Kentucky Heirloom Seeds by Bill Best

[macmex]

Folks, Bill Best and Sustainable Mountain Agriculture, the group he's with, are one of my all time favorites to follow. I haven't obtained too many seeds from this group, simply because I struggle to keep up with what I have. But if I wanted to get a new bean, I would probably look to these folks first.

I am in love with the old fashioned string bean, as found in Appalachia. This kind of bean is sometimes, perhaps better, called "full bean" or "tender podded bean." This means that the bean pods, in these varieties, concentrate most of their fiber into the suture, forming strings. Yet, the rest of the pod stays uncommonly tender, even to advanced stages of maturity. In the Appalachians, the people wait to pick their beans until the pods are well filled out with seed. Then they cook the pods and beans together. I generally pick mine a little younger than do they. Yet, I love the fact that the pods stay tender for longer. The filled out seed lends flavor to the snaps also.

Recently I was tipped off to the fact that Bill Best has published a book on Kentucky seeds and seed saving. It's called "Kentucky Heirloom Seeds." I'll provide the link below. I thought it was a preview. But I've been reading and reading...! This is a WONDERFUL book!

Enjoy! Soon enough I'm going to order a hard copy! This book is a classic!

books.google.com/books?id=UR4CDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[john]

I agree, it is a nice treat to eat the snap beans with beans in them. Thanks for the link.

[glen]

I just discovered that link. Thanx George. I have read the first 2 chapters and have enjoyed the book so far. And, I am real excited to be getting that bean seed you have recently sent me. I am still searching for a good bean that will actually grow and produce well here in Panama. And, I am not talking about cowpea's either. I don't consider them beans. They are pea's.

[hmoosek]

He's the man when it comes to Beans. I ordered Doyce Chambers and Ruth Bible way back when because of his description of them. I think I'd like to try Margaret Best too!

[glen]

We would like to see some of your garden foto's sometime. Please share.

[hmoosek]

I'm not growing anything but greens in a raised bed at the moment, but I'll snap a pic.

[zeedman]

Just came across this, still getting caught up on previous threads. Thanks macmex for the link, I've bookmarked it for later reading. Bill has a lot of great beans, a variation of Goose is one of my favorite shelling beans. A few are a challenge for my shorter summers, though - such as Rose, which is a really good snap. Several years back I was able to attend Bill's Fall get together, met several gardeners I'd known for years online & really enjoyed the visit.