2022 Little Easy Bean Network - We Are Beans Without Borders

[Artorius]

Today I received three packets of beans from @Bluejay77, @Zeedman and @saritabee. Thank you very much. The route through England seems to be working. It is longer but safe.
I will have Frost bean this year. I am curious how it will grow for me.

 

[Artorius]

Karen Golden who runs Michigan Heirlooms got the seed stocks of Remy Orlowski who had The Sample Seed Shop. Remy passed away in 2020 from cancer. Seed Saver member John Coykendall and author and I went through Remy's beans and we divided them up between the two of us. I'll have a new list perhaps to spring on everyone. I have also had beans put away in my freezer that have never gotten on the Network pages. Those beans are pretty much what I've been listing as the Priority Beans. I may create a new Network page this spring as time permits. I will be home for certain on April 4th ready to dive into this seasons activity at full bore. Whatever full bore might be for this 76 year old.

This is great news. Recently, I was thinking about what could have happened to Remy's collection when I shared its seeds with other LEBN members. I got 30 bean varieties from her.

 

[Zeedman]

This is great news. Recently, I was thinking about what could have happened to Remy's collection when I shared its seeds with other LEBN members. I got 30 bean varieties from her.

It's cold, planning is done, and it's too early to plant. So I'm digging for more detailed source history on some of my beans, both new & old.

I'm currently trying to trace the history of "Grandma Gina's". So far, all trails lead back to Sample Seeds. @Artorius , was that by chance one of the beans you obtained from Remy?

 

[meadow]

It's cold, planning is done, and it's too early to plant. So I'm digging for more detailed source history on some of my beans, both new & old.

I'm currently trying to trace the history of "Grandma Gina's". So far, all trails lead back to Sample Seeds. @Artorius , was that by chance one of the beans you obtained from Remy?

Might this be a possible lead to Grandma Gina's family?

Obituary of Albert Lami, son of Ruggero and Gina Lami.

 

[Zeedman]

Might this be a possible lead to Grandma Gina's family?

Obituary of Albert Lami, son of Ruggero and Gina Lami.

To the family, yes... but no apparent link to the seeds.

@Bluejay77 lists his source for Grandma Gina's as Remy Orlowski (Sample Seeds). In her website, Remy stated that her seed was obtained via a trade, who allegedly got the bean from Gina Lami's grand daughter. My seed came via a trade with @heirloomgal , who stated that hers came from @Artorius . I'm just trying to close the circle, to ensure that what I grow & share will be authentic to the original . For those who share seeds, it is important for the history of a variety to be accurate, so that as seeds are passed hand-to-hand, clerical errors and crosses can be caught & eliminated.

A major portion of my collection (especially beans, peppers, and tomatoes) was obtained directly from SSE itself, who lists as Heritage Farm. For many of those listings, little to no source data was given in their original description. I consider that to be odd, from an organization that professes to place such a high value on varietal history (and bases their accessions policy on that). If I temporarily drop one of my listings, SSE will often list to fill the gap... and I check those listings each year to see if SSE has updated their info. I'm glad to see that some source info has been added in the last few years.

 

[meadow]

Oh, I see what you mean. I was thinking you wanted to verify the origin story of the bean. [eta: and I've no idea how that popped into my head since Remy herself verified the origin story! lol!]

To the family, yes... but no apparent link to the seeds.

The obituary does (possibly*) contain a link to the beans, at least when combined with Remy's description. Her description tells us that two of Gina's granddaughters still grow the beans, one in Pittsburgh and one in Kalamazoo. The obituary provides married names and a means to possibly locate/contact them if so desired. Not that it matters though, since verifying the origin was not your goal.

*Assuming these are all the correct people -- that it is the correct Gina Lami, and the correct granddaughters that are living in those locations.

 

[Artorius]

It's cold, planning is done, and it's too early to plant. So I'm digging for more detailed source history on some of my beans, both new & old.

I'm currently trying to trace the history of "Grandma Gina's". So far, all trails lead back to Sample Seeds. @Artorius , was that by chance one of the beans you obtained from Remy?

Yes, I got Grandma Gina's seeds from Remy. I plan to plant this bean this year.
Giving the seed source is indeed an important thing that I keep forgetting about. I have to pay more attention to this when trading seeds.

 

[heirloomgal]

Yes, I got Grandma Gina's seeds from Remy. I plan to plant this bean this year.
Giving the seed source is indeed an important thing that I keep forgetting about. I have to pay more attention to this when trading seeds.

Have you grown GG's before @Artorius?

 

[Artorius]

@heirloomgal
I have not grown this bean yet. The seeds I sent you were original seeds from Remy. I was intrigued by your description of what Grandma Gina's fresh seeds looked like. I want to check if there will be a similar situation for me.
Besides, I only have a few seeds left from the original stock and I want to increase the quantity.

 

[Artorius]

This is my reaction to what I saw today.