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June 2, 2011 Bed #1
Stinging Nettle Tea		 Bed #2 Hydrosol
10-1 		Bed # 3
20-1 Hydrosol		 Bed # 4
Fertrell 		Bed #5
Control
June 2:  About 85 degrees at least, sunny.  Second application of various fertilizers applied to tomatoes. 
             Email sent to Carol Delaney, David Holm Vt. asking if analysis of Grant had been completed. (cc Stinging Nettle      
             Group.  Photos taken of tomatoes growing very well and separate bed of Cherokee Purple/Chocolate Tomatoes and
             basil.  left over fertilizers applied to them as they are not in research group.  Caroly Delaney replied saying the
             response of the expert examiners for the grant would be sent next week.


June 2 Overview of Research Area


Blossom on one of 4
Cherokee Purple
Tomatoes with blossoms
(not in research)


That darn spray can - wore a blister on my finger!


Basil (not in research)
gets left over fertilizer.
Lemon, Lemon Thai and Genovese Basil.

June 2nd:  from Elaine Ferry email: 

Hi Myra,
I read the journal. You know, my thoughts are, since its a distilled hydrosol, there may not be a lot of macronutrients found, it may work synergistically to allow the plants to utilize the nutrients in the soil that heretofore they could not use. What do you think of that idea?
E

and my response: 

Wow what an interesting idea - can I quote you with titles in the journal and include your question.
ps Are macronutrients nitrogen, phosphate and potassium?  Because there are lots of other minerals in stinging nettle which could help tomatoes, esp. if the soil they were planted in had enough nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.  Awaiting results of soil analysis from WVU and new analysis of reworked hydrosol from WV Dept. of Ag.  Would love to see you -

and Elaine's reply:

yes you may and yes N,P,K are the macros.
me too you, hopefully next week
love
E


Organic and Animal Welfare Auditor
Independent Organic Inspection Services (IOIS)
304-477-3299 cell 609-973-3628

In the meantime, as previously stated, two separate distillations of first cut stinging nettle have been done (5-31 and 6-1-2011). Each yielded only 1 gallon but the still ran only about an hour as we made sure the water level in the condenser never reached the product in the pillow case.  Both distillations were quite strong (green not a bad aroma at all) - stronger than previous distillations and quite dark and somewhat viscous.  The first distillation was sent to Dr. Richard Wickline for analysis on 6-1-2011.

6-6:  Trying to figure out how to leave Andrea Lay (Hidden Hollow Acres, WV-one of the participating farmer researchers) a bottle of stinging nettle hydrosol in Cumberland. 
6-8:  Met Andrea Lay (Hidden Hollow Acres WV) participant research farmer at Park and Ride near Cumberland and gave her l/2 gal. of stinging nettle hydrosol.  She will pay $15. for it. 
6-8:  E-mail from Denmark:

Hello    La Paix Herb Farm. I am an Danish farmer.  I am very interest in the nettle plant, and have started to make some extract, I will most juse is as spraying in the willow plantation against weeds.   I have been looking around on the internet after some photo, veer I can see the the effect of spraying with the nettle extract.   I find a lot of home side, there do tell the effect of using the extract as herbicide, but I would like to so some photo.

It is a very interesting project you have started the nettle project. I will try to spray in willow and poplars as herbicide. Venlig hilsen/Best regard Aage Bach Ny Vraa Bioenergy I/Gl. Vraavej 31 DK-9382 TylstrupTlf.: +45 9696 6200e-mail: aab@nyvraa.dk 
www.nyvraa.dk  Bioenergy Corp.
and I replied with copies to Stinging Nettle Research group:

Hello Aage - isn't the internet wonderful?  I will be doing the herbicide research (very limited) later this year in the same research area as the tomatoes are growing - I have left an area approximately 20 by 10 feet bare to let the weeds grow up in it.  When the weeds are insidious enough I will apply the concentrated stinging nettle tea to l/2 the area and hand weed the other l/2 take photos for the whole duration of the research.  Will put  them on my website with any explanation needed.     How do you make an extract of nettle?  Are you on the web?  Can I follow your research there?  Please keep in touch.  The world is a wonderfully complex, mysterious and fascinating place isn't it?  Peace, Myra
Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward La Paix Herb Farm.  Find out all about La Paix at http://www.lapaixherbfarm.com
 

 

6-11:  Recv'd analysis results from Dr. Wickline on hydrosol and WVU Ext. on soil analysis for research plot.  Will contact Bruce Loyd Lewis Co. Ext. for explanation of results of soil analysis and will record on this Journal.
6-12:  Rebekah Ceron, former apprentice and five of her friends visit La Paix for the day and tour the farm, including the tomato research area.  It is decided that we have a Fiesta featuring Mexican food when the tomatoes are at their largest harvest, sometime in August.  Photo taken of tomato research plot looking west, first bed is stinging nettle tea bed.  Second and Third are hydrosols.  It is decided that the three first beds of tomatoes look better than the Commercial Organic Fertilizer and the Control bed (completely subjective results).

