Lena’s Pole Bean Seeds

A bean I picked up from HHS because I loved the history of it. According to their website, Lena’s is named for the original seed donor who lived in Regina, Saskatchewan. Lena’s family received these beans during the 1930’s as part of a relief package from the government. Looks like the family did not cook all the beans, and saved some to grow & continued to do so for many years, seeing as we have these seeds today. Quite remarkable that these bean lines have been kept alive! I’m also surprised they’re pole beans, you’d think that seeds at the time for such a purpose would be derived from bushes not vining varieties. The size of these seeds is also surprising, because they are on the larger side – nothing like the common navy bean of today that Canada grows so much of. An interesting bean, with a piece of Canadian history attached. I wish I had tried them green to see if they are edible in that stage! If anyone requests these, I’d love to hear back. I assume these were a variety for dry use only, but I don’t really know! 2024 seed.