I used to feed them to the baby when he was weaning! He loved them. Never dared tell the health visitor. There is a famous cornish cheese called Yarg whose rind is covered in nettle leaves, they pay the locals to pick them. You can make string from the stalks, and they're great for activating compost. And apparently (haven't tried this one but mean to) if you dry them in a dark place, crumble the leaves and add to chickens' feed in winter they keep the yolks nice and yellow.
Wonderful things!