We've come to an unorthodox approach to seed saving with dry beans. On our farm, the seed saving rules don't seem to apply with dry beans, and the bean cross them up very aggressively and freely.

We've developed a genetically diverse population of beans descended from crosses between Doloff (a pole dry bean), Brown Trout ( a bush dry bean), and Mitla Black (a half-runner/pole dry black bean often mis-labeled a Tepary). These beans are quite early and prolific, and we are selecting them for uniformity in bush habit and seed size. We'd like to keep a large diversity of seed colors if possible. It is also certain that the bees will continue to mix them up and keep creating new recombinations within the mix.

More about some of the parents can be found at Leigh Hurley's Extreme Gardener blog. http://theextremegardener.com

Some of the heirloom beans mentioned in this video can be purchased at Fruition Seeds. http://www.fruitionseeds.com

The eOrganic Youtube channel has some great videos about selection in Dry Beans, and about providing habitat and attracting native wild pollinating bees.

The Dry Bean video    • Selecting "Modern" Heirloom Dry Beans  

The Wild Bee habitat video.    • Providing Habitat for Wild Bees on Or...