Source for Heirloom Beans and Veggies

Folks in the Appalachian area of NC, TN, KY, VA, and WV might especially appreciate the varieties of beans collected for some 30 years by the fellow at the link. I was given this link this morning by a friend who grew up in the mountains like I did and remembers some of these varieties from his childhood like I do. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I dearly love greasy cut-shorts, an heirloom variety not much found outside of NC. They're fairly rare, delicious, a prodigious producer, will breed true if kept separate from other beans, and can be dried and replanted from year to year. Since this variety is rare, only one packet per customer can be had, but there are many other heirloom varieties that can be had.

I'd like to share this link with other DU'ers who are interested in growing and preserving heirloom varieties of vegetables.

Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center, Inc., a not-for-profit (basically one old gentleman who has been collecting and preserving heirloom vegetables for decades).

I ordered a packet each of two varieties this morning (my limit). I'm already tasting childhood memories and can't wait to see what they produce later this summer.

I love heirloom varieties.

I was raised on Appalachian greasy-beans. I have no idea how they got their name, since they aren't greasy at all, but they're a wonderfully flavorful variety of bean, rare, prodigious bearers, and a rewarding crop all around.

I'm planting mostly heirloom varieties of veggies this year. I'll make another post later when I get things in the ground and under way. I started 36 tomatoes and 36 peppers last night; tonight I'll be getting a good deal else underway.

I loved these beans when I lived in NC and am going to try them here in Georgia.

Here are a couple more places that might be of interest.

http://rareseeds.com/

http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html

I've also had good luck with www.heirloomseeds.com . I've obtained NC long greasy beans from them before as well. They don't always have them in stock, though, so it's good to have several sites bookmarked in case your own crops fail.

I did see that SMAC had both the speckled and the white varieties of greasy beans offered, and several varieties of each. Try the Lazy Wife variety, too -- those are equally delicious and have a very fine string (hence the name) and are easy to snap if you hate snapping or shelling :)