Last year we grew two beans that we really liked - the Cherokee Trail of Tears, a black bean, and Good Mother Stallard, a creamy, speckled  bean that makes amazing sausage and bean soup.   We also grew blue peas, which had lovely flowers and pods and tasted nasty.  Two out of three isn't bad, so we added four more, some to fill a void:  pinto type (Hutterite) and kidney type (Charlevoix), and some were just too cute to pass up (Calypso and Tiger's Eye).  

The seeds and the small pictures are from Seed Saver's Exchange, a group that is preserving heirloom vegetable seeds and making them available to the public.  Check out their website for more information.

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Given to SSE in 1977 by the late Dr. John Wyche, SSE member from Hugo, OK. Dr. Wyche’s Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from October 1838 in the Smoky Mountains to March 26, 1839 in Oklahoma, leaving a trail of 4,000 graves. Shiny jet-black seeds. Green 6" pods with purple overlay, good for snaps and dry beans. Pole habit, 85 days.

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Introduced to SSE members over a decade ago by Glenn Drowns. Family heirloom that has been enjoyed for generations. A great dry bean, wonderful rich, meaty flavor, great for soups. Very productive, 5-6 seeds per pod. Pole habit, 85-95 days.

          In October, 2007, the beans were dry and ready to harvest.  Frankie helped to pick and shell the beans.

These beans make a fantastic soup.
Two cups of Good Mother Stallard beans, soaked and then partially cooked in plain water.
Italian sausage, onion, celery, carrot browned.  
Add water, beans, salt, pepper, boullon, bay leaf, chard, and complete cooking.
Serve with no-knead bread   http://muddleaged.com/NoKnead.html  and butter, with or without sharp cheddar cheese.  Mmmmmmm.

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(a.k.a. Orca or Yin Yang) One of the all time best for baking and soups. Strong 15" plants, round black and white seeds with contrasting eye. Averages 4-5 seeds per pod, productive. Bush habit, 70-90 days.

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One of the best heirloom varieties for making soup. Beans soak up water well and cook very quickly. Makes a truly excellent creamy white soup. Very productive, greenish yellow seeds with a distinctive dark ring around the eye. Bush habit, 85-90 days.

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Originally from either Chile or Argentina. One of the most beautiful of all the dry beans. Wonderfully rich flavor and smooth texture. Very tender skins almost disappear when cooked. Great for chili or refried beans. Can also be used as a fresh shell bean. Very productive 24" plants. Bush habit, 80-90 days.
Also makes a lovely soup.  

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Prized for the tasty thick broth it produces in soups, stews and chili. Originally obtained from the Self-Sufficient Seed Company, via SSE member Glenn Drowns. Developed by the USDA and Michigan State in 1963. Bush habit, 80-90 days.

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"Blauwschokkers" Soup peas have been enjoyed as a winter staple in Europe for centuries. Spectacular plants are beautiful enough to grow as an ornamental. Productive strain from Holland. Soak dry seeds overnight before cooking. Vigorous 5-6' tall plants. Soup, 80-85 days.

          Sadly, these beautiful peas are not delicious.  We soaked them overnight, then cooked them for hours.  They never softened and they tasted awful.  We are growing them again for their ornamental value.  You can see the bloom in the garden page from last year.

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Eight spotted forester, forrester, 8 spotted moth