897tgigvib
Garden Master
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2012
- Messages
- 5,439
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We really are lucky and blessed to have among us, one of the original WANIGAN ASSOCIATES heirloom bean collectors, Russ Crow.
Add to that, Russ Crow is right here in TEG, doing a REVIVAL of JOHN WITHEE's Wanigan Bean Collector Association. On the following message topic:
http://www.theeasygarden.com/thread...w-beans-on-the-cheap.15216/page-9#post-178968
Many of the beans his RAPIDLY GROWING collection are EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL dry beans, and others are VERY SPECIAL snap beans. Some of his varieties are as old as from before Columbus' arrival in the new world, others are as new as just harvested LAST FALL. Some of his beans are from his original WANIGAN BEAN ASSOCIATES collection.
This is PART OF GARDENING HISTORY! There are beans grown by WAHEENEE, Buffalo Bird Woman, and there are beans grown by the Pilgrims. He has beans that were grown during the Revolutionary war for Independence. He has some APPALACHIAN varieties, and he has some varieties that are grown in AFRICA.
MANY OF HIS VARIETIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, and are in need of PEOPLE GROWING, USING, AND INCREASING THEM.
With rare bean varieties, some so rare that there exist in the world less than one single handful of beans, the first thing that is needed is to grow them to seed.
Each seed planted and grown out to DRY PODS produces what should be at minimum, 16 new seeds, and usually more like 40 new seeds for a bush bean, or 60 to 80 new seeds for a pole bean. These numbers can vary wildly of course.
So, consider joining the LITTLE EASY BEAN NETWORK. Russ has described how it works in the first few messages of that topic.
In a good sunny garden space of 4 feet by 4 feet a variety can be saved from extinction, you end up having seeds of your own to increase, grow, and save, and use, and Russ Crow's STEWARDSHIP of HUNDREDS of varieties can grow to THOUSANDS of varieties.
Beans are easy to grow, don't need or even want fertilizer, and are some of the prettiest things you can grow. Some are even used for JEWELRY.
For first time or beginner bean growers joining on this TRULY INFORMAL endeavor, make sure you ask Russ which varieties are easy to grow and sure producers for your area. Even so, most varieties are good for most areas. Only the farthest north gardeners would want to have the quicker to produce varieties, and only the farthest south gardeners would need to be concerned about heat tolerance or disease tolerance.
Dry beans are grown even in Canada's cool zones, and dry beans are grown in the deserts of Mexico. These more extreme places present some difficulties that determined experience easily overcomes.
Most of us in America are in EASY BEAN growing places.
COME ON INTO THE LITTLE EASY BEAN NETWORK.
Add to that, Russ Crow is right here in TEG, doing a REVIVAL of JOHN WITHEE's Wanigan Bean Collector Association. On the following message topic:
http://www.theeasygarden.com/thread...w-beans-on-the-cheap.15216/page-9#post-178968
Many of the beans his RAPIDLY GROWING collection are EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL dry beans, and others are VERY SPECIAL snap beans. Some of his varieties are as old as from before Columbus' arrival in the new world, others are as new as just harvested LAST FALL. Some of his beans are from his original WANIGAN BEAN ASSOCIATES collection.
This is PART OF GARDENING HISTORY! There are beans grown by WAHEENEE, Buffalo Bird Woman, and there are beans grown by the Pilgrims. He has beans that were grown during the Revolutionary war for Independence. He has some APPALACHIAN varieties, and he has some varieties that are grown in AFRICA.
MANY OF HIS VARIETIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, and are in need of PEOPLE GROWING, USING, AND INCREASING THEM.
With rare bean varieties, some so rare that there exist in the world less than one single handful of beans, the first thing that is needed is to grow them to seed.
Each seed planted and grown out to DRY PODS produces what should be at minimum, 16 new seeds, and usually more like 40 new seeds for a bush bean, or 60 to 80 new seeds for a pole bean. These numbers can vary wildly of course.
So, consider joining the LITTLE EASY BEAN NETWORK. Russ has described how it works in the first few messages of that topic.
In a good sunny garden space of 4 feet by 4 feet a variety can be saved from extinction, you end up having seeds of your own to increase, grow, and save, and use, and Russ Crow's STEWARDSHIP of HUNDREDS of varieties can grow to THOUSANDS of varieties.
Beans are easy to grow, don't need or even want fertilizer, and are some of the prettiest things you can grow. Some are even used for JEWELRY.
For first time or beginner bean growers joining on this TRULY INFORMAL endeavor, make sure you ask Russ which varieties are easy to grow and sure producers for your area. Even so, most varieties are good for most areas. Only the farthest north gardeners would want to have the quicker to produce varieties, and only the farthest south gardeners would need to be concerned about heat tolerance or disease tolerance.
Dry beans are grown even in Canada's cool zones, and dry beans are grown in the deserts of Mexico. These more extreme places present some difficulties that determined experience easily overcomes.
Most of us in America are in EASY BEAN growing places.
COME ON INTO THE LITTLE EASY BEAN NETWORK.
I will try to keep some spare space open, next year.