StingingNettleResearchProjectMay.htm

 While I was in Baltimore 8th - 11th of June,
Mike and his son Terry mowed the grass.
They put grass clippings on each of the beds
five plants in each bed (that's all the clippings there were but it was judiciously and
fairly mulched.  Weeds are beginning to
come up between rows.  It has rained regularly
so no watering has been needed.

July 11th:  Soil Test Results WVU Ext.

Soil texture:  Loam
pH 5.3  P 25 Low  K 251 VHI  CA 2060  MED
MG 281 HI 
________________________________
  AVAILABLE       K    CA   MG  H    CEC & BS

MEQ/100 G       0.5   5.2    1.2   4.8    11
% SAT.               3     45    10    42     58
L.R. 2.4  Limed in Last 12 MO? NO

June 12th Research Beds looking West. Nettle tea bed in foreground.

 TC Bruce Loyd 6-14 re analysis results.  I will summarize our conversation, email to him for approval and then post it on this web page.

He also suggested that I speak with Dr. Wickline as to results on his analysis (see May Journal)


6-14:  Send email to all research farmers stating that I can have l/2 nettle hydrosol on farm or at Lavender Fair on the 25th.  $15. each.  Asking for pre-registration so I know how many bottles to take to the Fair.
No report as yet from USDA Sustainable Grant Program for Farmer Growers Carol Delaney regarding why Grant was turned down.  See 6-2 above.
6-16:  Email recv'd

                African Journal of Agricultural Research

                         www.academicjournals.org/ajar

Dear    Colleague,We received a manuscript Titled: Taro cormel quality in response to planting date and post-harvest storage.

 I. Starch content and reducing sugar
 I wish to inquire if you can create time to review this manuscript and send it to us within two week

Find below the Abstract

The effect of four planting dates (October, November, December and January) and three fertiliser application rates (0, 160 and 320 kg ha-1 of nitrogen) on starch and reducing sugar content was investigated for three taro landraces (Dumbe-dumbe, Mgingqeni and Pitshi) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which were produced at two sites, Ukulinga and Umbumbulu. The effect of two storage temperatures (12oC and ambient temperature: 21 oCą3) and three packaging methods (polyethylene bags, mesh bags and open cardboard boxes) on starch and reducing sugars following storage was determined. At Ukulinga, delaying planting significantly decreased starch content, whereas at Umbumbulu starch content was significantly decreased by application of fertiliser. Reducing sugars were decreased by delayed planting when no fertiliser was applied, but increased when high N amount was applied at Ukulinga. Fertilisation had no effect on reducing sugars of Dumbe-dumbe but increased reducing sugars of Mgingqeni. For Pitshi, reducing sugars were increased when high N fertiliser was applied. At Umbumbulu, delaying planting generally increased reducing sugars for Dumbe-dumbe and Pitshi and decreased reducing sugars for Mgingqeni. Ambient temperature and mesh bag storage showed the best combination for taro cormel storage.

Key words: Landrace, nitrogen, organic fertilizer, packaging material, site, storage temperatu 

Also attached is the full manuscript, Instruction for author and reviewer's guide

BEST REGARDS,

 PROF. N.A. AMUSA

EDITOR,

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

E-mail: ajar.acadjourn@gmail.com

HTTP://WWW.ACADEMICJOURNALS.ORG/AJAR(ISI indexed journal; Impact factor 0.080)
and I replied:

6-17:  by email to the various WV ext. agents and Stinging Nettle Research group.

This is very interesting information.  Either I got on this mailing list because of the Journal on my website or because my former apprentice, Silvia Bresson, is now in Ghana studying agriculture for a month from Ohio Univ. where she is attaining an agric. degree.  In any event, I am not qualified to review this very interesting research (see attachments) but I am interrested in writing an article for the African Journal after the research is finished.  As stinging nettle grows in Africa as well as most parts of the world and the U.S., it might be a very helpful addition to the agricultural knowledge.  Would you be interested in helping me write the final research report?  Let me know.  Peace, Myra

6-22:  No reply to date from above email.

Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward La Paix Herb Farm.  Find out all about La Paix at http://www.lapaixherbfarm.com
 6-22:  I sent this email reply to Prof. Amusa: 
Dear Professor Amusa:  I am most complimented by your request to review the Taro research.  However, I am an amateur at research and am not qualified to do the critique.  However, I did email this request to several experts with whom I am working.  If you have any information on stinging nettle research or use as a fertilizer in Africa, I would be most gratified to receive it.  Thanks again and all my best wishes for your continued research into agriculture for food in Africa.  It is a most important study.  Peace, Myra
Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward La Paix Herb Farm.  Find out all about La Paix at http://www.lapaixherbfarm.com
 
6-16:  3rd Application of research ingredients to Tomato Research Beds.
The cheap but somewhat effective spray pump gets clogged up with small particles in the first row:  nettle tea formula (To make 2 gallons, put 4 oz. of dried nettle in 2 gals. of water, cover and let ferment for 2 weeks.  To use, dilute with 10 gals. of water (10 - 1 ratio water to tea)  For use in  64 oz. spray pump, put 6.4 oz. of tea in 57.6 oz of water, shake and spray.  (if you can - it does get clogged up with minute particles of stinging nettle not strained out initially).  Next time, I will strain through cheese cloth.

2nd row:  10 to 1 hydrosol:  Put 6.4 oz. of hydrosol in spray pump, fill with water to 1 gallon.

3rd row:  20 to 1 hydrosol:  Put. 3.2 oz. of hydrosol (using 5-31 distilation so far) in and fill to 1 gal.

4th row:  Fentrell Organic Liquid Fertilizer:  2 oz. and fill to 1 gal.

So far the best looking rows (subjective looking) are:  #3, #2, #1, #4 and finally control row #5.  In hydrosol rows the tomatoes are falling over in their cages - going to have to find something to prop the cages up (they were flimsy to start with - you get what you pay for!)....  All the tomatoes have at least 3 blossoms on them.  Could we have fresh tomatoes by June 30th?  I will weigh, count each row and take to the Farmer's Market in either Weston or Bridgeport.  Potatoes are also blooming.


This is sprawling tomato (tipping over cage) in 20-1 hydrosol row.
I cannot understand why the hydrosol tests so low in nutrients when
these are the rows that look healthier than the others.  Will be calling Dr. Wickline soon to talk with to try to understand this.  Talked with Bruce Loyd Lewis Ext. about possibility of getting tissue samples of each rows leaves.


Tomato plants are between 2.5 to 4 feet tall.
These two photos have been treated with brightness and focus to clarify the plants.
This is the largest plant in the nettle tea bed.
Assayed For MIN MAX FOUND HIGH/
Low		 STATUS
Stinging Nettle Hydrosol (assayed
06-01-2011)

distilled with low amount of water
for 1 hour.  a/c to Suzanne Catty,
author of Hydrosols, The Next
Aromatherapy, as the most reliable
way to get the most efficacious
hydrosol.

 N 1.00
P205 0.10
K20 0.00
OIV		   0.10
0.04
0
6.76		 Low

Low

Low
Accept (within tolerance)
Accept (within Tolerance)
Pass
Fail
 
Stinging Nettle Hydrosol (assayed
May 18th - see May Journal)

 

 N 1.00
P205 0.10
K20 0.00
OIV		   0.03
0.01
0
3.73		  
Accept (within tolerance)
Accept (within Tolerance)
Pass
Fail
 

6-21-2011:  As can be seen by the two assays above, the 2nd sample sent is slightly more in Nitrogen and Potash than the first - but both fail.  I fail to understand this and plan to talk with both Dr. Wickwire and Suzanne Catty about the results next week.

See letter and nullification of results of analysis from WV Dept. of Agriculture - I do not understand why they took back the analysis.  See crossed out results and letter which was sent to five different people (unnamed)
6-22: 

 Original Message -----
From: Howell
To: lapaix@hughes.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:50 AM
Subject: Nettle Journal
Hi Myra

 
I''ve been following your progress from afar. France to be exact, where I am currently living for an indeterminate period....

 
I came across your research after my French farming neighbour started spraying along our joint border. I had been around his house days previously asking him what herbicide spray he was using on his maize, as I was concerned it was affecting my veg. So, again I asked what he was using this time. It took me a while to understand that this herbicide was based on nettles so I shouldn't worry. Unlike the product he used on his maize!

