Collecting Hazards

Well if its ticks you want, then Hibernia, NJ is the place to go. I came out of the woods a couple of years ago with several tiny hitchhikers the size of seseme seeds firmly attached to me. Until that hike, I had never encountered them, only their larger relatives.

Pahaquarry is one of my favorite places but for whatever reason, I only seem to go there in the dead of Winter.

While in a hole this last weekend, I noticed an odd looking bug out of the corner of my eye, as it scurried down into the loose rocks. I decided to try to dig it out to see what it was. I found it once more before it scurried down further, turned out to be a little scorpion. I don't know where it went after that, but I kept my eyes much more open after that.

In Scotland it is not the large creatures that cause problems its the midges. In swarms they are unbeatable. They do bite. they get in your hair, your clothes, everywhere. They get caught in your breath. You have got to go until they go, Fortunately Scotland is a jewel for collectors and well worth the inconvenience.

Malcolm Chapman
England

I have to say that I really love Brandnetel... (In Dutch).

Makes wonderful tea and I've made a really nice Stinging Nettle dish with rice and Curry Powder.

You just need rubberised work gloves and a pair of scissors to gather them.

Don't cut them too far down the length of the plant, just cut them in smaller lengths and you do not risk them rubbing on your forearms.

The burning actually comes from Formic Acid...

When cooked, the Formic Acid breaks down and is no longer there.

I like them fried in oil. ; )

My ex-girlfriend's father used to have to beat his father's bare-back with clumps of Stinging Nettle as a kind of folk remedy to improve circulation.

If any proof was ever needed, this proves that Dutch farmers are as tough as nails.

lol

Rob

That was a good one!

Hello All,
Yes, it is not a completely bloodless nor painless pasttime.
I wanted to comment on the bugs and the nettles. Here in the USA I use DEET for the mosquitos and ticks. Just remember the concentration % indicates HOW LONG it is effective. Not HOW EFFECTIVE. 90% lasts longer than 20% but they are equally effective for their respective durations. I just learned that this Spring and thought I would pass it on. ALSO, I believe they are recommending 35% or less for kids- that is the limit recommended by a national Pediatrician's Group.

DETTOL antiseptic from England is THE answer for gnats! They no longer offer the active ingredient (chloroxylenol 4.8%) here in the USA but it is ok to order it online and have it shipped here. DEET has no effect for the gnats around here but Dettol mixed 30-50% with water definetly keeps 'em out of your hair, eyes, mouth, ears etc. They can be maddening! I keep some in a small dropper bottle. Just put a couple drops on a finger and dab behind each ear, across the hat or head and around your collar. Sometimes it takes a couple extra dabs but it has never failed me!
Thank You England! Malcom, maybe you could let us know if that holds true for the midges too?

I am in NW Illinois and the nettles here come in several varieties. Wikipedia has pics and stubs to follow for variants with pics. The EVIL type is the Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis). I encounter them in very shady areas with ample moisture and they are truly painful! Some others have an unpleasant but short lived effect but the Wooddevil is a long term harsh deal. It is not just me! For just the briefest contact it is Burnburnburn for 15-25 minutes then slowly it will wear off but it does leave a sensitive area that will be rashed and reburn/itch if you bump it. I have found it to be numbish/tingly/still irritated for hours(2-5+). Yeah, I know, boohoo,lol... I hate them! The worst part is they are bad enough that if you walk too fast through them-they will penetrate new denim(jeans)! I realized that in striding (moving at all?) the jean material is pulled tight and they can go between the weave. Nice sensitive thigh area! Anymore I just hack the area in front of me with my walking stick or a convenient and disposable branch.
I would also mention the Sand Burr. This is a grassy looking plant with trails of the burrs on the ends of some stalks. Oh they are vicious little hitchhikers! They like drier and or sandy type soils and can stand up to a foot or two tall. Usually I find them hiding in the cuff of my pants or tacked to the shoe strings. Leather gloves help but caution is still #1 as they easily penetrate with a little pressure. I grew up with them growing in the mowed yard so I never went barefoot. The worst part was our dog would get them, come inside, chew em off his fur and leave them in the carpet- like a mini landmine-Aaagh!
That's my list of fun-hope something here helps somebody elsewhere.
Happy Hunting!
JohnO

A solution or rather prevention to collecting hazards would be simply not go collecting. But where's the thrill and adventure in that?

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A buena hambre no hay pan duro

A couple of things I've learned about nettles: they make an excellent macerated tea full of iron and other minerals, you don't get stung if you grab them firmly, and often when they are knee to thigh height, the early morels are nearby around a cottonwood. The stingy things do go through light clothing though...