Meet stinging nettle - ouch!

What we have a lot of here on the farm is stinging nettle. I came across it while weedwacking last year and thought I'd gotten into a nest of fire ants but didn't have any ants to beat off me! Then the same thing happened to Alex and that's when I figured out it was stinging nettle.
It's found in shady hardwood forests throughout North America, Europe and Asia. It can grow about four to eight feet high and has leaves that are heavily toothed and grow in pairs. The stalk is square with deep grooves running the length of it.

And it stings! See those little needles? They have an irritating chemical that causes a sting like a bee.
The only antidote, besides waiting it out about 15 minutes, is yellow dock. It's a ratty looking weed and grows prolifically around here too. I put counterpressure on the sting until rubbing dock on the site.
Nettle leaves can be used like spinach and are high in vitamins A and C, iron and other minerals. They are also extremely high in protein. When young, the leaves can't penetrate your finger pads.
My friend Jacquelyn in California informed me that nettles can also be used as cordage. When we cut it, you could see the fibers in it. American Indians used it to make bowstrings, snare lines and fishing nets.