Harvesting and Preserving Dry Beans for Winter

Hang out with us as we harvest and preserve dry beans to eat in soups, chilies, stews, tacos, pupusas and bean salads all Winter!
If you're interested in more detailed information on how to grow, forage, preserve and cook your own food, check out our 2 comprehensive online courses: homegrownhandg...

[@granospaz4156]

I am from Costa Rica and we used to eat a lot of beans. But according to surveys on TV, they are consumed less and less, especially by the younger generations. And I do believe that a lot of the population sees them as poor people's food. In my house we continue to eat them and we also grow it.

[@lemonz1769]

Watching birds harvest seed from the garden in fall is one of the most grounding and enjoyable things about having a garden aside from our own harvest of course. I plant an extra patch of sunflowers and perilla just for the cardinals seeing them expertly extract the seeds is mesmerizing no matter how many times I see it.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Totally agree! Always nice to plant a little patch for the wild critters

[@rebeccawatson9284]

I love beans! You guys are so cool! love your videos and especially the style and collab with your musical friend.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Aw thanks, we’ll let him know you’re enjoying the music! We’re eating dinner at their place tonight 🙂

[@GreenThumbGardener65]

Thank you! I had no idea that you needed to heat treat dried beans so this was really timely and great information. Thank you so much!

[@neenee0321]

I am of Indian origin grown up in South Africa. we have grown up eating all sorts of beans. I used to shell them with my mum and aunts and complain so much that it was so boring. Now living in the U.K. we don’t even get the fresh beans. I have never seen how they are grown and harvested in my entire life! Thank you for this wonderful channel.

[@janessaw89]

I love your long form content so much! I hope you continue to make these videos!

[@gailbauer6874]

Enjoyed your video very much thank you for the information about heat treating your beans. This was my first year growing dry beans pintos and black beans with dry beans I bought from the Dollar tree they worked perfectly 😅 I put up 3 QT of each Bean and it really only took a small amount of my garden to grow a lot of beans. I guess they'll always be known as a poor man's food that's okay with us we're rich in love not money lol

[@greygryphon6881]

This was first year trying to grow dried beans. So far the Cherokee black beans were the most successful. Several of my bean plants would NOT flower for a long time, I kept pinching off new leaf growth while telling them they needed to reproduce to be considered life and they finally listened and exploded with flowers.

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

That ending really touched me. Thanks -- I was needing that today.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Glad you enjoyed that! I can always use that reminder myself

[@jomicheleseidl2033]

The Santa Maria Pinquito beans have become one of my favorites. They hold their shape, but are tender and thin skinned. And, most importantly, the flavor is so good.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We’ll have to look into those, they sound great!

[@tereclemmer7923]

I am so excited about your challenge this year! I can't wait to see all of your creative meals. As a good Mexican, I do love beans 🫘.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We’re excited too! And yea there are so many amazing Mexican bean dishes ❤️

[@childofthefox]

I grow scarlet runners every year because of the humming birds love them... and as a dry bean there is nothing better eating. And lazy housewife is tasty in all stages. And fortex is always my favorite green bean i enjoy it green bean to shellies. They are wonderful and delicious. I only do pole beans. Most years 4 32 foot 6 foot high panels make plenty for us and frends. Thank you for sharing your hard work and dedication to your garden and posting your videos on KZbin.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We also grew some Scarlet Runners this year, mostly just for the humming birds and they’re actually producing a good crop this year which they normally don’t because it’s too hot and dry in the summer. Such a beautiful and huge bean

[@NorthFLWormWorks]

There is nothing more cerebrally calming to me than watching our counter parts in nature work their lifecycles on end pollinating our flowers and scattering our seeds to create such beautiful color, smells, flavors and even feelings! I feel very proud being able to say this brought me to tears and that those tears ultimately feed my soul in tune with Mother Nature! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences and excited to see next seasons fruits of labor!🤙🪱

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

I totally agree! I love watching life unfold around us. Everything from a spiderweb catching gnats on the porch to black bears eating acorns in the forest 🙂

[@juliesaye6183]

“Netflix Shell” 😂👍🏼 Love watching you two work, play, love, joke around, and being yourselves all at once. The authenticity is balm for the soul!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the vids 🙂

[@tayet6875]

Beautiful video! And I really enjoy the different sounds the beans make before and after drying. May your future dishes be filled with the flavors of summer and early autumn🌻🍂🏵🐝

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Aw thanks 🙂

[@LaineyBug2020]

Tip for parents is smol children- Dry beans (and corn) are a great sensory experience for little tykes! My mom always set up a little basin table for us with various sizes or cups to pour into each other.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

That’s such a great idea!

