To start with Beans (Vicia Faba - broad bean) - field beans to be precise. The other day I was scanning the shelve for a tin of beans to go into a bean stew. Red kidney, cannelloni and black beans but no butter beans, a favourite. All similar in taste and then my mind went to Medieval times when people lived off field beans.
Field beans have a history of course, probably used from Neolithic times, 5000 years ago, they were an important part of the diet. Also energy giving, the saying 'full of beans' stems from this old fashioned bean, sown mainly as a green manure crop now.
It is a slightly different version of our broad bean, less beans in the pod though but more pods to the plant. According to this article on the Martock bean from Somerset, the Martock bean is a traditional landrace vegetable having been discovered in the Bath and Wells Bishop's garden.
Podding peas and beans was a job for children when we were young, before the time of frozen peas and a job loved by children as we nibbled the sweet inner skin of the pea pods. Europe was late to potatoes, making an appearance in the 17th century, so the field bean was a good stand in, it had plenty of carbohydrate to fuel the farm workers.
We care little for where most of our food comes from, there have been battles over heritage seeds as firms have called for banishment of such seeds, reducing the most precious varieties to safekeeping in storage. Others have called for all seeds to be kept and protected just in case our modern day wheat seed suddenly falls into disease.
But to return to that recipe, it was delicious, though that could be put down to the red wine I generously slurped into it.
I miss growing things picking the berries or beans, I haven't had a decent runner bean since I stopped growing them, there is no room here.
Edit: And if you haven't found that short blog on beans life enhancing!
Try watching two good murder dramas on BBCI player, 'Magpie Murders' and 'Moonflower Murders' The blurb says a story within a story, in actual fact two lines worked together, a past and present storytelling. Not sure I like the format, it creates some confusion when you read the plots in a book but less so on the screen. Written by Anthony Horowitz, good traditional murder stories, very BBCish.
I couldn't get on with Magpie Murders in the book but enjoyed the TV prog - it was much easier to follow. Haven't looked at Moonflower yet.
ReplyDeleteWell the drama is on BBC Iplayer, I saw Moonflower first so I was a bit confused about the dead writer but it all panned out.
DeleteI just checked out allotment sites in Todmorden. Seems like there's a three year waiting list. Why not aim to grow some herbs in pots or new potatoes in bins or sacks?...It is hard to imagine Britain without potatoes, rice or pasta!
ReplyDeleteThat is very kind of you Neil but I might not be here in three years time! I have just listened to the long 'war time alarm' that has gone off, the road is beginning to flood between Hebden and Tod. The trains seem to be in a mess as well, I presume you are higher up in your part of the world.
DeleteIt's Thelma the anon on my own blog, why does blogger go wrong I wonder. I notice Debby has the same problem.
DeleteI did enjoy reading your bean link Thelma, thank you. Many many years ago, probably 40 years, I was a paid up member of the Henry Doubleday Research Association from which the Soil Association was born. That led to becoming one of the first Riverford Box subscribers in the early 90s and then to starting my own allotment in 2001. My married name derives from pea seller. The Pescods would grow beans and peas all through the spring and summer, dry them and through the winter sell the dried legumes to cottagers for pottage. We loved Moonflower Murders on TV - so clever. I imagine the clues would perhaps be easier to spot when reading the book though. I saw it in the library this week and slim it is not. My green manure sowed on my veg plot as a winter cover crop to protect my sandy soil is doing well and was beginning to flower before this cold snap. It’s a combination of blue phaecelia, yellow mustard and pink clover and should look a picture in the spring. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah, glad you enjoyed that small round-up of bean news. I have been racking my brain as to who wanted to stop people using their own seeds and it was of course Monsanto in America. I never heard the end of the story but I do remember the two institutions you mention. It sounds a pretty combination the green manure and helpful to insects which is more than can be said of the herbicides and pesticides used today.
DeleteProblem with Iplayer, is the way something comes up. I shall now explore 'murder' on its list I think. The stories by Anthony Horowitz are very old fashioned traditional but fun to watch. Also liked Susan's clothes wardrobe ;) Thelma x
I loved Magpie Murders, very well styled, both plot lines. I esp. liked that moment when the present day editor saw the fictional detective. Moonflower was watchable, I hope they do some more.
ReplyDeleteYes it was clever, though ghost sidekicks are often one of the motifs of a story.
DeleteBecause we tend not to ask where our food comes from, we find practices like supermarket farmwashing. Just finishing off a post for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you are writing more often Tasker. I think respect for what we eat and the producers would not go amiss but as you say it is in the hands of the supermarkets.
DeleteI have never heard of those books. They sounds like a nice distraction from these strange days. Unfortunately, I find my reading time very limited these days.
ReplyDeleteIt was better on television Debby.
DeleteI'm not sure it has made its way across the pond, but I will check.
DeleteIs that where the saying "full of beans" comes from?
ReplyDeleteWell the explanation as on the net Liam, is that it started in the 14th C as 'Full of prunes' and then got changed for horses when they got over excited. But it seems to have moved into popular usage from America in the 19th C.
ReplyDelete