Featured Discussions - Transition Whatcom2024-03-29T06:01:47Zhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/smallscalegraingrowingbeansavingorganicallycascadi/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&featured=1Dry Bean and Grain Seedstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-02-21:2723460:Topic:443662011-02-21T03:55:12.883ZKrista Romehttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KristaRome
I have locally appropriate storage crop seeds to offer. As part of the Backyard Beans & Grains Project (BBGP) we run trials of numerous dry beans (bush and pole), other legumes (soup peas, garbanzos, soybeans), and grains (wheat, barley, flax, millet, buckwheat, dent and flour corn) in Whatcom County to identify the best varieties for our cool, short-season climate. The ultimate goal is to get the resulting best varieties out into the community and encourage others to grow them as part of…
I have locally appropriate storage crop seeds to offer. As part of the Backyard Beans & Grains Project (BBGP) we run trials of numerous dry beans (bush and pole), other legumes (soup peas, garbanzos, soybeans), and grains (wheat, barley, flax, millet, buckwheat, dent and flour corn) in Whatcom County to identify the best varieties for our cool, short-season climate. The ultimate goal is to get the resulting best varieties out into the community and encourage others to grow them as part of their overall self-sufficiency plan. Please email me for more info and I will email you a pdf with photos of all varieties and short descriptions. I have a limited amount of some varieties so act quickly if you are interested. kristamrome@yahoo.com Spring planted fava beanstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-02-02:2723460:Topic:423112011-02-02T04:30:59.528ZJesse Corringtonhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/JesseCorrington
Hi everyone, I'm new to the group and just recently moved to Bellingham from Seattle, and hoping to get some information on spring planting favas. I read Krista's grain and bean growing report from 2008 and have poked around the posts a little, but I don't see much about fava beans. I haven't grown them before, but from everything I've heard they do excellent in our climate with very little care. Does anyone here have much experience growing them. I'd like to try at least two varieties this…
Hi everyone, I'm new to the group and just recently moved to Bellingham from Seattle, and hoping to get some information on spring planting favas. I read Krista's grain and bean growing report from 2008 and have poked around the posts a little, but I don't see much about fava beans. I haven't grown them before, but from everything I've heard they do excellent in our climate with very little care. Does anyone here have much experience growing them. I'd like to try at least two varieties this year; one for shellys and one for dried beans. For the dried beans I was thinking of growing Ianto's yellow, as I've heard this variety is extremely hardy and actually tastes good as a dried bean. Is it possible to grow spring planted favas for dry beans, or is it best to plant them in fall. What's an approximate planting date for spring down favas? Any other information anyone has on techniques, varieties, etc. is greatly appreciated. Thanks The nitty-gritty: growing, harvesting, and processing grains and beanstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-07-27:2723460:Topic:273252010-07-27T22:16:00.428ZSusan Kroll and Sergio Morenohttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/SusanKrollandSergioMoreno
<p>Hi there! I am growing several different varieties of beans from seeds that Krista gave me, and flax as well. I've grown scarlet runners, yin-yang, and cranberry beans so I think I know how to grow and when to harvest the beans. Flax, however, is a different story! I believe that the seeds are in the little round seed pods and are harvested once the plant is dry, kind of like beans... am I correct?</p>
<p>My goodness, flax flowers are just so beautiful!!!!</p>
<p>Any pointers as to…</p>
<p>Hi there! I am growing several different varieties of beans from seeds that Krista gave me, and flax as well. I've grown scarlet runners, yin-yang, and cranberry beans so I think I know how to grow and when to harvest the beans. Flax, however, is a different story! I believe that the seeds are in the little round seed pods and are harvested once the plant is dry, kind of like beans... am I correct?</p>
<p>My goodness, flax flowers are just so beautiful!!!!</p>
<p>Any pointers as to correctly harvesting and processing flax seeds???</p>
<p>As to processing beans - if I may share my experiences on this... I've tried drying beans in the past. They get dry enough, but storing them here with all the ambient moisture causes them to re-hydrate and then mold! Rats! My recommendation is to can them using an approved recipe and a pressure canner.</p>
<p>Has anyone else had success in the long term storage of dried beans?</p> The "Other" Grains / Backyard Beans & Grains Projecttag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-04-02:2723460:Topic:171802010-04-02T21:54:53.885ZKrista Romehttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KristaRome
Hi Everyone!<div><br></br></div>
<div>I love the discussion going on so far/already. This website has really gotten a good amount of use lately. I wanted to make sure that everybody knows I am starting Year Three of the Backyard Beans & Grains Project growing grain, dry bean, and seed trials, and my focus is mainly everything BUT wheat and barley and all things related. I will be trialling a few wheat and barley this year, but it seems those are all the rave with others so I think my work will…</div>
Hi Everyone!<div><br/></div>
<div>I love the discussion going on so far/already. This website has really gotten a good amount of use lately. I wanted to make sure that everybody knows I am starting Year Three of the Backyard Beans & Grains Project growing grain, dry bean, and seed trials, and my focus is mainly everything BUT wheat and barley and all things related. I will be trialling a few wheat and barley this year, but it seems those are all the rave with others so I think my work will be most valuable if I focus on: flax, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, dry beans, flour/dent corn, garbanzos, and soup peas. It's a hefty list and totally gluten-free (haha). It also supplements the work others are doing on wheat et al. </div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>My passion/interest in this project is towards small-scale, low-tech growers and gardeners. I am less concerned with marketability and economic competitiveness and more concerned with ease of growing and processing by hand and forming a well-balanced, locally-based diet. The goal here is to trial varieties and share both knowledge and seed when the results come in. I am making up seed packets of what I have found to work well and hope to have a bunch of new varieties to add come this fall. I am hoping that I can gather donations in exchange for seed and advisement because I need to be able to pay for seed and materials. I also would like to somewhat compensate the generous farmer who has been letting me use his land and tilling free of charge. </div>
