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3,55 $
Climbing green beans, gives 6 to 7 very small beans per pod. They are a nice pink, and are delicious as dry beans. Just as delicious as green beans, and produces a lot.
This bean was given during a Seedy Saturday to René Paquet, then volunteer representative at the Canada Seeds of Diversity booth, by Marie-Jeanne Disant, from Quebec City. René then shared a couple with me, and it didn't take long before charmed by their high-yields and color!
Marie-Jeanne Disant: "I am so glad to find other enthusiasts for my grandma's bean. I have been saving them since the 70s, sharing them with whomever wants them, telling myself how important it is to save this heritage!"
"I did indeed get those beans from my grandma. She was living in France and had never left her Ile-de-France community, unlike these beans which have crossed the ocean! She had received them from her Swiss neighbor, who made her this gift between the two wars. How did the bean initially get to Europe, and Switzerland, I have no idea! But when I moved to Quebec in the 90s, I brought some in my shoes. I thought I wasn't infringing on the law that much, since I was simply bringing them back to their original continent. [...] One more thing, they can eaten as green beans even when the small seeds are forming inside, since they are so tender."
We later on learned that Mrs. Disant carried the beans in the shoes in her suitcase, not the ones she was wearing.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,55 $
While sorting the beans, Geneviève slipped and spilled them all! We are now happy to introduce you our best climbing bean varieties, of all colors and tastes: Skunk, True Red Cranberry, Kahnawake Mohawk, Turkey craw, Goose, Mennonite, Mayflower, and Grand-mère.
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3,55 $
This very ancient variety was supposedly brought to the U.S. on the Mayflower boat in 1620. The boat was carrying English religious dissidents, the Pilgrim fathers, and other European people seeking a land where they could fully enjoy religious freedom. This variety was widely grown in the Carolinas region.
Despite this nice story, and considering most beans are originally from America, it is more likely that the colonizers 'borrowed' this variety from First Nations and named it after their boat. Perhaps.
Their pods are small, and contain squarish beans, sprinkled with pink and white marks. Can be eaten as green beans when still young, or as dry beans when they reach maturity after 85 days. Mayflower beans are part of the SlowFood USA's Ark of Taste.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,55 $
Rare, hardy and high-yielding variety. Once grown by Iroquoian people. The plant can reach up to 2 m in height, and has white and purple flowers. The pods can be eaten when still young as green beans.
Its name, skunk, refers to the gorgeous black and white marks characteristic of the beans. They can also, although more rarely, be entirely black. Their flat-shape is reminiscent of lima beans. Once fully ripe, they are ideal for soups. We have tried them for baked beans (fèves au lard) and they are delicious mixed with some Kahnawake Mohawk beans.
This bean was rediscovered by Chester in Vermont and saved by Gail Flagg from Fort Kent, Maine (U.S.).
Ideal for the Three Sisters, to be grown with the Canada Crookneck squash.
Package: 25 seeds
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3,55 $
Climbing green bean, American heritage. It can eaten fresh as a green bean, or dry in soups and stews. We use it to make 'em good ol' maple syrup beans. This bean is part of the Ark of Taste of SlowFood USA.
As the story goes, the bean was retrieved from the, you guessed it, craw of a wild turkey. The said bird had been hunted down by an Afro-American slave in the 1800s. However, little additional information about the turkey remains.
Rich taste, creamy texture.
Package: 25 seeds
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3,55 $
This yellow climbing bean is very vigorous and produces long yellow pods that are delicious eaten fresh, and are not fibrous.
The man who shared them with us saved the seeds of his bush beans year after year until, to his surprise, he noticed they were turning into climbing beans! He then named them Daroi. We were impressed by their quality and so we decided to share them with you.
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3,55 $
Very vigorous climbing green bean, grows deep purple flowers and long striped pods. These pods can be eaten fresh. Once dry, the beans are striped too, dark grey on a paler backdrop. Please note that the hilum is not located at the centre of the bean, as it is not symmetrical. This gives the impression that the bean has been crushed once dry.
The Seeds of Diversity organization as listed this variety as very rare. It is believed to come from the Mennonite people from the Waterloo region in Ontario.
Package: 35 seeds
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3,55 $
Maturity: 100 days
Climbing shelling bean. This variety comes from the Abenaki First Nations. It is part of Slow Food's Ark of Taste. The beans, once dry, are a flamboyant red which makes them resemble cranberries. White hilum. Rich Flavour.
Rare variety, rediscovered by the bean collector John Withee, who obtained it from M. Taylor of Steep Falls, Maine after 11 years of research. He had read the description in an encyclopedia dating back from the 1700s. In 1981, John Withee donated his collection of 1,186 beans to the Seed Savers Exchange organization (U.S.). This variety is found in a number of catalogues from the East of New England in the 1850s, including in one from Montreal dated from 1899. It mentioned that this variety was very popular.
Package: 20 seeds
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3,55 $
Climbing bean, bearing long yellow pods and large white beans. Its name comes from the fact that the pod doesn't have any strings, making it easier to shell and cook them. Delicious in soups and stews!
Package: 40 seeds.
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3,55 $
Those large beans, marbled with red and brown tones, were grown by most Iroquoian communities, also known as Haudenosaunee. They were given to us by the Mohawks. Any First Nation individual is welcome to order some for free.
Package: 25 seeds
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3,55 $
Hardy climbing bean, can reach up to 12 foot in height. Tender green pods, sweet and somewhat flat beans. High-yielding. Usually grown for its beige, chocolaty-brown striped beans, but can also be eaten as green beans.
Climbs so high that our tutors couldn't support it and got knocked down by the weight at the end of the season.
Originally grown by the Kahnawake Iroquoian First Nations (Quebec). One of the most beautiful beans we grow.
Package: 30 seeds
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