 
I'd been using nettle soup as a fertilizer for a few years. Nettles left in an 80 litre dustbin (trash can) for over a month filled to the brim with water and capped inside with cardboard to ensure any seeds were submerged and then super-saturated. I've since starting adding a bit of horse manure, giving Nettle and Poop Soup. And yes it smells worse :)

 
After some searching on the internet I came across some of the links you've included on your journal and then finally your site. By the way, the French site 'Friends of the Nettle' is here
http://www.lesamisdelortie.fr

 
I think I've read quite a bit of the journal, maybe not all, so please forgive the following observations and questions.....

 
I had no idea what hydrosol was! And having read about it, I wonder why you would use this rather than the essential oil? Yes, I probably don't understand this very well, so an explanation in your journal would be very welcome.

 
It's apparent some parts are being lost somewhere. Is it possible to analyse the initial sample of nettles, the hydrosol and the essential oil?

 
What sort of water are you using in the distillation process; tap, distilled or rain?

 
Are you using the whole nettle, root, stalk, seeds and all? Or just the tips?

 
Why are dried nettles being used as opposed to fresh?

 
I'd be interested to know if the foliar application works as a pesticide. I should imagine this will be covered in the general health of the plants. I would like to hear any differences in the number of aphids/bugs on the plants.

 
Love that you're doing this and so openly :))
Keep up the rogueness!

 
Cheers
Howell
 
 
Hi Howell , I've heard from Denmark and Africa and now from France.  I'm so glad to hear that you are still using stinging nettle fertilizer in France because I understood that the French Dept. of Ag. banned it.  Is it still selling in the open air markets? or are farmers just growing their own?. 
My understanding is that stinging nettle tea when used as an herbicide will kill all plants for a certain period of time after the herbicide is applied so if your neighbor isn't putting it on your land  or plants you will probably be OK.  The herbicide is used straight without dilution after it has fermented.  I further understand that the soil that has had the nettle herbicide on it after a while tests higher in nutrients than before the herbicide was applied.  I plan to do limited research on that aspect of nettle in July or August this year.
 
Are you American?  Most of your questions I cannot answer.  I am emailing your questions to other members of the research group and experts.  But I am working on answering yours and mine both.  If you have answers I don't please let me know.  After this weekend (preparing to go to Lavender Day at Fish Hawk Acres and hawk my products, including dried stinging nettle.)  Can answer that question now.  The only way to be able to use the same analysis results for stinging nettle was to dry it and use it every two weeks as a compost tea.  It becomes a very nice tea.  So I'm using the same first cut harvest for all the nettle tea.  I will be selling dried nettle (another harvest and drying) at the Lavender Day.  Did you know lemon balm hydrosol takes the sting out of nettle and bee stings?  ps there is no Essential Oil in nettles.  - just the hydrosol which is sting free,  odorless and clear - if it proves efficacious, it would be alot easier to use than the stinky nettle tea and easier to ship.
 
A hydrosol is composed of everything that was in the plant at the time of harvest.  Like a hologram, a/c to Suzzanne Catty who wrote the quintessential book on hydrosols, The Next Aromatherapy - available from Amazon.com.  She is advising me too.  The hydrosol is also called floral waters and is the result of distillation of the plant - some have essential oil and it is much less and composed of specific chemicals in the plant.  The waters were formerly thrown away, but Suzzanne and others have done research and found it quite efficacious in a variety of ways and less strong than e.o., so it can be used in some forms for babies and the elderly.......(lavender hydrosol is one of these).  See my web page on "The Efficacious Use of Lavender in a Hospital Setting"...... 
 
ps Did you see the fertilzer analysis results for the dried stinging nettle?  It's better than the commercial organic fertilizer! 
 
Please keep in touch and let me know what you think.  Thanks......you make all the work worthwhile.  Peace, Joy, Myra
Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward La Paix Herb Farm.  Find out all about La Paix at http://www.lapaixherbfarm.com

Since this first email I have heard from Howell (who I thought was a woman, and found out today 6-27 is a man) many times always with great resources and news about the banning of stinging nettle in France a/c to Howell because of the power of the chemical fertilizer companies with the Commissioner of Agriculture.  In France, if you try to sell stinging nettle dried in bag as has been done for over 100 years at the open air markets, you will be fined and imprisoned.  Publishing the formula for making tea is also punishable by a fine and prison term.  This began in 2006 and there is a great uproar among the farmers concerning this and a film I am trying to obtain called "Nettles, The Queen of Weeds - A Revolution" which protests (quite loudly) the regulation.  Very interesting.  Here's the links for the protest group and the film:

http://www.lesamisdelortie.fr  The Friends of Nettle and the film:  http://www.lortiefeedelaresistance.fr/
 
