CALENDAR OF STEPS/METHODS

                 

Stinging Nettle Research Time and Task Table

First, thank you all for coming to La Paix to participate in our joint Research
Project on the efficacy of stinging nettle as a fertilizer.  If our research
proves that stinging nettle can be used by farmers as a reliable fertilizer, we can then apply for further research
grants

Stinging Nettle Research Journal Feb/March  April    Project Timelines and Tasks
to further substantiate our experiment.    Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward La Paix Herb Farm April 3, 2011.
revised April 3, 2011 by group consensus
scroll down for individual farmer's progress

 

 

   

  Step:

Date

Technique

Document

Step 1.  Seed tomatoes

April – April 30th tend and water

April -
document
date

Plant seeds under grow lights using organic
potting soil if possible.  (Premium Organic
Compost McGraw and Gypsum from Seven
Springs Farm www.7springsfarm.com or
800-540-8181 preferred)  Consult Journal
for more information:  http://www.lapaixherbfarmproducts.com
/stingingnettle
projectjournal.htm     

Use variety you prefer, Use just one variety. Use organic potting soil if possible.  Need 36 for research.  (9 tomatoes x4 methods)

Do not use any augmentation on the seedlings.  First applications of various methods (stinging nettle tea, commercial organic fertilizer, stinging nettle hydrosol and control)  will take place when planting in soil.

 

 

 

Begin
your journal.

Email to
lapaix@
hughes.net

For web page

Photo if
possible

 

Please email
each
task as done
for
web page
documentation.

Step 2.  Harvest your
Stinging nettle

.

1,  Early

April or when 1-2 ft high

 

 

 

2. 3rd & 4th week of April.

 

 

1,  Harvest spring stinging nettle wearing gloves and long sleeves.  Harvest or obtain first cut Stinging nettle, (as much as possible) dry about 1 oz. to send to Dr. Wickline (see address below)  Take half of your harvest and dry.  Call Myra (304-269-7681) or email at lapaix@hughes.net asap for appointment asap (within a day or two of harvest) to bring other half fresh for distillation.   This will be your hydrosol supply for the season.  Please note La Paix will be closed on April 15th and 16th due to attendance at Sustainable Fair in Elkins.

 2.  Send sample of dried nettle and your commercial organic fertilizer to Dr. Richard Wickline, WV Dept. of Agriculture for analysis.  Richard D. Wickline
Chemist
Office: 304-558-2208, Ext. 4105
rwickline@ag.state.wv.us  Call first, ask for mailing address and how to mail. 

Journal

Email to
Myra

Photos Journal
resultsEmail
lapaix@
hughes.ent

Step 3.  Pot and Label tomatoes in larger pots if indicated

April 25

On or about – just doc-
ument dates.

Select 40 of the hardiest seedlings and pot in 4 - 6 inch pots.  Continue under grow light.  Water as needed. 

FYI:  You will be putting 9 tomatoes in 4 separate rows.  Rows will be about 3 feet apart.  In one row, the tomatoes will be treated with hydrosol, in another, no treatment, the 3rd row will be compost tea (formula to follow using your dried stinging nettle), and the 4th a commercial, hopefully organic fertlizer.  Your use of method in rows may vary – that’s fine.

Journal
Photos Email to
lapaix@
hughes.net

Step 4.  Harden off tomatoes

May 1st

Move potted tomatoes to greenhouse or outside bench in sun (which can be covered if weather turns frosty) to harden off.

Journal

Photos

Email to lapaix@
hughes.net

Step 5. 

April 18 to May 15

 

 

 

 

  Send hydrosol sample to Dr. Wickline for analaysis

Journal
Photos
email.

 

 

Step 6. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

April 18 to
May 1

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Select 30 by 30 foot area on farm. Till or prepare ground as needed. 

2.  Take soil sample and send for analysis to: Get kit from your local Ext ension office, follow directions and mail to WVU Extension Lab.  Two copies of the analysis will be produced,  one will go to the Extension office and the other to you.   Email results to Myra.  Thanks.

3.    Make four (4) raised bed rows each 3 feet wide with 5 feet between beds.  Rows will be 25 feet long each.  Label row clearly on which method you are using in it. 

4.  If deer are a problem surround with fencing to keep them out. 
Note:   try to plant on level ground for best research results.

