FREE: Southwest Bean Fest #1 - Rare Heirloom Beans (10 each)

The listing, Southwest Bean Fest #1 - Rare Heirloom Beans (10 each) has ended.

A great sampler - 4 kinds of heirloom beans from the Southwest!

Tarahumara Star - Pole bean collected from the heart of the Sierra Tarahumara in Chihuahua, Mexico. Black radiating outward from the seed "eye" across a white background. Late-maturing, good green beans, with dark lilac flowers.

Blue Speckled tepary beans - Unique and beautiful tan beans with navy blue speckles. From highland areas of southern Mexico, this variety is a Mayan folkrace. (These beans do not tolerate low-desert heat as well as other varieties, but is otherwise very prolific.)

Rio Zape - perhaps the oldest of the varieties, these delicious beans, purple streaked with maroon, have been grown for at least 1500 years along the Rio Zape, in central Mexico (home of the ancient Mogollon culture). Similar to pintos, but with a hint of coffee and chocolate flavor. AND they're excellent string beans.

Golden Jacob's Cattle: kidney shaped, white and caramel speckled (aka 'trout', 'coach dog', 'dalmatian' or 'appaloosa') is an old favorite - they're full-flavored, holds their shape under long cooking, stand up well to plenty of seasoning, and have a rich aroma. Bush habit, said to be adapted for cooler weather/ shorter seasons.

I purchased these beans to try out in my own garden (first 2 are from Native Seed Search & the other 2 are from a local organic grower) and I got enough that I can share a few batches here on Listia. The pictures and descriptions are from the suppliers. Please note: the actual beans are not quite as spectacularly beautiful as the photos - I think they must have taken their photos when the beans were newly-shelled. Still, they are fabulous varieties, and I can hardly wait to grow them!

The lucky winner will receive a total of 40 beans!