So why Nettles??............
Footage courtesy of Ranjit Dhilon from the Evolution of Consciousness Collective
https://www.facebook.com/Evolution-of-Consciousness-Collective-807314709396451/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/Evolution-of-Consciousness-Collective-807314709396451/?fref=ts
We are very excited to announce #Nettlefest 2017..
Venue address
Martineau gardens,
27 Priory Road,
Edgbaston,
B5 7UG
This new venue means we will be able to bring it more than ever before. It is a FREE community based event intended to spread the word about this abundant resource and its many benefits. It is also an event intended to bring the community together to share knowlege skills and fun in a casual setting.
We would love to hear from you if you are interested in getting involved.....Aside from the Nettle part of the day the emphasis is on the community part....its a bottom up community festival and the loose idea is there are so many people in our communities with knowledge and skills to share that people come along and do what they do!...in essence we are open to offers as it should just reflect what amazing work people already do and provide a space for people to get together and strenghen our networks.
Our working outline of the day currently is as follows –
workshops/talks/skill sharing.
We will have a market place for local stallholders making local produce (food/craft)
We need music...through the day ending with a jam round the fire for the last few hours.
Speakers corner area
so people have the chance to get on their soapbox and discuss subjects of a social/political/well-being nature.
We will have a kids area so need people for that preferably with a current dbs. and who can provide kids activities including a face painter.
We usually have about 4 floating volunteers for general work
We would also like some kind of interactive art/craft stuff going on including demonstrations – we will have nettle fibre to work with on the day and are on the lookout for someone with a wheel to come and spin some Nettle for us on the day.
We will have a food and refreshment area
We will have a well–being space in which we will be turning into a mini spa making Nettle body care products but it will also be a space for any Holistic/well-being practitioners.
Help with photos/doing some filming as well as help with promo.
Help with set up/clear up would be great too.
Venue address
Martineau gardens,
27 Priory Road,
Edgbaston,
B5 7UG
This new venue means we will be able to bring it more than ever before. It is a FREE community based event intended to spread the word about this abundant resource and its many benefits. It is also an event intended to bring the community together to share knowlege skills and fun in a casual setting.
We would love to hear from you if you are interested in getting involved.....Aside from the Nettle part of the day the emphasis is on the community part....its a bottom up community festival and the loose idea is there are so many people in our communities with knowledge and skills to share that people come along and do what they do!...in essence we are open to offers as it should just reflect what amazing work people already do and provide a space for people to get together and strenghen our networks.
Our working outline of the day currently is as follows –
workshops/talks/skill sharing.
We will have a market place for local stallholders making local produce (food/craft)
We need music...through the day ending with a jam round the fire for the last few hours.
Speakers corner area
so people have the chance to get on their soapbox and discuss subjects of a social/political/well-being nature.
We will have a kids area so need people for that preferably with a current dbs. and who can provide kids activities including a face painter.
We usually have about 4 floating volunteers for general work
We would also like some kind of interactive art/craft stuff going on including demonstrations – we will have nettle fibre to work with on the day and are on the lookout for someone with a wheel to come and spin some Nettle for us on the day.
We will have a food and refreshment area
We will have a well–being space in which we will be turning into a mini spa making Nettle body care products but it will also be a space for any Holistic/well-being practitioners.
Help with photos/doing some filming as well as help with promo.
Help with set up/clear up would be great too.
- We run Nettlefest off a small budget as we wish to remain autonomous and build a strong foundation, it is our aim in line with permaculture ethics to see what can be achieved in this way as opposed to the trend of corporate events with massive funding that often seem lacking in delivery and genuine influence to the community at large. That said we are currently working to provide a small amount of funding for the event if we are able to do this the bulk will go to pay for the venue – Martineau gardens is a charity who do amazing environmental and community work, see their website here
- http://martineau-gardens.org.uk/
Nettlefest T-Shirts now available to buy
Nettlefest promotional Mens/ Ladies T-shirts and Mugs... Monies raised will go to support The Sandwell and Birmingham Permaculture Network and our Nettlefest event....please follow the link below https://teechip.com/nettlefest#id=0&c=584130&sid=fruit-of-the-loom-cotton-t&s=front NETTLEOLOGY WORKSHOPS
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We provide Nettle Workshops for groups or for events either at our venue or visiting your venue,
WORKSHOP 1 - Duration 2 Hours delivery cost £25 plus travel expenses
30mins - Introduction Nettle tea and Nettle based snacks
30mins - Nettle walk/Harvesting the Nettle
30mins - Making of one Nettle product of your choice, choose from; Multi-surface cleaner, tincture, Nettle Salve, plant food, making twine,tea or condiment
30mins - Closing talk including latest Nettle research, giving out recipes and taking questions
WORKSHOP 2 - Duration 6 Hours delivery cost £60 plus travel expenses
30mins - Introduction Nettle Tea and Nettle based snacks
30mins - Nettle walk/harvest
90mins - Make soup and have lunch
2 hour 30 mins - Make Soap and 2 other Nettle products of your choice, choose from; Multi-surface cleaner, tincture, Nettle salve, plant food, making twine,tea or condiment
60mins - Talk with Nettle tea and Nettle cake including the use and folklore of Nettles in history, current Nettle research, giving out recipes, where to find links for further information and questions.
