August Heirloom Bean and Grain Club
Organic Tiger Eye Beans, Jacob's Cattle Beans, Sonora White Wheat Berries
THE BEAN ONLY CONTAINS:
Organic Tiger Eye Beans, Jacob's Cattle Beans, Hidatsa Shield Figure Beans
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How To Cook A Perfect Pot of Beans
The Definitive Guide To Cooking Beans
ORGANIC TIGER EYE BEANS
These are some sexy heirloom beans! Our Tiger Eye heirloom beans are almost too stunning to cook—almost. But once you taste their silky, cream-like texture and rich flavor that makes ordinary pintos seem one-dimensional, you'll understand why South American farmers treasured these rare bean varieties for centuries. Ours are grown in harmony with nature with no synthetic chemicals or fertilizers.
- Broth notes: medium-bodied, earthy
- Pair with: dill, cumin, tomato and lemon
- Instant Pot: 28 minutes on high plus 20 minutes pressure release
- Stovetop: 90-120 minutes
ABOUT THE FARMER
Grown in Idaho's Magic Valley by organic pioneer Mike Heath (featured in Michael Pollan's Botany of Desire), these premium dry beans thrive in the region's sandy soil and arid climate. Today, bean production is stewarded by Alvaro, Mike's trusted partner of 20+ years, who uses complex crop rotations and beneficial insects to nurture healthy, alive soil.
JACOB'S CATTLE BEANS
Jacob's Cattle, also known as the trout bean or Appaloosa bean, is known for its ability to hold its shape in addition to its beautiful white and reddish-brown speckles said to resemble the markings of a spotted calf. This delicious heirloom bean is an ingredient in the Slow Food Ark of Taste that has been around since colonial times, originating in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. The Passamaquoddy people of Maine are said to have presented some of these beans to Joseph Clark, the first Caucasian child born in Lubec, Maine. The flavor is described as fruity, rich, and nutty with a dense and meaty texture. It's great for soups and stews since it can hold its shape well under long cooking times, even with heavy seasoning.
WHAT TO COOK WITH JACOBS CATTLE BEANS
We love this bean in just about everything. It's so tasty just on it's own with a bit of salt you really don't have to do much to it at all. It's quite versatile and goes equally well as baked beans as it does in a hearty bowl of chili or our parmesan, rosemary soup.
ABOUT THE FARMER
Small Town Specialties is a family owned and operated business. Allen and Kendral are passionate about bringing you Non GMO, and Gluten-free products grown without Glyphosate directly from their farm in northern California. What started with just a handful of beans, years later has turned into a flourishing crop.
WHITE SONORA WHEAT BERRIES (BEAN + GRAIN VERSION)
White Sonora Wheat is a soft, white winter wheat believed to have been brought to the Sonoran Desert by Padre Lorenzo de Cardenas between 1640 and 1650. The Pima people began cultivating and exporting White Sonora in the 19th century and it became a staple grain credited with saving both Union and Confederate soldiers from starvation during the civil war. Renewed efforts to understand and preserve the rich cultural and regional history surrounding White Sonoran Wheat in recent years inspired a resurgence of the crop. Soft golden Sonora Wheat Berries are the perfect base for our Lemon and Herb Summer Wheat Berry Salad or our Chimichurri Ancient Grain Bowl. Add them to a soup as you would barley or top them with yogurt and fruit for a breakfast grain bowl.
About the Maker
ORGANIC HIDATSA SHIELD FIGURE BEANS (BEAN ONLY VERSION)
The Organic Heirloom Hidatsa Shield Figure Beans from Blue House Farm are a wonderfully creamy and delicious heirloom bean with thin skins that retain their coloring after cooking for stunning soups and so much more. They are a nod to ancient agricultural traditions, named for the Hidatsa people of the Missouri River Valley in North Dakota. These large, white beans with speckled orange and maroon saddles resemble a shield, giving them their unique name. As one of five dry bean varieties cultivated by the Hidatsa, the Shield Figure bean is a unique find, earning a place on the Slow Food Ark of Taste in 2005. Although popular in home gardens because it's so darn prolific, it is not grown on large farms due to the difficulty of harvesting the vigorous pole bean on a commercial scale.
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM
With a firm, meaty texture and mild, slightly nutty flavor, Hidatsa Shield Figure beans are versatile and delicious in a variety of dishes. The delicious bean broth and creamy texture make them perfect for soups like the Hidatsa Shield Bean and Wild Rice Soup recipe that we created just for the bean club. I wanted to create a recipe that was as decolonized as possible, using almost entirely ingredients that are native to North America. Infused with a touch of cedar leaves, this comforting soup offers a woodsy, nourishing experience that honors Indigenous culinary traditions.
ABOUT THE HIDATSA TRIBE
The Hidatsa tribe, originally from the Missouri River Valley in present-day North Dakota, have a rich history as skilled agriculturalists and traders. Alongside the Mandan and Arikara tribes, they formed the Three Affiliated Tribes. The Hidatsa were known for their cultivation of corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers, using a sophisticated farming system that sustained their communities for centuries. They lived in semi-permanent earth lodges and were integral to the trading networks along the upper Missouri River. In the 19th century, like many Native American tribes, the Hidatsa faced devastating impacts from disease, displacement, and forced relocations. Today, many Hidatsa people reside on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, where they continue to preserve their cultural traditions and agricultural heritage while adapting to modern challenges. The Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara maintain a vibrant community, working to revitalize their language, culture, and land stewardship practices.
ABOUT BLUE HOUSE FARM
Blue House Farm grows drop dead gorgeous beans from the gorgeous, fertile land in Pescadero and San Gregorio, California. Ryan Casey became interested in farming in college while taking agriculture courses. After completing an apprenticeship at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems and working on several farms, he decided to start an organic farm. The farm started in 2005 on 2 acres and has steadily grown to over 75 acres in production. Farming in two different microclimates allows Blue House Farm to grow over 50 types of certified organic farm products. Among the lettuce, tomatoes, herbs and peppers Blue House Farm grows excellent organic beans.
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