2025 Little Easy Bean Network - Growers Of The Future Will Be Glad We Saved

[Neen5MI]

By the way, sorry about my previous post. I guess I was too moved by the world news I had read earlier. I shouldn't have done that on a gardening forum.

It's called being human.

Being human, being thoughtful, and having something of value.

 

[Neen5MI]

Regarding beans and legacy, the goal for an existing, extensive collection to move forward as a single entity is ideal. But as commented by others, there are challenges to achieving that by individuals. I think duplication has huge advantages, and I will try to share every variety that I grow for you, Russ, through Seed Savers Exchange and elsewhere. You might consider bequeathing a sample of all your beans to them as well. Maybe even contact them with the idea, and give Network growers the option of sending samples back to you AND to SSE. Over time (the many, many years you continue operating the current system ) a gradual transfer will have taken place. I think SSE collaborates with another seed bank in Europe, (maybe Norway?) to maintain diversity. As I read the bantering on this forum, clearly sharing among and beyond Network participants is actively ongoing.

Are there other organizations with a more bean-specific mission, with established funding streams? I'm just brainstorming here. But I do think it's an important discussion to have. As small as my own seed collection is, and as far from demise as I assume I am, I work to share seeds as widely and often as I can.

 

[flowerbug]

...
By the way, sorry about my previous post. I guess I was too moved by the world news I had read earlier. I shouldn't have done that on a gardening forum.

with your country and life being close to that certain neighbor i certainly understand your concerns.

i'm concerned too... *sigh*

 

[Blue-Jay]

I had another thought about this box situation @Blue-Jay . I sent some beans to a lady in the PNW (Washington) in January, a very small little envelope really. Her & I both assumed that it never made it across because 3 weeks passed and nothing. And then, right on the 32 day mark she got it. Why it took 32 days I have no idea. I sent a parcel into Maryland a few weeks ago, and that took a week. Again a mystery how one took so long, the other so fast. Maybe certain postal channels are clogged up for some reason? Did you find anything out at the post office?

The first question I have was did you leave my address label in that ziploc baggie that said "Address Label For USDA TO Forward Package? I'm sure you did but I just want to double check.

My local post office could only find your Canadian Tracking number that would have taken the package to the USDA Inspection Station in Linden, NJ.

Today I called Linden NJ facility again and used a customer service number. They told me that when packages for forwarding are turned over to the US Postal System they do not receive USPS tracking numbers. So unless the package somehow shows up here eventually. Right now I would have to consider it lost.

In the future I wonder If you are going to have to tell me how much the package weights in pounds and ounces. Then I get on the USPS website an purchase postage from Linden NJ to Woodstock, Il. Then I scan the postage label that I have purchased and email it to you to print out, trim and leave in the package. Then it would have a USPS tracking number on it when the NJ facility forwards the package.

 

[heartsong111]

Hello Everyone! I recently started a job at a non-profit in Michigan - H.O.P.E. Gardens (helping other people eat). I'll have one of the school gardens to manage and would love to get my hands on some interesting beans that the kids can help harvest, and perhaps some will end up in sensory bins. Any suggestions on some really cool looking beans that may grow well in Zone 6a? I personally have some Fort Portal Jade and San Bernardo (formerly called Nonna Agnes' Blue Bean) that I will grow, but I'd love some color variety for the kids. Thanks for any ideas!

 

[heirloomgal]

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The first question I have was did you leave my address label in that ziploc baggie that said "Address Label For USDA TO Forward Package? I'm sure you did but I just want to double check.

My local post office could only find your Canadian Tracking number that would have taken the package to the USDA Inspection Station in Linden, NJ.

Today I called Linden NJ facility again and used a customer service number. They told me that when packages for forwarding are turned over to the US Postal System they do not receive USPS tracking numbers. So unless the package somehow shows up here eventually. Right now I would have to consider it lost.

In the future I wonder If you are going to have to tell me how much the package weights in pounds and ounces. Then I get on the USPS website an purchase postage from Linden NJ to Woodstock, Il. Then I scan the postage label that I have purchased and email it to you to print out, trim and leave in the package. Then it would have a USPS tracking number on it when the NJ facility forwards the package.

