My Favorite Vegetables Part One: SALAD VEGGIES

My goals as volunteer manager of the permaculture garden at Alder Creek Farm are; first, to feed myself and p-garden volunteers; second, to demonstrate to the public what a family-scale garden (using your typical front and backyard-size areas) could look like; and thirdly, to create an outdoor lab with ongoing experimentation in soil-building with local materials, field testing of food plants for reliability in coastal conditions, home and field testing of the taste-y-ness factor, pest/disease resilience, fuss-freeness, garden-play with egg-laying, slug-terminating ducks, growing a home pharmacopeia (herbs) and rocking your eyeballs with visual delights.
Herein is the list of vegetables that have passed muster after the above scrutinies.
It is by no means the last word on the subject. You can and should conduct your own trials. I merely aim to inspire. Get with your neighbors and trade vegetable secrets. Pass the knowledge on to your progeny so that they too will eat the best food possible.

LETTUCE:
Crisphead: "Summertime" (I like to add this for extra crunch in salads later in the summer when leaf lettuces are more lax)
Romaine: "Flashy Trout's Back" (Gorgeous), "Little Gem" ( a sweet mini-size)
Butterhead: "Tom Thumb", (another very tasty mini, good for a single-person salad, very fast growing; "Flashy Butter Oak" (my favorite of all the lettuces-beautiful green oak-shaped leaves, splashed w red, and its open form is less vulnerable to slugs)
Loose-Leaf: I love the reds..."Merlot", "New Red Fire"& "Sunset" (add excitement to any salad with these hotties)

OTHER SALAD GREENS (add to the above}
My faves: Arugula, Kale (baby, esp "Nero Di Toscana"), Spinach, French Sorrel, Radiccio, baby Swiss Chard, "Bulls Blood Beet" (young purple leaves), chives.

OTHER VEGETABLES:
Above-ground: Broccoli (love Purple Sprouting), Bulb Fennel, Cauliflower, Green Beans (steamed), tomatoes, 

EDIBLE FLOWERS (the visual and sometimes peppy pizazz)
Faves: Violas, Pansies, Calendulas (break apart), Borage, Chives (whole buds or full blooms broken apart), Garlic scapes, Rose petals, Nasturtiums and  Thyme.

ROOTS REGGAE (sliced, diced, shaved, grated, strips or whole)
Love: Carrots, Beets, Green Onions, Kohlrabi (technically, a stem), baby Potatoes (steamed) Radishes.

HERBS (the spice of life):
Golden Marjorum, Bronze Fennel, Dill, Cilantro, Parsley, Tarragon and Chervil.

Look for "My Favorite Vegetables" Part Two: Peas & Beans (Coming Soon)