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$12.95
The Arikara Yellow heirloom bean is by far our most requested heirloom bean. They are creamy and very flavorful with a hard shell that holds its shape when cooked. Due to extreme heat and drought, the Arikara is difficult to come by this year and to find organically grown Arikara is like a needle in a hay stack. This is one of those beans you'll never find in the grocery store and you'll be fortunate to find even at the Farmers Market (unless of course you live near Pescadero, California).
This Slow Foods Ark of Taste ingredient has a long cultural history. First documented by Lewis and Clark, these indigenous beans were once the primary food source for American Indian tribes in the Missouri Valley. Thomas Jefferson grew the Arikara Yellow Beans in his own garden at Monticello. There he described it as “one of the most excellent we have had.”Unfortunately after being moved to the Fort Berthold reservation near Bismarck, North Dakota, the Arikara tribe has relatively little land to farm. Thankfully seed savers and small scale farmers have saved the Arikara Yellow from extinction. They are a favorite in soups and stews as well as the Three Sisters Mash.
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.
1LB Bag