Apache bean

Heirloom variety introduced to the Saint Lawrence River Valley by French settlers in the 17th Century. It is still eaten today and makes delicious pea soup. High yielding plants. They will need trellising and can grow up to 1 meter tall. The Potager d'Antan reports this story : « According to an old European tradition dating back from the 15th Century, Hubertus, patron saint of hunters, was associated with the pea soup. To make a long story short, during his lifetime, in the 7th Century, Hubert went astray, hunted on Good Friday, and while pursuing a stag, he had a vision in which he saw the animal with a crucifix between its antlers and heard a voice enjoining him to lead a holy life. Hubertus later performed many miracles, evangelized pagans in distant countries, and erected temples dedicated to the Lord. He died on May 30, 727. His relics were translated on November 3, 743. His feast day is November 3 in Belgium and May 30 in France. In memory of Saint Hubert, European settlers in Quebec supposedly kept the name of this pea variety, used in the preparation of the « hunting soup ». For the complete story, visit the Potager d’Antan website. This variety is very rare and is considered endangered.   Package: 30 seeds

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

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.

Romaine lettuce speckled with red. The sweetest of our selection. The Forellenschluss lettuce won the first prize among 900 other lettuce varieties in a 1997 taste contest. Gorgeous and delicious, a charming addition to your plates. Austrian heirloom. Its name translates as : « speckled like a trout ». Package : 250 seeds.

Indeterminate. This red currant tomato was discovered in the Châteauguay area in the 1940s. Families and children love its numerous little fruits. The true Petit Moineau bears 7 tiny tomatoes in every cluster. Do not confuse it with an imitator! Package: 40 seeds  

Shrubby dwarf variety that grows rosy-lilac flowers and light green pods. Can be eaten as green or dry beans. This variety was gifted to us by Mr. René Paquet. He received it from Gérard Parent, from Saint-Joseph-de Beauce, who himself got it from Gabrielle Roy, from Saint-Jules. It's at the turn of the century, more precisely in 1914, that the Boucher family started growing them. Where they got it from, we might never know! Package: 20 seeds