At this time of year, everyone just wants it to be Spring. It would be nice if Spring weather came along for the ride though. That being said, there are still lots of delicious vegetables that you can get locally in the late winter and early spring. One of the most common ones is spinach. In […]
specialty crops
Sprouts Everywhere!
With Thanksgiving upon us and the last remnants of fall clinging desperately to ever barer trees, it is time for the heralded return of fresh Brussels sprouts. Now, many people avoid Brussels sprouts like the plague. Oftentimes this stems from some traumatic childhood experience that involved frozen sprouts that had been steamed to death and […]
Sweet Potatoes (Aren’t Yams)
When I was younger, I disliked sweet potatoes for the same reason I disliked many carrot dishes…they were too sweet. I would say “I didn’t like sweet potatoes,” and huff around a bit. What I meant was that I didn’t like them prepared with brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or any additional sweetness. I just […]
They’re Leeks, Not Leaks
No, they aren’t the ire of every homeowner, they are a delicious vegetable that is just as versatile as their bulbous cousins, if not more so. Leeks are a great crop that is typically found fresh at your local farmers markets and food co-ops starting in late summer and lasting well into winter. They are […]
Tomatillos, Not Just For Salsa Verde
While visiting relatives in Pennsylvania over the 4th of July, I rediscovered my love for tomatillos. Rey and I were preparing a meal for my extended family and decided to source everything locally. We were hitting up several farmers markets and farm stands around my parent’s farm. We got everything we needed but realized we […]
Tomato Care Basics
by Ryan Pankau, University of Illinois Extension Nothing beats a homegrown tomato! Even when in season, the store-bought varieties just cannot compare to a fully ripe tomato harvested at its peak from your own garden. So many gardeners across American choose tomato plants for their vegetable patch each year for this reason, making it the […]