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<div>So pass the word, but do also keep in mind that I have had some experience with the crops I listed if anyone wants to ask questions about them in this forum! I would really like to expand this conversation beyond the wheat family. There's a whole wide world of other crops out there that can help fill that niche in our diet!</div>
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<div><br/></div> Recommended Books & Visual Resources- Grains & Beanstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2010-03-22:2723460:Topic:166092010-03-22T20:39:34.699ZHeather Khttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/HeatherK
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><u>Online Links:</u></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#555555"><font face="Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, sans-serif"><strong>Soil & Health books compiled by Steve Solomon.…</strong></font></font></p>
<p><a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><u>Online Links:</u></strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#555555"><font face="Lucida Grande, Lucida Sans Unicode, sans-serif"><strong>Soil & Health books compiled by Steve Solomon.</strong></font></font></p>
<p><a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html%C2%A0">http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html</a> </p>
<p> <em>(thanks to Walter H.)</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative</strong> (ASFC):<em> </em><em> <a href="http://attra.ncat.org/interviews/asfc.html%C2%A0">http://attra.ncat.org/interviews/asfc.html<em> </em></a></em></p>
<p><em>(thanks to Laura S.)</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>"The Small Grains" -</strong> Mark Alfred Carleton (1915)</p>
<p>Online through google books search, or see link by David M below on 10/10/10.</p>
<p>Highly recommended by our Mt Vernon grain research scientist, Dr. Jones</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><u>BOOKS & PAMPHLETS</u></strong>-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Small-Scale Grain Raising</strong> - Gene Logsdon ISBN 0-87857-134-5</p>
<p>and ISBN 0-87857-147-7 pbk (1977)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Scythe Book - Mowing Hay, Cutting Weeds, and Harvesting Small Grains with Hand Tools</strong> - David Tresemer ISBN 938670-00-x (1981)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Small Grains" -</strong> Mark Alfred Carleton (1915)</p>
<p>Highly recommended by our Mt Vernon Dr. Jones, and now available to read online by searching Google books. (thanks David M) (Anyone finding a hard copy be sure to buy one!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Seed to Seed - Seed Saving & Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners</strong> -</p>
<p>by Suzanne Ashworth</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It</strong> - John Seymour</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Learning To Grow All Your Own Food</strong> - A One-Bed Model For Compost, Diet & Income Crops - Carol Cox & Staff from Ecology Action - Self-Teaching Mini-Series #26 -</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bountifulgardens.org/prodinfo.asp?number=BEA%2D0026">http://www.bountifulgardens.org/prodinfo.asp?number=BEA%2D0026</a> and</p>
<p><a href="http://www.growbiointensive.org/grow_main.html">http://www.growbiointensive.org/grow_main.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Home Grown Whole Grains</strong> - by Sara Plizer (2009) ISBN 978-1-60342-153-9</p>
<dl>
<dd style="margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in;"><font size="3"><font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Growing Dry Beans & Grains in the Pacific Northwest: a Step-By-Step Guide to Producing Your Own Staple Foods</b></span></font> <font size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;">– by Krista Rome. <a href="http://www.backyardbeansandgrains.com/index.html">http://www.backyardbeansandgrains.com/index.html</a></span></font></font></dd>
</dl>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><u>VIDEOS & Y-TUBES</u></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Instructional videos by Walter Haugen of FA Farm (YouTube)</p>
<p>"<strong>Walter Haugen on Growing Wheat</strong>"</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/walter-haugen-on-growing-wheat">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/walter-haugen-on-growing-wheat</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Instructional videos by Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds</strong> (<a href="http://www.saltspringseeds.com">www.saltspringseeds.com</a>).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>"Soil & Soil Buidling Workshop Introduction"</strong> - Walter H</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/soils-and-soil-building">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/soils-and-soil-building</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>"<strong>Broad Fork - U-Bar Workshop"</strong> - Brian K</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/broad-fork-ubar-workshop">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/broad-fork-ubar-workshop</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Fabulous Fava Beans with Farmer Walter H</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/fabulous-fava-beans-with?xg_source=activity">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/video/fabulous-fava-beans-with?xg_source=activity</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>BLOG POSTS:</strong></p>
<p>(see many new & old blog posts on our WT site under tab 'Blog' )</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>“Just How Valuable Are Grains & Dry Beans Anyways</strong>?” - Walter H</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/just-how-valuable-are-grains">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/just-how-valuable-are-grains</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>“<strong>Celt's Garden – Growing Crackers</strong>” - Celt S</p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/celts-garden-going-crackers">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/celts-garden-going-crackers</a></p>
<p><br/> </p>
<p><strong>“</strong><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><strong>Celt's Garden – Slow Bread”</strong> - Celt S</span></p>
<p><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/celts-garden-slow-bread"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/celts-garden-slow-bread</span></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>* * * * * * *</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>EVENTS from past</strong></span>-</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><b>Winter Community Seed-Swap 2011 - Sunday January 30th -11:30 am-3pm</b></p>
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<dd style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0in; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><strong><a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/xn/detail/2723460:Event:37781?xg_source=activity"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/xn/detail/2723460:Event:37781?xg_source=activity</span></a></strong></dd>
</dl>