Abandoned farm. I learned two fun facts on this trip. The first is that stinging nettles were mixed in with the weeds surrounding the barn. The second fun fact is that even if you just brush against them, stinging nettles are surprisingly painful. Anyway, here's more abandoned houses and farms if you are interested: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/abandoned-homes
@AbandonedAmerica I once (out of guileless curiosity) full-on squeezed a nettle stalk on a short hike when I was about 10-11. Never made that mistake again! At least it faded fairly quickly.
@AbandonedAmerica I used to do bird surveys in the Blue Ridge Mountains at fixed points we would go back to year after year. We called one 'Nettle Hell'. I feel your pain.
In the UK, there are soothing dock leaves growing alongside stinging nettles. Or there were when I was young. Do you have that happy arrangement in America?
@AbandonedAmerica I tried this experiment deliberately and personally. Nettles use formic acid as their venom of choice. Formic acid breaks down under relatively low heat, so just a hot shower, a hot pack, or some other tolerably hot heat source will be enough to break down the formic acid. I used a hot pack, worked great. Might be worth packing a few for next time. Thank you for going, this is a good picture!
"The stinging persisted for two years and recurred every time I had a cold shower...There's nothing to rival it; it's ten times worse than anything else."
Even dried for years, the plant nettles will still cause reactions, the shed hairs will form a dust when disturbed.
@AbandonedAmerica
oh dear. Yes, stinging nettles are vicious. They have their uses, but being in contact with them is a rude awakening. They can soak into your clothes if it’s not heavy enough fabric.
@AbandonedAmerica I visited a lot of abandoned homes when I traveled through the MS Delta. What fascinated me the most were the things people left behind, especially the many pianos.
@AbandonedAmerica For those who haven't met them, if you touch a stinging nettle, it feels like you've been jabbed by a row of red hot needles. The stinging fades after about five minutes, and then itches a bit for half an hour or so.
When you get stung, you do 3 things. First you jump. Then you swear loudly. And then you make damned sure you don't do it again.
@AbandonedAmerica I'm a bit puzzled. Coming from the UK where stinging nettles are common, these were lessons I had learned the hard way before I was five. I can understand people from places that don't have nettles not knowing this, but given the way they rapidly populate any shady damp area, I can't see how they could be merely rare.
@AbandonedAmerica I've made soup and pesto from stinging nettles--tastes much like any other green! I did regret grabbing a handful without gloves before cooking them.
@AbandonedAmerica ouch :( nettles are nasty things. But my mum always says Dock leaves which are the cure are always growing with nettles. Not sure it's true but think if you look for Dock leaves, by the time you find them, the stinging is fading anyhow before you rub Dock leaves all over the stings.
@AbandonedAmerica Stinging nettles are the gift that keeps on giving. And by "gift" I mean "fiery hellspawned plant-plague that thirsts for your blood" but, y'know, "gift" is shorter.
@AbandonedAmerica correct! When you encounter stinging nettles the last thing you want to do is brush against them. Instead you must stop moving instantly and maneuver yourself to unwrap from them as gently as possible without touching more.
@skotchygut I realize this doesn't say a lot for me but I wasn't even really aware stinging nettles were a thing until I went through alllllll the weeds to get to the door on the back of this and found myself wondering why I was in so much pain. I will hand it to stinging nettles, I was actually impressed by how much they manage to hurt
@skotchygut@AbandonedAmerica My first time, I was walking through some brush when suddenly my legs felt like they were on fire. Confused (did I come across a wasp nest?), I just started running. That obviously did not help. It was a memorable experience.
Add comment