Journal
Photos
email
lapaix@
hughes.net

 

 

 

 

Optional:

Prepare new area for research

May – June

 

 1 month
after

application

 a. Select one new area on farm.  10 x 10 feet

b. Apply stinging nettle tea undiluted to l/2 the area; hand weed the rest.

c.. Take count of # of weeds and identify type in each research plot 1 month after application of compost tea

Journal

Photo

Email lapaix@
hughes.net

7.  Prepare compost tea & Hydrosol mixtures.

1.  Stinging Nettle Tea:

May 1
 Make 14 days before  tomatoes are planted

1,  Stinging Nettle Tea:  To make the liquid tea, first gather some water tight containers- anything from buckets to barrels depending on what’s available and how many nettles you have access to.  Rather than using fresh nettle leaves, you will be using the dried nettle leaves.  This is from www.frenchgardening.com.: “Take  10  oz. dried leaves and place them in 2.5  gal. of water.   Cover container partially for a week and l/2 to two weeks.” During this time, a sort of fermentation will take place and liquid will froth.  When this has died down, just strain off the remaining stems and leaves – you could use a soil sieve on top of the bucket and just tip the mixture in.  And there you have it – a bucket of free, natural concentrated plant food.  Throw the strained out solids on the compost pile.  To use this liquid, dilute one part to ten parts of water.  From 101 Uses for Stinging Nettle  by Piers Warren available from Amazon.com.  Spray on each tomato plant in the row you have dedicated to Stinging Nettle Tea application.  Using hand held sprayer (see sample – want translucent container so you can mark 10 oz. On outside of container)  Spray each plant to cover each leaf (more tea will be used as tomatoes grow).

  1. For hydrosol of stinging nettle:  Take 2 oz, of hydrosol, dilute with 3 qts. Water (48 oz.) (20 to 1 concentration)  Spray on tomato plants in Hydrosol Row to cover each leaf.   If you want to do a 5th row (I will be) use a concentration of 10 to 1 also.
  2.  Pump Spray Plastic Bottle bought from Amazon.com for $17.49.  2 qt. capacity – measured on outside with ounces or liters – suitable for this project.

In order to Do all applications at same time, you might have to wait to start treating your plants until the compost tea is ready.  Be sure and rinse out your sprayer between various applications.

Journal Photos

Email lapaix@hughes.net

8.  Plant tomatoes in research rows and apply first treatments with research materials.

May 15th

  1. Select 9 plants for each row from the 40 plants you have potted making sure plants are similar in size and leaf #.  Use your home grown compost in the bottom of each hole before planting.  It is better to take a few leaves off each tomato plant before you put it in soil, as more roots will grow from each stem that way.
  2.  Plant 9 selected plants in each row.

3.  Using hand held sprayer, apply diluted stinging nettle tea to one row; diluted hydrosol to the second row.  To 3rd row, commercial organic fertilizer as label stipulates and nothing to the 4th row (control).  You may switch the rows around any way you like.  Just be sure and label them. Note:  To keep into account size of plants, just foliar spray to cover each leaf.

4.  Begin taking daily notes on weather.

Journal

Photos

Email lapaix@hughes.net

 

 

?

9. Every 2 weeks (on or about) apply solutions as indicated in 8. above.

June 1st, June 14th , 28th, July 12th, 26th, Aug. 9th, 23rd, Sept. 7th, 21st, Oct. 4th.

1.  Using hand held sprayer, apply diluted stinging nettle tea to one row; diluted hydrosol to the second row. 

To 3rd row, commercial organic fertilizer as label stipulates    and nothing to the 4th row.  Foliar spray each leaf in each plant. 

  1. As tomatoes mature, note date and count mature tomatoes in each row.  Weigh each tomato and record in journal.  Photo in basket or on blanket so differences can be seen.
  2. We may be able to do a tissue analysis of each row of tomatoes – Alexandria Straight will let us know about this soon….  This is particularly important as it will be done by an outside source for all our plants….If this is available, take 1 leaf from each plant in all four rows – labeling Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4 (9 leaves each row) in separate containers.  Details will be posted on website
    journal, by email and as an addition to this Table.

Journal

Photos

Email to
lapaix@
hughes.net

10.  .  Weed between plants as indicated.  Water as needed.

June- October
  1. Suggestion:  pine needles or grass clippings between plants.  Weed eat between rows.
  2. Note watering date and amount in journal.  Note climate – temperature and rainfall daily.

Journal

Email to lapaix@
hughes.net

11.  Take soil sample

Oct.

Take soil sample each row.

Send to:  Using kit from local Extension office, mail to WVU Extension lab.

Record results.

