Cottage Pantry Potentials

'Tis now the season to garden dream. 

Not just of greenery & fresh salsa, but of the potential DRIED goods for pantry storing. Take note of items you use during winter, such as soup beans, that can be grown instead of bought. The best time to realize what you SHOULD grow and WILL use up.

We are veering the Food garden towards 95% items that can be preserved & stored. Many do pickles, sauces, green beans, etc. But how many actually think of DRIED beans in abundance? Winter soups contain this staple yet I rarely read of it's importance in other blogs or forums discussing gardens & the storing of food. So here it is. The Take Notice & Plan it out post all about our future Dried beans. Besides, what a fantastic way to utilize all those OLD antique mason jars no longer approved for canning. I know I have been grabbing all kinds of old ones, like this spring top latch beauty, every chance I get. Perfect portion size for family favorite soups & a great excuse to tell the Hubby "No, I need those for storing dried beans in".

This last year, the Garden Gods spared me heart break with a single plant of Borlotti beans {Italian Variety for use in Fagioli soup}, growing full force despite the fate of it's row mates. The others had rot away from the intense wet Spring, taking the last of what seed I had stored. Of that single plant, I was able to harvest 30 seeds for this next year.

We have also poured over our baker Creek heirlooms {rareseeds.com} catalog, coming to the conclusion we will also order 2 packets of Extra Precoce A Grano Violetto {a dark purple Italian Fava/Broad bean that according to many sources, they retain their purple after cooking}. We have never grown this kind of bean, nor had we thought of it until the decision for more sufficiency reared up this year. A cool weather bean, perfect for southern winters & Fall planting in the North.

"This extra early variety produces long pods that are filled with 6 large beans that are a pretty purple color and are sweet tasting. A unique and colorful variety from Italy. "

 If you scroll down to the Fava section of this link, you will see another deciding factor for us to include this Purple gem. I especially enjoyed the authors sentiment of this Violetto from his childhood as well as the suggestion of a simple dish:

This variety’s name means extra early purple seed. There are also green seeded varieties of Favas, but I grew up eating the purple kind so I picked this to carry. We always ate them simply cooked in a bit of water with garlic, pepper, salt, olive oil, and a touch of butter. Accompanying them was always good hearty Italian bread. You used the bread to sop up the juice. (I’m getting hungry writing this.) Unlike regular beans Favas do well with cool weather. Having a short season variety is nice since so many areas like here go from cool to hotter than Hades right quick. They can also be planted in late summer for a fall crop in places south of here. In places like Florida, they can be planted as a winter crop.

Growing beans for drying is super easy! No need to pick them until they have dried on the vine. You can always cut the stem close to the ground & hang over paper in a room or garage should the rains start making undesirable conditions. 

Forget those plain grocery store varieties and explore the amazing world of varieties. besides, after a taste of home grown difference, you'll be letting the kids make Bean art with those bagged things:

 Or just sprout those things for a chicken house winter treat....

This is not an ad for baker creek, I assure you {if it was, I would not be adjusting my... umm... tall order, so as to stay in budget of what we have agreed upon for seeds this year}.... Just a simple nod to the amazing world they have opened up & introduced  for so many of us enjoying the fruit of their hard labor. Preserving heirloom varieties for the future. For each & every one of us to enjoy & grow.

Through them, our family has opened their minds and mouths to such amazing food. From our cherished Long Pie pumpkins used in our Fall Empanadas, to the current exploration in dried beans. Much love to them. Much gratitude. What better way to say Thank you then to spread that love via The Unusual Farm Chick.

Looking for more inspiration on filling that pantry? I recently discovered this blog and thought I would share.Some very thought provoking topics for those who garden & adventure towards self sufficiency.  * I now want to cover my jars with parchment & twine like their linked photo below... :

This is the year where everyone should go "outside of the box". Try something new. We are expanding our palette and tastes with the help of Baker Creek & many other heirloom seed suppliers. Once upon a time, dried beans were a less frequent pantry staple due to tiring of the same old kinds available. Now, the kids are begging for more bean soups, depleting what little I had. They are now suffering through with store bought and take great interest in selecting new varieties for the winter Pantry.

Suddenly, we have become Bean snobs! There is a debate on adding one other drying bean, which may have to come down to a rough & tumble game of Rock, Paper Scissors...

Not only are we growing the above beans, But Parsnips, Beet root, plus an herb I am saving for a new post which is used for teas & drink flavoring. {nope, not mint!}. Gardening has taken a sudden new outlook & path with my family. Not sure if it is the amazing Garden Porn {baker creek heirlooms} The Captain has been caught snagging from my pile or if the children finally realize the importance of taking back control of what we eat {or you get stuck with less then healthy &/or boring foods}.

I leave you with a quote from Jere Gettle of Baker Creek Heirlooms:

"Beans are the most important types of food on earth & are packed with fiber, protein, calcium, iron, & potassium.

Dried beans can be prepared a myriad of ways & are a great & inexpensive pantry staple."

Take the time to spend your evenings & laid back days exploring between the covers.

Planning what new to you or old forgotten favorites are waiting to grow in this years garden.

It is never too early or late for such simple pleasures.

Sweet Garden Dreams,

~Tammie

P.S Many thanks to Dinahs Garden for the tidbit on how they cure/dry their beans. My post was lacking the info on this step & feel it is of importance to share in the main post & not just leave in the comment section:


"To me there is almost nothing more relaxing than shucking beans. Once freed from their pods we leave the beans in mesh colanders to further dry/cure, hand mixing them daily. We all love the mixing, a tactile play of sorts."