Just about the first green that will come up here in Sweden are the nettles. They can be turned into a delicious soup, that in old times used to be the first real taste of what the nature has to offer. Here it is still many months away, but I hope I will remember them. When you pick them young enough they don’t yet sting, and maybe you can have a little less of the stinging kind as summer comes.
tender greens
picking nettles for my soup –
before the sting
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January 19, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
How interesting! I always enjoy learning about foods in other countries and especially greens. We southerners love our greens!
Thanks for sharing the info, appreciate this haiku very much
Much love…
Oh, anything that is among the first green and able to be used in soup makes me hungry indeed.
I like the layers of meaning in this one
Extraordinary well done, offering the meaning beyond the next one and so forth. And yes, nettle soup really is a very delicious one. 🙂
i would def be willing to try nettle soup…have heard of it but never had the chance…
Beautifully done!
Very nice – have to agree with Suzanne and SalvaVenia here — loving the layers in your haiku / haibun.
Plus, I learned something. Never heard of nettles for soup before!
I’ve never had nettles, but I believe I’d avoid the stinging ones!
Somebody said a weed is a plant whose use you don’t understand.
I think I’d have a hard time getting cozy with nettle.
Cheers!
JzB
Harvesting nature’s bounty. I’d be willing to try nettle soup. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
A culinary delight. A “nettle” … I have not heard of before today. I enjoy reading about new things. It will be googled.
Beautifully done. With great info to boost. 🙂
We have nettles here, and I was surprised to see them when we visited Germany, and thrilled to know they’re there in Sweden too. I’ve never cooked them but might try it this spring. Usually I keep dried nettles for allergy tea. Great haiku!
It tastes something between spinach and cabbage. I actually find it similar to kale (which also makes a good soup)
I always wanted to try nettle tea but too scared to pick them for fear of getting stung.
Tender ones usually don’t sting, but you can use gloves.
Didn’t know they were edible. Nice one.
“before the sting”—yes, that’s the trick! 😉
Picking Tender Greens
good to know that about the sting from the nettle plant. i enjoyed your haiku. 🙂
Nettle soup? Huh …
A nice medicinal tea, too, that ladies can find beneficial. Actually, men, too.
You brought back memories from childhood….I have tasted the nettle soup a few times at my grandparents’ place, yet was spared from the stinging part…:)
A charming haiku. Like many things in life, it’s all about timing. I have read of nettles in literature, though, in all my days I have never encountered them. But, a quick goggle confirms that, in fact, they do grow in Canada. Interesting.