Oh my gosh, this is the worst news. Yes, I'm quite certain that was in there. The way I handle the box is, when I receive it in the spring with the new network beans I leave everything in there. When planting time comes I take out the packages of beans I'm planting, and then put those aside but still leave everything else in that box just as it was - so papers, envelopes, labels, etc. I then put that box in a special location for retrieving in the fall. This way everything is ready for me and in one spot, and sometimes I use the same box and mail that back to you with the beans in there. So it is not in my strategy to ever remove stuff from the box until I'm filling the envelopes with the return beans. I checked the little stack of envelopes I had kept aside to return a few of the network beans that didn't make it this fall, as I couldn't return those ones last year, and the labels for your address are not with them. So it seems impossible that your address label got separated even by accident.

Can you send me a list of the 25 bean varieties that were in that box? I may be able to resend some of them as the Appalachian beans did so well, if those are on that list I can resend them. I know this year there was several that I sent back almost all that I had to you, and kept back only a small sample, but not all were like that. If you send me the list I will go over and see what I can re-send. This time I'll use the paper wrap method.

 

[Blue-Jay]

Can you send me a list of the 25 bean varieties that were in that box? I may be able to resend some of them as the Appalachian beans did so well, if those are on that list I can resend them.

There are 10 varieties that you wouldn't really have to send back they are sufficient numbers here of them. I like to keep 3 or 4 packets at a minimum of each variety in the freezer. Just in case I have a grower that doesn't return something. I do have growers that I send seed to and never hear from them again.

The following beans that were among your 25 I would like to get back for sure. Next to their name I put the number of packets that are left here of each one.

Aunt Maggie 0
Blaugraue 1
Blue Tip 1
Botosani Cyclops 1
Donald Todd Half Runner 0
Dule 0
Fagioli Ruviotti 0
Goose 0
Granny 1
Harvey's White Haricot 1
Kruger's Speckled Caseknife 1
North Carolina 1
Octorora Cornfield 0
Olga's Yugoslavian 1
Santa Maria Pinquito 1

 

[heirloomgal]

There are 10 varieties that you wouldn't really have to send back they are sufficient numbers here of them. I like to keep 3 or 4 packets at a minimum of each variety in the freezer. Just in case I have a grower that doesn't return something. I do have growers that I send seed to and never hear from them again.

The following beans that were among your 25 I would like to get back for sure. Next to their name I put the number of packets that are left here of each one.

Aunt Maggie 0
Blaugraue 1
Blue Tip 1
Botosani Cyclops 1
Donald Todd Half Runner 0
Dule 0
Fagioli Ruviotti 0
Goose 0
Granny 1
Harvey's White Haricot 1
Kruger's Speckled Caseknife 1
North Carolina 1
Octorora Cornfield 0
Olga's Yugoslavian 1
Santa Maria Pinquito 1

Okay, well the good news is that Blaugraue, Botosani Cyclops, Fagioli Ruviotti and Kruger's Speckled Caseknife were not in that package as I did not collect enough good seeds of those to send back. I do have more than enough to try again with all of them and had planned to regrow all of those this year.

Aunt Maggie, Blue Tip, Donald Todd, Goose, Granny, Harvey's, North Carolina and Santa Maria - I have a good deal of seed for most of these and can re-send all of these for sure. Thank goodness.

Olga's Yugoslavian I have only a tiny bit of seed left to regrow in 2025, so I can send that this fall. Too bad, I sent you all the finest looking seed of this variety! But anyway, I can regrow it and send again. Dule is the same situation, I didn't collect much but I sent the best I had. Still I have plenty to try again with. Octarora Cornfield I'll need to check, but that one will likely need to be regrown. Again, lots of seed to try again too.

So, as tragic as this whole thing has turned out to be the loss is not going to be quite as severe as it might have been. I feel terrible that the beans failed to arrive. I hope this eases the loss a little for you @Blue-Jay.

4/15 on that list needed to be regrown for 2025 and weren't in the box.
8/15 on the list I can re- send right away.
3/15 on the list I need to regrow to send you again in the fall because I sent most of what I had.

I guess what that means is the box did not have the full 25 varieties, because I was short some. So it's good that the 2nd box arrived because there was more beans in that one.