Journal

Email to lapaix@hughes.net

12,  Final Report

Oct. 30

Send any information not previously forwarded to Myra

Journal email@hughes.net

 

 

Urtica dioica). Perennial weed.
  Active ingredients. A cocktail of ingredients still poorly analyzed but including formic acid, as well as iron, nitrogen, and
many trace minerals. Acts as an immunostimulant for plants.
A Action. Strongly stimulant to both microbial and plant growth, thus a compost activator as well as fertilizer. Insectifuge and
sometimes insecticide against aphids, mites, and other pests.
Preparation. Use of the whole plant before flowering. Studies have shown that including the roots adds a fungicidal action to
the extract. In fermented extract (the famous purin d'ortie), 2 lbs. of fresh plant in 2.5 gal. of water, fermented for a few days
only. Dilute to 20% before using as soil drench or foliar feed. Use full strength as a natural herbicide (it kills with 'fertilizer burn
because
it is so rich).

The nettle reigns supreme among plants for fermentation in France. The fermented extract is sold commercially in garden
centers, and clubs and associations of nettle fanatics exist throughout France. Needless to say perhaps, but wear gloves
when handling nettles. It's not for nothing they're called 'stinging.'

 

 

 

Research Participants; 

Myra Bonhage-Hale, La Paix Herb Farm, Lewis County, www.lapaixherbfarm.com

Eva Ristl and husband, Left Fork Farm, Roane Co.,

Alexandria Straight, Ronan Straight, Hans Straight, Bare Creek Farm, Ritchie Co.,

Robert & Busie Barbour, Thistlenook Farm, Upshur Co.,

Dean McIlvaine, Carmella Massara Twin Parks Farm, West Salem Ohio,

Bart and Andrea Lay.  Hidden Hollow Farm, Mineral County, WV., Bio:  Bart and Andrea Lay are stewards of Hidden Hollow Farm, located in Mineral County, WV, and are growers of culinary and medicinal herbs and select heirloom vegetables.  Andrea teaches classes and workshops on medicinal plants and herbs, and offers herb and plant identification walks.  They use organic and sustainable growing methods, and their off-grid homestead uses solar panels for electricity.  Their website is www.hiddenhollowfarmwv.com .

 

Melissa Dennison & husband, Garden Treasures, Roane Co., 

Chef Dale Hawkins, Fish Hawk Acres, Upshur County.

 

Step 1.  Seed tomatoes

Myra Bonhage-Hale, La Paix Herb Farm, Lewis County:  Type:  Tappy's Heritage from Baker Seed Heritage:  Back up Tomatoes:  Cherokee Purple and Chocolate from saved seed.  Seeded:  March 9th  under lights in house.  (detailed info. on March Journal and April Journal.)  Photos.

Bart and Andrea Lay, Hidden Hollow Farm, Mineral County:  We will be growing Flame tomatoes, also known as Hillbilly, which is supposed to have originated in WV.  We started our seeds (from Baker Creek Seeds http://rareseeds.com/hillbilly-or-flame-tomato.html ) on 3/18/11 using Jiffy organic seed starter mix, and the seeds germinated on 3/26/11. 

Eva and Emil Ristl, Left Fork Farm, Roane County:  Seeding Rutgers tomato.

 

Step 2.  Harvest stinging nettle
Myra:  Fresh stinging nettle harvested for two distillations 4-29-11.  Too wet to harvest for drying - will try in May.  Two more distillations May 3, 4th.  Stinging nettle drying in shop on flats with de-humidifier on during day.  For details see Journal.  photos and May - photos

Step 3.  Repot and Harden off Tomatoes in Greenhouse
Myra Bonhage-Hale:  Repotting completed:  April 25th.  In greenhouse April 21st through 25th.  

Step 4.  Harden off tomatoes
Myra:  Hardening off tomatoes begun in open unheated greenhouse (weather is quite warm) April 21st -

Step 5. Send Hydrosol & fertilizer samples, dried stinging nettle sample to Dr. Wickline
Myra:  Sent May 9th, recv'd May 10th testing begun.  May 18th rec'vd analysis.  See May journal

Step 6.  Choose 30x 40x area and till.
Myra:  Area was increased to 35 x 45 feet to add an extra research bed of 20-1 hydrosol concentration.  Tilling  began mid April but due to almost continual soaking rains not completed until May 10th.
Send soil sample to WVU Extension
Myra:  May 20th.
Step 7.  Prepare compost tea and hydrosol mixtures
Myra:  Stinging Nettle tea begun May 4th.

Step 8.  Plant tomatoes in research rows
Myra:  May 11th.  Area fenced:  May 11th.
Myra (helper Mike):  Mulched all but first two tomatoes in each row with saved grass clippings.  I planted 43 of the 45 tomato plants (see May Journal for details and photos)
Andrea: we put our tomatoes in the ground on May 22nd. Lots of nice rain after we did, and they are doing well.
 

Step 9.  Every two weeks apply mixtures.  Document
Myra:  May 18th:  Applied all four fertilizers to tomatoes in Rows 1-4.  See photos

Step 10.  Weed as Indicated  Mulch - document