Everybody seems to love kale these days, and why not? It's nutrient-dense and bursting with antioxidents and phytonutrients. It's delicious in so many ways. It's effortless to grow organically-it thrives in winter, sweetens in the cold and self seeds-and it has an important role supporting bees and other beneficial insects. But what other plants would qualify as garden superheroes?

The newly released Book of Kale & Friends features fourteen superfoods that are undeniably nutritious, yummy, easy-to-grow and beneficial to the environment. The authors, Sharon Hanna and Carol Pope will be celebrating its launch at a wine and recipe tasting at the Broadway International Wine Shop (2752 West Broadway, Vancouver) on Sunday, May 4 from 3pm to 5pm. Everyone is welcome to come join in the fun, try some of BC's local wine, and sample a few of the 130+ recipes from the book.

The Book of Kale & Friends is a follow up to the national bestseller, The Book of Kale: The Easy-to-Grow Superfood, put out by Harbour Publishing in 2012. It contains gardening tips that will help you feel like a master gardener with almost no effort at all. It also contains nutritional fast facts, and a wealth of all-new recipes, including creative and delectable ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks-and even cocktails! The recipes are easy to follow and are accompanied by stunning and inspiring photography.

Throughout the book, Sharon and Carol empower readers to grow their own edibles, an act that not only has a positive impact on one's health and enjoyment of food, but also on communities and ecosystems. Although the authors' writing is lighthearted (and sometimes a little cheeky), their convictions come through loud and clear: it can be so simple, yet so fulfilling, to adopt more sustainable food practices. And with the recipes they put forward, it's irresistible, too!