[@teedub1990]

Beans are really yummy IMHO. I love trying new varieties when I can.

[@blasphlamer]

Kidney beans are so delicious, black beans too. I hope people will come around

[@gpswatching]

Dehydrating beans is smart. I’ve had them ruined later from things hatching out inside the jars. If they’re already completely dry, I’ve popped the jars into a deep freeze for a day or two before storing in the pantry. That seems to kill any eggs.

[@saraherber1887]

Gooðness! Your beans are pretty. I hope you have many healthy meals with them. I planted moongdal for the first time this year. They are good whole, but have been tasty in dal chips. I grind them, add water and seasoning, roll them out and cut them into chips and bake them. We get howling wind and snowstorms where I live and imagine I will be making it through winter quite happily with my new favorite snack.😅 Thank you for your lovely and instructive videos. You two are doing good for the world. Sunshine and happiness to you.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Ohh that does sound like an excellent snack for time spent huddled up inside during a snowstorm! Now I’m kind of getting excited for winter 🤣

[@LaineyBug2020]

I love the beauty of beans!

[@Luca-hc6wo]

We have a ‘bean shelling box’ Just a wooden box with a few timber strips along the bottoms to form high spots, roughly the height of the beans. Beans go in, and you dance away! I find it a nice medium between hand shelling and something mechanical

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Sounds fun! 😊

[@pincheguarito591]

That last 2 min. just earned you a 👍!

[@PrincessOfTheYew]

Yo. I’m ready for the pupusa vid 😍😍😍😍 With that fresh masa and freshly harvested beans 🤤

[@bushpushersdaughter]

Another beautiful video! I love you guys, including Ethan. (Please tell Ethan I "think" his songs and "hum" them there even when I don't hear them.)

[@יפעת-ר3מ]

You are so lucky to live where you live!

[@bettydraper2034]

i love that you enjoy watching birds as much as i do! my favourite thing to do on my work breaks is sit outside, eat my lunch, and watch the magpies (australian magpies, totally different species to the magpies in the rest of the world) just..live their life pretty much! its spring here so theres a lot of teenage magpies that look like theyre all grown up but still have their baby voices and will hop around the park i sit in yelling at their parents for food its so cute

[@robingalloway3541]

You guys arre the cutest couple❤ I like how you work together. Doggy cute too. Thanks for mentioning why you dehydrate the beans.many people skip this

[@danthanhcozygarden]

Great tips for harvesting and preserving beans! Perfect for stocking up for winter. Thanks for sharing!

[@cat_dad2200]

I love your videos so much guys! Been watching for years and I always learn new things. I hope someday I can put this knowledge to work in my own garden!

[@shelbysieber590]

I’m so excited to shell beans this year! I planted a bunch of different varieties so I’m sure I’ll end up with small piles of each haha.

[@blackkennedy3966]

Beans are so easy to grow and they don’t mind a little drought here and there. I like growing them for fun mostly. Because I never grow enough of them for actual sustenance. Same with corn I just like growing it and watching what combination of colors I get the next year as I have painted mountain and I get new combinations of colors. It’s entertaining some of my corn kernels look like marbles or jewels because of all the color mixing and patterns they naturally develop.

[@emmamc8592]

Thanks for teaching me about the birds and the beans😉

[@EP-sv6dn]

I grew a small bit of black beans for the first time this year❤

[@MichelleTech]

My Cherokee blacks did well this year finally! My favorite, rattlesnake beans, didn't though. Thankfully I grew and dried a bunch last year. They are the best for chili! Great taste.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea the Cherokee beans always give us a good crop. Love those beans

[@acreations153]

I can never grow enough. It’s a goal each year. I’m hoping to start living off the land during winter months as well, but so far- with a growing family- I have not succeeded for even a minth

[@sicmunduscreatusest6780]

You guys rock! Great content. Love the positive vibes.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Thanks! 🙂

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

These are nice to watch on a sunday

[@riarealness]

I love this channel so much ❤❤❤❤. Next summer it’s going down n imma start living off the land but I gotta start planning and planting ❤❤❤

[@alexandracollins6448]

yum! you got me craving pupusas

[@AnimeLove300]

Amazing video! Last year, my adzuki beans were very prolific. I roughly filled a 32 oz growler :) This year, working on some gandules (pigeon peas).

[@elizabethedmonds6977]

Great video! I can’t wait to watch all your autumnal stuff this year!

