Keeping It Simple Homestead

07/18/2025

06/17/2025

In the medieval world, nettles were far from being just an irritating w**d they were a plant of many talents, woven into daily life in ways that might surprise us today.

Walk through a medieval village in early spring, and you’d likely see people gathering fresh, young nettle leaves, careful to avoid the sting...or not!

After a long winter with little access to fresh food, nettles were one of the first green plants to appear, packed with nutrients like iron and Vitamin C.

They’d be simmered into soups and pottages, or brewed as a tea to restore strength and ward off illness.

But food was just one part of the nettle’s usefulness.

The tall, fibrous stalks were stripped and processed much like flax.

Their tough inner fibres could be spun into thread and woven into cloth.

It wasn’t luxurious, but nettle fabric was sturdy and practical, a sort of "poor man’s linen."

In fact, nettle textiles were still being made in parts of Europe well into the early modern period.

Medically, nettles were a staple in the herbalist’s kit.

From treating joint pain and arthritis to clearing the skin or easing digestive troubles, they were used in teas, poultices, and salves.

Some remedies even called for the sting itself, deliberately brushing nettles against aching joints to stimulate circulation and reduce pain.

A bit extreme by modern standards, but it speaks to how deeply people trusted nature’s pharmacy!

Even in farming, nettles had their role.

Dried nettles made a nutritious fodder for animals, and when steeped in water, they became a natural liquid fertiliser, boosting crop health and growth long before the age of chemical feeds.

So next time you spot a patch of nettles swaying by a hedgerow or creeping along a woodland path, don’t just shy away from them......embrace them!

04/05/2025

The girls are already hard at work this morning! I just love seeing their beautiful eggs every day. It's like Easter every day with these gorgeous eggs! The beauty never disappoints!

02/24/2025

These eggs 😍 pictures don't even do them justice! The girls are enjoying the longer and warmer days and are leaving us such beautiful eggs! It's like Easter every day!

02/05/2025

Checking out what the girls left us today. I think they're enjoying the sunshine and warm weather as much as we are!

02/05/2025

Thankful for warm weather, these blessings, and for this life the Lord has provided for us. 🐔🐓🥚