23 Heritage Beans
Unique, Colourful, Flavourful Foods
Heirloom and heritage bean varieties have been passed down through families and friends for generations and are prized for their unusual colours, flavours, sizes and textures. Growing them out each year helps adapt and preserve them as the climate changes.
Among Rebecca’s treasures are such unusual pulses as the Cave bean, which traces its history back 1,500 years, or the striking black-and-white Orca bean or the maroon-and-white Mojave bean which each hold their unique colours when cooked.
In this video she describes 23 of the unique heritage varieties she is helping to pass on to future generations.
Featured beans include:
Agate pinto bean
Beka Brown bean
Black Coco bean
Black Kabuli chickpea
Black Turtle bean
Borlotti bean
Cannellini bean
Cave bean
Cranberry bean
Dark Red Kidney bean
Ellen Brown Stripe bean
Ethiopian lentil
Flageolet bean
Gramma Walters bean
Ireland Creek Annie bean
Jacob’s Cattle bean
Hidatsa Shield bean
Hutterite soup bean
Mojave bean
Norwegian bean
October pole bean
Orca bean
Tiger’s Eye
More articles:
In Search of the Local Bean
Threshing Dried Beans: A Low-Tech Method for Small-Scale Growers
Grow a Climate Change Resilient Garden
10 Tips for Year-Round Vegetable Gardens
I’m interested in buying an assortment of your dried beans. Also if have any recipe suggestions. Thanks
Debbie
If you’re interested in buying dry beans, please contact the farmer directly. You can find farms or search for dry beans on the farm map.
Heritage beans can be included in almost any bean recipe. Here are a few recipe suggestions:
Beka Brown Maple Baked Beans
Tuscan White Beans with Rosemary
Minestrone with Pesto
Crispy Chickpeas
I read the Vancouver Sun article this morning and I would like to buy some of your beans. How can I buy them?
Thanks
ew
You can find Rebecca’s Garden on Saturdays at the Moss Street Market in Victoria, or visit the Rebecca’s Garden farm page for info on how to reach the farm directly.
Can you tell me more about the Mojave bean?
Does it have another name?
Thank you Jamie
I really enjoyed your video on the heirloom beans you are growing. I grow a lot of heirloom beans in my small garden but mostly pole beans because of lack of space. I think I have over 200 varieties in my collection now and seems to be still growing, not all pole varieties but all open pollinated, a bit of an addiction I’m afraid :). I’m a firm believer in keeping them in public domain and share with others whenever I can. I’m also on V.I. but up island from you.