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Stewardship story
The John Withee Exhibit :
Take a closer spirit at some of the varieties in John Withee ’s bean assemblage .
‘Bennett’s Giant Soldier’ bean
‘Bennett’s Giant Soldier’
This multifariousness may be an example of ‘ Giant Soldier ’ offered by the Billy Hepler Seed Company in 1948 and acquired by John Withee in the early 1970s .
‘Big Brown’
This Depression Era bean has been relish by the Appleby fellowship for over 80 year .
Seed Savers Exchange offers ‘ Big Brown ’ bonce seeds through the Exchange . surf the Exchange .
‘Jacob’s Cattle’
John Withee ’s search for a right baking bean bring out this Maine favorite . Learn more about ‘ Jacob ’s cows ’ .
‘ Jacob ’s Cattle ’ is uncommitted on the Exchange from several lister plough . Browse the Exchange .
‘Stub’s Mammoth Scipios’
A family garden and a family line bean , this variety can be traced back to as too soon as the 1940s . Learn more about ‘ Stub ’s Mammoth Scipio the Elder ’ .
‘Thaxter’ Lima
Developed by the USDA in the 1950s , it was once a popular commercial-grade variety .
Seed Savers Exchange offers ‘ Thaxter ’ lima bean plant seeds through the Exchange . Browse the Exchange .
‘Bert Deane’s Baking Bean’
Commercial fame was n’t in the card for this homegrown variety , though it has been grown in Maine since the 1950s .
‘ Bert Deane ’s Baking Bean ’ is currently available on the Exchange from a Wisconsin lister . surf the Exchange .
‘Lynnfield’
key out for its place of origin , John Withee pick out this variety from a plant found in his bean plant garden .
‘ Lynnfield ’ is presently available on the Exchange from an Illinois lister . Browse the Exchange .
‘Jacob’s Cattle Gasless’
Although unseasoned , this miscellanea ’s title to renown stems from its supposedly gasless nature .
‘ Jacob ’s Cattle Gasless ’ is currently available on the Exchange from several Lister . Browse the Exchange .
‘Dwarf Kentucky Wonder’
An honour winning bean that dates back to the 1930s .
Seed Savers Exchange put up ‘ Dwarf Kentucky Wonder ’ bean seed through the Exchange . shop the Exchange .
‘Kentucky Wonder, White Seeded’
For at least 20 years , this was Lyman Fitzgerald ’s most popular snap dome at the Albuquerque farmer ’s market .
‘Scarlet Beauty’
Retaining its attractive red color after cooking was a marketing stage for this shell dome .
‘ Scarlet Beauty ’ is currently usable on the Exchange from several listers . shop the Exchange .
‘Cangreen’ Lima
Expert , impartial judges decided this variety was a victor in 1943 .
‘African Premiere’
From Africa to Connecticut and beyond , this bean was a world traveler .
‘Uncle Clarence Holliday’
A variety so good it was grown for over 50 year by a Missouri gardener . study more about ‘ Uncle Clarence Holliday ’ .
‘Flash’
Commercially infix in 1947 by the Earth ’s youngest seedsman and a basic in the Billy Hepler Seed Company catalogue .
‘ news bulletin ’ is presently available on the Exchange from an Illinois lister . Browse the Exchange .
‘Hidatsa Red Field’
This variety was a pre-1920 oblation of the Oscar H Will Seed Company in Bismarck , North Dakota .
‘Connecticut Wonder’
This variety was a gift from the bee nearly 100 years ago . Learn more about ‘ Connecticut Wonder ’ .
‘ Connecticut Wonder ’ is presently usable on the Exchange from several lister . Browse the Exchange .
‘McCaslan’
This variety was a menage heirloom from Georgia made pop commercially by the Hastings ’ Seed Company in 1912 .
Seed Savers Exchange offers ‘ McCaslan ’ bean seeds through the Exchange . graze the Exchange .
