Lima beans were a staple in my mother's New England kitchen, bridging the span between autumn's bounty and the harvest of spring vegetables.

NPR: Falling in Love with Limas

Another event that brings people together is the blessing of the vegetables every spring.

BBC: Digging for Victory

It looked at vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and spring onions which were grown close to or in contact with the soil and which were sold to be consumed without any further cooking or preparation other than light washing or scraping.

BBC: Carrots

In her first cookbook, due out this spring, Ms. Bloomfield plans to include a thickened version of this soup that calls for lightly smashing the vegetables as they simmer.

WSJ: April Bloomfield's Hearty Root Vegetable Soup | Slow Food Fast