~ Air Drying Herbs ~

Earthy Purple Nettle (left )

Spearmint (right)

I have several different processes for air drying , the easiest being tying them in bundles and hanging in a dark , dry area. This little closet is perfect for drying most of my herbs. You can also spread them out on a screen in a dark place to dry , sometimes I do that too. I've also use paper bags to dry them , bundle the herbs up and put a paper bag over them , tie the top and hang , this method is used for saving seeds mostly , but if the area is not dark enough , this is a good method to use also. I have dried them in an old truck we have parked out in the field , they dry quickly this way but don't retain as much color because of to much light , so I usually put them in paper bags when I use this method. Sometimes I have just left them sitting in a basket and they dry out just fine , if they don't have any moisture in them.

Flassie , I liked your suggestion about renaming the Dead Nettle , so " Earthy Purple Nettle " it will be (LOL).

~ Happy Herbal Blessing ~
JoyceAnn

~ Dead Nettle Tea ~

I don't know why this herb is called " Dead Nettle " , it's a beautiful plant with some great healing properties , but the name doesn't fit it , the name makes it sound deadly. I made a cup of tea with the leaves and blooms today , it taste just as it smells , very earthy. I'm out of honey at the moment , but I imagine it would have been very tasty with a spoonful.

While I was gathering some dead nettle , I also gathered chickweed , violet leaves , flowers and wild onions. I plan to cook the chickweed , the violet leaves will be dried out for teas and I'm going to dehydrate the wild onions. I'm so " Happy " it's herb season !!

~ Herbal Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

~ Dead Nettle ~

Thank-you so much Jeanne , I've been trying to i.d. this plant for two years or more. I'm so glad you knew what it was , found a great article about it's medicinal properties here ~ http://www.naturesherbal.com/Purple_Dead_Nettle.htm ~.