Dragon's Tongue Bean

Our family recently took a two week road trip to Frisco Colorado. In the back of my mind I could not help but wonder what the garden would look like when we got back. One of the first things that I noticed upon inspection of our garden when we returned were the bean bushes. We had an abundance of dragon’s tongue beans just waiting to be harvested so my daughter and I got right to work.

This is another heirloom variety that I purchased from the Seed Savers Exchange. This Dutch variety bush bean produces bountiful pods that measure almost 8 inches in length. The bean is unique in its appearance it is cream colored with purple stripes, when blanched the stripes will disappear. Tonight we will hit them with a bit of steam and serve them with some salmon but to this point we have only eaten them raw and I must say that they are delicious.

One of the benefits of growing beans is that they are a “nitrogen fixer” and will replenish your soil which is a benefit to any plant that follows. As for your health fresh beans are a moderate source of protein, vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. Click on the Mother Earth News logo at the bottom of the page for all of his post. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead  https://www.facebook.com/seedtoharvestbossyhenhomestead/ which is a central location for his homesteading blogs and his homeschooling blog, A Mile In Her Shoes: Tales Of A Stay-At Home Dad found here https://amileinhershoestalesofastayathomedad.wordpress.com/