[@thymebundles]

Love your content. Thank you for doing this 🙏

[@danabella6540]

I have a lot of beans this year. My first time.

[@marinatonial123]

Love it

[@RoodiniCats]

Love your videos! Love beans!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

So glad you’re enjoying them! 😊

[@LaineyBug2020]

😅. Would y'all consider planting a summer fresh produce version of the 3 Sisters Garden in the spring? It would be Sweet Corn, Green Beans and Summer Squash. I think you can even do a fresh version of the glass gem corn, it's just not as sweet and kind of chewy. Something to think about. Since I can't garden, and can't eat grain, I do the fresh version, usually as a stir fry or veggie grill or roast. The rest of the year I just buy frozen. I know that's not very green, but it's one of my favorite things to eat. I love making it with ground turkey or roasted turkey breast or even uncured turkey bacon. Or salmon. Yum!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea we’ll probably do a lot of sweet corn and green beans next year because we’re gonna have a lot more space and doing them in a three sisters patch is a good idea 🙂

[@joybreegaming8781]

I know you guys mostly save seed but where do you typically shop when trying out new varieties?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We like the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers, Truelove Seeds, Seedsavers Exchange and Southern Exposure Seeds best. They all have amazing heirlooms

[@joketsu100]

I will be growing dry beans next year! You guys inspired me to do a three sisters patch at my local community garden. Can you recommend a squash variety that is resistant to powdery mildew?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Nice! As for PM resistance, are you looking for a winter squash or summer squash variety?

[@joketsu100]

@@HomegrownHandgathered summer

[@yuliablatter]

Thank you for the great content and inspiration! ❤️ I really enjoy your channel. Do you usually save some for the seeds for next year and then heat treat the rest of the beans?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

You’re welcome! Glad you’re enjoying it 🙂 We just heat treat all of them so no weevils grow in our seeds either. The low heat (145F) for a short period of time doesn’t affect the viability of the seeds, it just dries out the weevil eggs.

[@yuliablatter]

Thank you so much for the response! I was inspired by your videos to grow some beans this year and now I can store them properly🙂 I appreciate your advice!​@@HomegrownHandgathered

[@Who_diss811]

You guys should try some dishes with homemade tofu this year. Pretty much all beans can be made into a tofu. I’m thinking of trying to make an acorn tofu this year!!!

[@crystalh733]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!! ❤️

[@JonesPrairieFarm]

Just a few questions please. If I did the heat treatment on my beans for storage, would I still be able to plant some of the beans the following year? Or would the germination rate go down? I love watching all of your videos. Thank you for your content!

[@Vdawggg]

I found your channel not to long ago and i want to watch everything and learn all i can! one question you may have posted somewhere…where do you live in the us? i’m currently in northern cali (fort bragg to be exact) but i really want to relocate to a place with better sustainability than where im at. thank you for being you and sharing all this knowledge!❤😊😄😄😆

[@RachelMargolitDavid]

My Grandmother and I used to shell beans and peas. There were no cell phones to check. Neighbors would pull up unannounced but -usually- welcome. It was our time. To sit. To talk. The supermarket canned beans are so overrated.

[@dorothyyoung8231]

How is Jordan’s feeling these days? He looks well.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

I’m doing good! Pretty much totally recovered. Thanks for asking

[@Lee-yb2zr]

Dry sealer with a moisture packet like they put in shoe boxes. Is cheaper easier and vacuumed sealed. Will last 20 25 years this way also.

[@Showmeromi]

Y'all should try a fun variety of soy! There's so much you can do with it

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We actually just bought some seeds to try out next year! 🙂

[@Showmeromi]

@@HomegrownHandgathered yay!

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

Edamame is so yummy! And okara from the dried beans, too.

[@diabeticzookeeper8368]

oh do a video on those tuber sunflowers! I've got them too but I'm sure you know more about the Jerusalem artichoke!

[@theUcane]

If you put the dehydrating tray on a large cookie sheet, you'll catch the runaway beans before they hit the floor.

[@ramplense01]

Hello, great video ‼️ Question, can they be treated in the oven instead of a dehydrator ❓ thank you, love you guys ‼️❤️✌️

[@summere.6225]

Thank you for the bean-couragement! What was that pretty red flower you rubbed?

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

Looked like amaranth to me. You can see the little seeds -- kinda like quinoa -- that rubbed off in their hand.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea it was a grain amaranth. We like to use the seeds to make a Mexican candy bar with honey and nuts

[@summere.6225]

@@HomegrownHandgathered Thank you! A wonderful dual purpose; it's beautiful AND you can eat it!