We also have a community Seedbank that we would bring along to the workshop.
Some items we make are seasonal so what we are able to make on the day would depend on time of year,
Prices of the workshops vary depending on location, number of people and what materials we would need to provide, please contact us for more details
WORKSHOP 1 - Duration 2 Hours delivery cost £25 plus travel expenses
30mins - Introduction Nettle tea and Nettle based snacks
30mins - Nettle walk/Harvesting the Nettle
30mins - Making of one Nettle product of your choice, choose from; Multi-surface cleaner, tincture, Nettle Salve, plant food, making twine,tea or condiment
30mins - Closing talk including latest Nettle research, giving out recipes and taking questions
WORKSHOP 2 - Duration 6 Hours delivery cost £60 plus travel expenses
30mins - Introduction Nettle Tea and Nettle based snacks
30mins - Nettle walk/harvest
90mins - Make soup and have lunch
2 hour 30 mins - Make Soap and 2 other Nettle products of your choice, choose from; Multi-surface cleaner, tincture, Nettle salve, plant food, making twine,tea or condiment
60mins - Talk with Nettle tea and Nettle cake including the use and folklore of Nettles in history, current Nettle research, giving out recipes, where to find links for further information and questions.
We also have a community Seedbank that we would bring along to the workshop.
Some items we make are seasonal so what we are able to make on the day would depend on time of year,
Prices of the workshops vary depending on location, number of people and what materials we would need to provide, please contact us for more details
Wild and free
Tender handed stroke a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains;
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And soft as silk remains.
Aaron Hill,early 18th century Scotland
Much like our groups connection to the Bramble so too does the Nettle-Urtica dioica also connect to our ethos.It is similarly ferocious and resilient plant yet supports many beneficial insects and is highly nutritious.It has a myriad of uses and whilst i can not hope to cover it all here,i hope it will inspire you to see what you can produce with them.As we are heading into Autumn and have no fresh growth,which is the part you eat the group is currently looking into collecting seed,making paper, fibre and plant food.
And it stings you for your pains;
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And soft as silk remains.
Aaron Hill,early 18th century Scotland
Much like our groups connection to the Bramble so too does the Nettle-Urtica dioica also connect to our ethos.It is similarly ferocious and resilient plant yet supports many beneficial insects and is highly nutritious.It has a myriad of uses and whilst i can not hope to cover it all here,i hope it will inspire you to see what you can produce with them.As we are heading into Autumn and have no fresh growth,which is the part you eat the group is currently looking into collecting seed,making paper, fibre and plant food.
Download below an informative botanical insight into this plant form the fanstastic website Plants for a future.com- Support them if you can!!
www_pfaf_org_user_plant_aspx_latinname_urtica_dioica.pdf | |
File Size: | 263 kb |
File Type: |
Garden
Uses here include as moth and butterfly food,loved by ladybirds for rearing larvae and other beneficial insects.Birds will also find insects to eat on the Nettle.You can make plant food from the plant and it is a great addition to the compost heap or used as a mulch.
Kitchen
Spring growth is used for edible purposes as older leaves can cause health problems.It can be used like Spinage and made into soup.Put in bread or pasta or made into a sauce.The seeds can apparently be used as a salt substitute- something we are currently investigating! You can interestingly also use it as a substitute for rennet in cheesemaking.
Medicinal
Through the ages Nettle has been claimed to be the cure for almost everything!! it is certainly full of nutrients, thats not forgetting that the root can be as much use as the greenery.You can prepare them for external conditions in cream and processed in various ways form internal conditions.* Disclaimer- you should of course consult you doctor before following any claims made here.
Other uses
Aside from its use as animal fodder, the thing that interests us is its potential for making twine,paper and cloth.Apparently it is also possible to make a kind of Nettlemache to mold into bowls and such.We will update you on our exploits!
Please downlaod below a very informative file about fibre
fibrefromstingingnettles.pdf | |
File Size: | 1420 kb |
File Type: |
Folklore
In folklore it is said to be hot and under the planet of Mars.Its element is fire and it can be used for protection or to keep away negativity.
Further reading
101 uses for Stinging nettles by Piers Warren
From sting to spin by Gillian Edom
From sting to spin by Gillian Edom
XXXII The stinging nettle
With seed the sowers scatter, The Stinging Nettle,
The furrows as they go: Will still be found to stand;
Poor lads,'tis little matter, The numberless,the lonely,
How many sorts they sow, The thronger of the land,
For only one will grow. The leaf that hurts the hand.
The Charlock on the fallow, That thrives come sun,come showers,
Will take the traveller's eyes, Blow East,blow West,it springs,
And gild the plowland sallow, It peoples towns,and towers,
With flowers before it dies, About the court of kings,
But twice will not arise. A touch and it stings.
By Alfred Edward Housman
The furrows as they go: Will still be found to stand;
Poor lads,'tis little matter, The numberless,the lonely,
How many sorts they sow, The thronger of the land,
For only one will grow. The leaf that hurts the hand.
The Charlock on the fallow, That thrives come sun,come showers,
Will take the traveller's eyes, Blow East,blow West,it springs,
And gild the plowland sallow, It peoples towns,and towers,
With flowers before it dies, About the court of kings,
But twice will not arise. A touch and it stings.
By Alfred Edward Housman