Beacon: A Hill of Beans! Demonstration Gardens 2013
Visit our two demonstration gardens in the neighborhood to see and taste a few of the many varieties you can grow here to grace your dinner plate.
Beacon: A Hill of Beans! is a seasonal project sponsored by the Beacon Hill Garden Club and ROCKiT Community Arts to introduce the wonderful world of beans to our neighbors!
It has been said that the worst place to meet the vegetable kingdom is in the typical American grocery store. Few varieties make it into the produce section—maybe four kinds of potatoes, one kind of bell pepper (in maybe 3 colors) and as for broccoli and cauliflower, it looks pretty singular. Fresh beans appear the same year after year—green. Farmers markets often mix things up, but it still pretty limited. As for dried beans, the offerings in the stores in no way reflect the diversity and taste sensations of heirloom beans. We hope to joyfully help you get to know the wonders of beans.
Why beans? The common bean, like humans, is spread around the planet in every imaginable climate with a fascinating variety. They can be homespun and plain, or flashy hogs for attention. Originating in northern Mexico they were domesticated there and in the Andes Mountains several thousand years ago. They are an excellent source of protein and return atmospheric nitrogen to the soil. We find them easy to grow and thus encourage beginning gardeners (especially children) to grow food for their plates. You won’t be able to taste the wonderful world of beans unless you grow your own.
El Centro de La Raza
The cedar planters ringing the parking lot next to the Festival Street host a wonderful variety of beans waiting to meet you. Over 20 kinds of beans ranging from fresh varieties such as Amethyst, a dwarf plant with purple pods, Firetongue (Italian heritage) with pale green pods streaked with red, and Golden Wax to a number of plants grown on for dried beans such as Lazy Housewife, Cherokee Trail of Tears, and the beautiful YinYang or Calypso bean that looks a bit like our killer whale. We even have a couple of soybean varieties to try—fresh edamame pods anyone? Each planter will host a sign telling the variety and the best way to enjoy eating it. Feel free to pick some for your dinner, keeping in mind others will want to taste test. The planters will be maintained by community members. Ask us about volunteering!
Planter key (PDF)
Jefferson Community Center
We are working with the teen program of the Jefferson Community Center to add to their garden space behind the gym by constructing “Beanhenge”, an installation using salvage materials to give a variety of beans an inspired home. The pots will be labeled as to variety and origin. Feel free to taste these also.
Beacon: A Hill of Beans! is a seasonal project sponsored by the Beacon Hill Garden Club and ROCKiT Community Arts to introduce the wonderful world of beans to our neighbors!
It has been said that the worst place to meet the vegetable kingdom is in the typical American grocery store. Few varieties make it into the produce section—maybe four kinds of potatoes, one kind of bell pepper (in maybe 3 colors) and as for broccoli and cauliflower, it looks pretty singular. Fresh beans appear the same year after year—green. Farmers markets often mix things up, but it still pretty limited. As for dried beans, the offerings in the stores in no way reflect the diversity and taste sensations of heirloom beans. We hope to joyfully help you get to know the wonders of beans.
Why beans? The common bean, like humans, is spread around the planet in every imaginable climate with a fascinating variety. They can be homespun and plain, or flashy hogs for attention. Originating in northern Mexico they were domesticated there and in the Andes Mountains several thousand years ago. They are an excellent source of protein and return atmospheric nitrogen to the soil. We find them easy to grow and thus encourage beginning gardeners (especially children) to grow food for their plates. You won’t be able to taste the wonderful world of beans unless you grow your own.
El Centro de La Raza
The cedar planters ringing the parking lot next to the Festival Street host a wonderful variety of beans waiting to meet you. Over 20 kinds of beans ranging from fresh varieties such as Amethyst, a dwarf plant with purple pods, Firetongue (Italian heritage) with pale green pods streaked with red, and Golden Wax to a number of plants grown on for dried beans such as Lazy Housewife, Cherokee Trail of Tears, and the beautiful YinYang or Calypso bean that looks a bit like our killer whale. We even have a couple of soybean varieties to try—fresh edamame pods anyone? Each planter will host a sign telling the variety and the best way to enjoy eating it. Feel free to pick some for your dinner, keeping in mind others will want to taste test. The planters will be maintained by community members. Ask us about volunteering!
Planter key (PDF)
Jefferson Community Center
We are working with the teen program of the Jefferson Community Center to add to their garden space behind the gym by constructing “Beanhenge”, an installation using salvage materials to give a variety of beans an inspired home. The pots will be labeled as to variety and origin. Feel free to taste these also.
