Popeye was right about spinach: dark green, leafy vegetables are the healthiest food on the planet. As whole foods go, they offer the most nutrition per calorie. -Michael Greger

Do we have any spinach lovers here? I can raise my hand confidently to that now, but that hasn't always been the case. My first memory of spinach was the canned, watery, bitter-tasting slop my family used to eat alongside meatloaf on Monday nights. No wonder so many kids have grown up hating spinach! Truth is, this powerhouse green is delicate, mild, and not at all bitter when grown correctly and eaten fresh. And cooked? Oh my goodness. Spinach balls, spinach dip, creamed spinach, spinach pie, spinach quiche... it just gets better and better!

This fall/winter we have planted three heirloom varieties for our Farmily to try and enjoy: the glossy, huge-leaved Bloomsdale spinach; the smooth, French-favored Monstreux De Viroflay spinach; and the tasty, textured New Zealand spinach. We look forward to hearing which varieties folks prefer and which become favorites at your house!

Here's to a bumper spinach crop! -Brin