If you grew up in Illinois, you were probably like me and okra never crossed your mind–or plate. The fact is that I never laid eyes on an okra plant or ate an okra pod until my brother started growing it on his central Illinois farm. Now I pluck it off the tall beautiful flowering […]

Add some spicy to your green! Mustard greens can be green or purple, can be eaten as micro or baby greens in salads, or can be steamed when the leaves are larger. They are a beautiful and nutritious addition to your summer plate, and they add a wonderful spicy bite to your stir fry dishes. […]

Leeks are thought of (when they are thought of at all) as a base for winter soups and stews. But they deserve far more attention than a bit player in a winter’s tale. Although the leek is a member of the onion family, the flavor is more subtle and refined than the standard onion. AN […]

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite. It was called Sputnik, and it looked a lot like a kohlrabi. Now, with so few people familiar with kohlrabi, the vegetable is often described as looking a lot like Sputnik, which is not far from the truth. The flattened globe rests just above the […]

Buy it, grow it, love it, and definitely eat it! Kale may seem like it appeared out of nowhere a few years back, but it’s been around since ancient Greek and Roman times. And you can get fresh kale most of the year, even in cold climates it will over-winter, and with a hoop house, […]