Uncommon beans

[steev]

My produce store has added a third line of dry beans, from a company in Lodi, near where my name-line (not steev, my surname) were since mid-1850s; they are raising pigeon peas and nuna beans (as well as more common beans); I've been interested in those for years, so I bought a pound of each; if they can grow around Lodi, I may have a shot. Of course, they could be importing and packaging, but worth a shot. They allege "Grower Direct to You" and claim equal seniority.

[andyb]

Can you share the bean company's name? I've been buying and cooking bags of a bunch of different kinds of dry beans, figuring I'd rather find out if I like the way they taste before I spend a season and a bunch of garden space growing them out. If I like them, I'll plant a few and see how they grow in my climate.

[steev]

How handy; the bags are right next to my chair; I live in tight quarters, these days; "Elegant Beans", http://www.elegantbeans.com; good timing; they may be in my field this weekend, so I'd not have the info at hand.

You're more cautious/sensible than myself; I tend to see if "it will grow" before I worry about whether I'll like it; I tend to figure that if it grows, I'll learn to like it or it may be all I have, in which case, I'll like it or lump it.

I tried pigeon peas once, perhaps a bit late-planted; they failed; so I'll try again earlier (now); we'll see; it's always an adventure; I'm fortunate that my income doesn't depend on my crops; I have only respect for those whose incomes do; that's one hard row to hoe, so uncertain and dependent on the favor of Our Great Mother, who may be looking elsewhere, having so many of her children to monitor, and such long-term consequences to consider.

[andyb]

Thanks! I hadn't come across them yet, and they have quite a few I haven't tried yet.

I'm afraid caution and sensibility don't have anything to do with it. I have a few garden beds in the yard of my rental, and they're fully subscribed for my other projects and for growing eating-tomatoes. It's easy to squeeze in a bean plant or two for first-pass trialing, but not so easy to carve out an area big enough to grow enough beans to really cook and eat. I also figure that if I find a bean that I really like, I can cross it with something that grows well for me and, eventually, end up with something that I both like and that grows well for me. Of course, that's another breeding project that'll take up garden space...

I need a bigger garden.

[steev]

As do we all.