IN 1940, the impecunious gardener George Orwell stuck the following useful note in his diary. It was a clipping from a newspaper, telling its readers about the wonders of the free and nutritious foodstuff, nettles. Those living on low budgets may find the information useful.

IN THE KITCHEN: NETTLES HAVE THEIR USES

NETTLES, unwanted in the orchard or yard, can with great benefit be transferred to the kitchen, where they provide nature’s remedy for removing winter spots and blemishes from the skin.

AS A VEGETABLE: Choose only young nettles; these should be thoroughly washed, then  boiled, strained and chopped like spinach. They are a good vegetable and excellent blood purifier.

NETTLE BEER: Thoroughly wash a peck of nettle tops and boil them with one ounce of bruised ginger in a gallon of water for half an hour. Cut up a lemon in slices and put in a  big bowl with alb of brown sugar, and strain them over the gallon of water from the nettles. Stir well, and when the sugar is dissolved and the mixture lukewarm add a cupful of barm [liquid yeast] and let it work for eight hours. Then skim and bottle.

DANDELION AND  NETTLE BEER: Boil fresh nettle tops, 1oz. crushed ginger, 1oz. dandelion root, 2 sliced lemons and 1lb of sugar in 1 gallon of water for 20 minutes. Strain into an earthenware bowl and when it is lukewarm add 1oz. of yeast on a square of toast and let it work for a few hours. Skim and bottle. It is ready to drink next day.

ENDS