‘Verna’s Bush’
With help from friend and kinsfolk , this diverseness has been grown and shared in Wisconsin for over 70 years .
‘Mostoller Wild Goose’
From the crop of a goof to a garden in Pennsylvania , this dome has a retentive history of sharing in the Mostoller kinsperson .
‘ Mostoller Wild Goose ’ is currently available on the Exchange from several listers . Browse the Exchange .
Did You Know?
Common beans were domesticated double .
Common bean were independently domesticated in two different places : the Andes Mountains of South America over 8,000 year ago and the Larma - Santiago basin of Mexico at least 5,500 age ago .
The colors and pattern on bean seeds are genetically regulated by a small army of gene .
‘Bennett’s Giant Soldier’ bean
The physical appearance of noggin seeds is controlled by an array of genes include 9 for color , 6 that control semen coat formula , and 1 that influences whether the seed is shiny or matt . to boot , the surround play a purpose with bed wetter and more humid conditions leading to darker dyed seeds .
Darwin found evidence for his hypothesis of “ the endurance of the primed ” among the beans in his garden .
Darwin wrote inThe Variation of Animals and plant Under Domestication(1896 ) of a cold grab that left only a few bean plant standing . “ It was impossible to lay eyes on these three plants , with their blackened , withered , and dead brethren all around , and not see at a coup d’oeil that they differed wide in their inbuilt power of refuse frost . ”
‘Big Brown’ bean
There are many different species of “ bonce ” that we use up .
The common bean , Phaseolus vulgaris , is only one fellow member of the legume menage ( Fabaceae ) that we feed . Other edible legumes include lima beans , black eyed peas ( a.k.a . cowpeas ) , runner beans , lentils , chickpeas , and peanut .
Become a Bean Steward
The best path to keep an heirloom seminal fluid variety alive is to grow and salvage its seeds . By stewarding edible bean varieties , you become an important part of each germ ’s story — and help SSE dribble out its commission to steward America ’s culturally divers and endangered garden and intellectual nourishment craw bequest for present and future generations .
Seed Savers Exchange is here to guide you through your journeying to become a dome seed saver ! Check out these resource to see how to grow and save bean ejaculate :
Where to Source Bean Seeds
Seed Savers Exchange currently offers around25 bean varietiesthrough the catalogue . John Withee bean plant varieties offered include‘Good Mother Stallard’and‘Turkey Craw ’ .
Shop All Bean Seeds .
Browse thousands of listings for attic seeds on the Exchange by home gardeners from around the state . Seed Savers Exchange offer 740 different bean varieties from their seed camber ingathering through the Exchange , including 85 varieties from John Withee ’s collection .
‘Jacob’s Cattle’ bean
Browse the Exchange .
The John Withee Exhibit
Presented by Seed Savers Exchange and funded in part by a grant from the1772 Foundation .
‘Stub’s Mammoth Scipios’ bean
Keep search the John Withee Exhibit
Presented by Seed Savers Exchange and funded in part by a grant from the 1772 Foundation .
3094 North Winn RoadDecorah , Iowa 52101(563 ) 382 - 5990
‘Thaxter’ lima bean
Copyright © 2025 Seed Savers Exchange . Images on this situation are protect by right of first publication — unauthorized use is not allow .
Seed Savers Exchange is a taxation - exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization give to the preservation of heirloom seeded player .
‘Bert Deane’s Baking Bean’ bean
‘Lynnfield’ bean
‘Jacob’s Cattle Gasless’ bean
‘Dwarf Kentucky Wonder’ bean
‘Kentucky Wonder, White Seeded’ bean
‘Scarlet Beauty’ bean
‘Cangreen’ lima bean
‘African Premiere’ bean
‘Uncle Clarence Holliday’ bean
‘Flash’ bean
‘Hidatsa Red Field’ bean
‘Connecticut Wonder’ bean
‘McCaslan’ bean
‘Verna’s Bush’ bean
‘Mostoller Wild Goose’ bean
