Autochtones

Growing to 6 feet/2 metres this pole bean is a dependable producer of large, heavy, round, deep red beans that look like a ripe cranberry and have a rich full-bodied flavour.    They go really well in baked beans and are a staple in Maine baked bean recipes.  This is a disputed bean as many Indigenous communities claim it to be originally from their villages.  I received this bean from Fred Wiseman, Abenaki from Vermont and so rightfully named it Vermont Abenaki Cranberry bean.

Also known as Cherokee Black, the variety is good as both a snap and a dry bean; when mature, the greenish-purple 6” pods encase shiny jet-black seeds. This bean was shared with Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche of Hugo, Oklahoma. His Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves. Pole

(source : Seed savers exchange)

These beans are cute, almost lima shaped beans that need a trellis to grow or they will crawl all over the ground.  The pods are large with 5-6 beans inside.  They take the whole season to grow but will provide you with an abundance of seeds when fully grown.  Abenaki heritage bean from Vermont, this bean is perfectly suited for Quebec as long as you get it in the ground in early May.

Originally from Chile and Argentina this bean produced really well in Southern Quebec.  Rich tasting and about the size of a kidney bean, they are such a beauty to look at.

An old heirloom Marrowfat type bean that has been grown by the Locke Family of Grand Manan, NB for 3 generations.  The large white oval seeds are excellent for baking with wonderful flavor.