[@victoriadickson9942]

Where do you like to buy your seeds (any)? The thought of catalog surfing on a snowy day sounds like heaven right about now...

[@hannacook859]

Do you wait until they dry on the plant, or do you pick it and dry it at home?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

It depends on the weather. If it’s really dry we just let them hang, but we often have really wet Falls which can cause them to rot before they dry fully. In those times we bring them inside to dry as soon as the pod is soft and the beans are mature

[@LaineyBug2020]

I think my heart flew away with the milkweed! 💕🪽

[@LyThiTuyet1982]

Chào bạn.hạt đậu ngon quá

[@Regis0331]

What variety of beans are the red or purple and white beans you are working with? they look so plump and meaty. Thank you for your videos.

[@robertcotrell9810]

Does heat treating the beans destroy viability?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Good question! No it doesn’t. We were worried about that the first time we did this, but they germinate just fine afterwards. As long as you don’t go above 145F, it’s not actually cooking the bean or anything

[@EP-sv6dn]

I have the same dehydrator and would love to know what other items you use it for or what else is a good staple to use it for.

[@hellodelightfulrando]

I love beans but in the past year my digestive system has started to hate them. I’m so upset, I love lentils, chickpeas and black beans but anytime I eat them now I get so bloated with gas it makes me nauseous and no medication seems to help long term 😢

[@elainedoudna2054]

I add a handful of the Mexican herb epazote to the cooking water. It cuts down on the bloating and gas issue.

[@lazydreamereyes]

Keeping the bean propaganda alive and well. Love to see it!

[@ml.5377]

Love beans... If they do get weevils, I freeze the beans and then cook them. It's just extra protein. (Don't tell my husband and kids... They have never noticed in over two decades.) 😂

[@Rockapella66]

I don't have a dehydrator. Can I heat treat beans in the oven?

[@hellodelightfulrando]

I believe so. On low heat for an extended period of time is what I think I saw someone say, an hour or maybe a few hours, double check before trying it

[@lisaphares2286]

The dehydrator is a type of oven. Theirs is one you can set the temperature and they gave it, just run through it again and they told you how much time too. Dehydrators are smaller and more energy efficient, but you oven can do the same, just be careful if you use gas, you shouldn’t use it for longer than you cook food and ideally have the window open a bit in the kitchen when in use.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

If it goes down to 145F you can use an oven, but ours doesn’t go that low

[@rosedillon6645]

Question: if you dry the beans at 145°, can you still plant them? Or is that too hot? I'm trying to figure out how to seed save some volunteer beans and we've had bean weevils in the past

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea they grow fine after being treated at 145F. We actually first learned about that method of treating them for weevils in an heirloom plant breeding/seed saving book

[@christinesimmons3313]

On average how many beans, in how big of a space do you plant to produce a doable harvest?

[@Tiffycha1982]

What dehydrator do you use?❤

[@clairewoody8007]

I only have an oven as a heat source and it’s lowest is 170. Will that harm the beans? Can I heat it for less time?

[@courtnez]

Can you still plant the beans after heat treating? Im guessing you freeze your beans to plant.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Good question, yes they germinate fine since it’s really not crazy high heat. I was a little worried about this the first time we did it as well

[@courtnez]

Thank you! Thats very helpful. I have a few varieties of dried beans, and Im all for speeding up the "preserving" part"​@HomegrownHandgathered

[@hannacook859]

Which verities do you recommend?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Good Mother Stallard and Cherokee Black Beans are the two that we grow every year and always do really well for us. They’re also both delicious

[@marieparks5674]

Love your videos but it was for me, a little hard to hear above the music, really informative. Music was beautiful but just a tad loud for Mr to hear you

[@TeresaCatherine-wi9co]

What are the red and white beans called?

[@pamelathomas2856]

@@Freeland-Farm Hi! Are those the same things as “Christmas beans”? Also, after shucking the beans do you put the empty husks in a compost or just put them back on the ground? Thanks!

[@kellydowns6203]

Christmas beans are aka Cranberry beans. I don't think they're the same as Good Mother Stallard.

[@RLPiper]

I wish I liked beans. They are so nasty to me.

[@StarshineInTHEnorth]

I am so glad to see these crops and you inspiring others to grow beans🪶just wonderful guys! I often wondered why it was not as prioritized✨ lovely time spent with you☺️

[@LaineyBug2020]

Look, it's me!! 10:07

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

🤣🤣🐞🐞

[@rebeccawatson9284]