy ribbons, no synthetic anything and the products really work!" Time and time again customers let us know how they have benefited by using Good Natured Earthling! 100% natural herbal health and body care.

Bellingham Farmers' Market....

is open for business and has it ever grown! We have gone from 54 farmers and crafters last year to 91 this year! Same great location - Corner of Cornwall and Railroad Aves. 10 am - 3 pm.

The opening of the Market on Saturday April 2nd was a huge success and so much fun for everyone! The weather cooperated, (with the eternal/infernal! Bellingham "breeze")and there was a feeling of excitement for both returning and new vendors and customers alike.

Stop by our booth...we are there most Saturdays with the exception of second Saturdays of the month for the apprenticeship weekend. The wonderful aromas coming from our booth are always a big hit for all!