 
 Received 6-11-2011:  Here's what was wrong with my Grant Request.  I would appreciate feedback on this.  Some changes have already been made which I hope improved upon the application (see methods etc.).  Others I still need help with.  Please advise.
-----
 

Thursday, June 23rd:  Mike, my helper, and I propped up sixteen tomato cages which had fallen from the weight of the tomatoes and the flimsiness of the cages.  After some research, I had talked with David Hayes, Ext. 179 of Garden Supply who in a series of phone calls was so helpful and nice and came up with the idea of using 12 inch wooden stakes and ties to steady the fallen cages.  They arrived on Wed., June 22nd.  Most cages fell from the weight of the tomatoes in the dried stinging nettle row and the two hydrosol rows.  (4, 4, 5) then one fell in the Commercial organic fertilizer row and two fell in the Control row.
Mike, Liz Jerrett and Terri.  June 23rd 2011.  they are in front of dried stinging nettle application bed #1.
On Thursday Liz Jerrett and her friend Terri came to cut lavender now in bloom and visited the research bed.  Liz is participating in the project by growing stinging nettle from seed.  They were truly amazed at the size of the tomato plants.  Mike, my helper, left background, says, "I've been growing tomatoes my whole life and I have never seen such huge plants.  They aren't plants, they're trees!"  Many of the plants have small tomatoes on them.  see photos below.  I confess:  When we spaced out the rows, I made them 3 feet wide each and the paths 3 feet wide and couldn't figure out why I had land left over for non research basils and tomatoes.  I figured it out this week!  Rows were supposed to be 5 feet apart!  As a result, it's getting really really crowded.

I cannot understand why the analysis of the hydrosols is so low and am seeking another way to analyze the content of the hydrosol applications.  I have heard again (June 25, 2011) from the Dept. of Ag. WV and they have crossed out all the notes that  that say hydrosol and dried stinging nettle samples passed the fertilizer test, as they state, "you don't need to know that, you just want to know the nutritional value of the products."  I will post the marked out parts of the analysis "I supposedly don't need to know about" after I have a chance to scan them.  See copy of letter and samples marked out.

 .

Mike, my helper shows size of
tomato 6-23.

My finger shows size
of tomato 6-23

Wooden stakes from Garden
Supply

Mike, on knees, hammers in
stakes and ties with hemp cord.

June 27th, 2011:  I spent most of the morning (3 hours) using my new hand electric shearer to clear the weeds and grass on the paths and sides of the tomato beds.  It ran out of electricity - I only did 6 tomatoes in each row and will finish 3 tomatoes in each row tomorrow.  More weeds were around the stinging nettle rows than the commercial fertilizer (organic Fertrell) or the Control bed.  Lots of big thistles, grass, crab grass, smart weed, quick weed, perilla, some poke, etc. 
Spent more time today trying to get help for analysis of hydrosols and dried nettle etc.  No information yet.  I am even considering spending up to $100. for analysis from a reputable laboratory.  WV Extension does not analyze fertilizer or do tissue analysis, according to staff.

All photos take 6-23
Row #1 Drd.Stng Ntl.

Row # 2 10-1
Hydrosol



Row # 3 20-1
Hydrosol

Row # 4 Com.Org Fert
Fertrell



Row # 5
Control 2nd plant
down.

6-30-2011:  Last day of June and last June application of products to five rows of research tomatoes.  Eight more tomatoes fell over from weight.  We are now keeping them up with aluminum posts.  Wondering if it is wise to continue applications every two weeks.  Will do some research on this.  Perhaps as tomatoes are maturing we need to make fewer or no applications.  The two hydrosol rows are bigger than the other rows.  Most plants are my height or higher - 5 foot 3 inches.  Took a few photos.  We have not had to water the plot at all due to frequent rains this spring and summer.  Mulching also retains water and I noticed holes in earth which may be attributed to crawdads which means there is water not too far down under the soil.  According to geologists, this whole valley was under water at one time.  (thousands of years ago).....


My finger showing size of tomato in 20-1 hydrosol row.
There are many flowers and tomatoes growing in
all the rows now.  There are no signs of either
bugs eating or fungus on any plants.


Mike props up fallen tomato 6-30:  28 have
now been propped up.  2 have been propped
up twice.  We have resorted to recycled
aluminum poles now.  Mike is 6 feet
tall so tallest tomatoes in hydrosol rows are
now taller than he and between the two hydrosol
rows there is a place where they have met
in the path (they are propped up) and you cannot
get through.