Nez Perce Bean

This rare corn variety was shared with us by Steve McCumber, founder of the Haudenosaunee seed saving group. It comes from the Winnebago nation, who has been cultivating it for generations on their land, now known as Wisconsin and Illinois. The Winnebago corn is a flour variety. The kernels are creamy white, sprinkled with blue spots. You can try to eat it fresh if you wish, but the taste won't be as sweet and the texture will be more fibrous than the corn cobs you usually find at summer corn stalls. It will however be best used to cook cornbreads, polenta or hominy. Ancient and rare variety, please share! Package: 40 seeds

The Ferland Family bean is a yellow, flat, climbing heirloom bean, saved by René Paquet of Seeds of Diversity. Originating from Saints-Anges, they were handed to Mr. Gérard Parent in 2001 by Mrs. Carmelle Boily Ferland (1916-2015), who received them from her parents, Cleophas Boily et Demerise Turmel. According to Mrs. Paquet, who then received them from Mrs. Parent, they date back to before 1900. The pods can be harvested fresh, even when pretty ripe, or as dry beans. For more informations, visit (in French): https://potagersdantan.com/2016/05/13/le-haricot-ferland/

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

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

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.

This bush variety is very productive and, even more notably, gives very early yields. A regular harvest as soon as the beans are ready will stimulate further yields. This bean can be eaten as a green bean, and as a dry bean. The mature beans are creamy white with beautiful pink spots. We have found numerous mentions of this bean in documents dating from the early 19th Century, but its popularity seems to have declined in the 20th Century.   Package: 30 seeds