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I hoard fall leaves for mulching. Either mow over them or run them through a garden chipper. Helps tremendously with weeds but also holds in moisture which has been crucial as we're starting out yet another garden season in drought.

I've been doing the same, especially in the garden. Concentrating on one area at a time instead of building a bed here... better pull that weed... the grass needs mowed... wonder what that plant is - better look it up... I should check and make sure I have enough pots for transplants in the...

I breezed through school for the most part. Rarely took a book home and only struggled through geometry (because we had a poor algebra teacher the year before) and junior English (because he was a monotone bore). I too suspect I have undiagnosed ADHD because my mind is constantly jumping from...

I try to make some sort of barrier for all of my sprouting seeds in the garden as I've had more than a few snatched. I use everything from pieces of old fence, oven racks, old wire refrigerator shelves and even mesh bottomed flats. Doesn't look too pretty for a week or two but does the job...

We use math daily and she counts all the time. Problem is that she was rushed on and never fully grasped addition or subtraction, so went back to the basics. So much has changed about the way math and reading are taught now versus when I was in school. I can do the new math so far with no...

Honestly I never realized there was such a thing as shelly beans besides Limas until the last year or so. Evidently it's just not common in this part of Appalachia, but I'm working on that. Last year I mainly focused on production with the Network beans but this year I intend to replant some...

I've had lots of volunteers but rarely beans, and never remember any bean volunteers popping up when I was a kid. Maybe it's because I'm mostly no-dig now. My daughter is in fifth grade with special needs. This year has mostly been an exercise in unlearning behaviors she picked up in public...

So do volunteer beans happen very often for anyone? Noticed I have three 3" tall plants where I grew the Ground Squirrel off-type(?) last year and have been covering them on cold nights. Only other time I've ever had volunteer beans was in the spring of 2021. US zone 6a. A little more snow...

Welcome @Rillowen! This will be my second season of growing Network beans and finishing up our first year of homeschooling. I had originally planned to have my daughter grow bush dry beans this year but decided that she'd be better off growing either a pole or bush variety of snap beans as I...

That stinks @heirloomgal. Hopefully the loose seeds are easily distinguishable.

I experienced the same with the larger pods, but the beans were delicious and very productive. I only grew the fat pod/skinny seed off-type last year and it produced true to type. Adding it to the line-up this year in hopes that it has tender pods and the same flavor as the original.

That's one reason I've acquired seeds of Coal Camp from a local source who lists them as having a shorter season than I experienced with the Network Coal Camp last year. Sometimes I think it has to do with a variety becoming locally adapted.

That's always a concern here and the reason I always reserve a few seeds "just in case." I am always sad to learn that heirloom beans have been lost due to a family member having no interest and tossing the seed or passed on to someone who didn't have the means or desire to grow them properly...

So finally getting around to making some decisions about what I'll plant this year and started comparing seed packets to my inventory list and discovered two bean varieties were missing. So several hours later and I've found one of the packets with some flower seeds I intended to plant last...

She had so much fun helping me sort the beans you sent last year and we're planning to grow quite a few of them this year.

We had a few warm days and lots of garden prep going on. Still working on the new/updated bean trellis in my head and trying to determine the best way to implement it. Have moved two small beds in the area and still have one to go. Haven't really decided what will be planted where except that...

My daughter just turned 11 and loves playing with and sorting beans. This will be the first year in which she'll have her very own bed and a few bean varieties to grow. I've always been careful not to force gardening upon her, but let her develop an interest on her own as I did as a child...

I've been optimistically holding off on requesting any Network beans for 2026 but it's likely I'll just concentrate on the varieties that didn't produce well enough to return seed this season. I also had a few varieties shared by friends on this forum that I wasn't able to plant last year and...

@Heliena, I grew the Cave bean twice and had a good harvest one year and was fighting the frost the second. My growing season is a few weeks longer than yours. I was amazed at how vigorous the vines were as they climbed to the top of the 8' trellis and spilled over the side. Have you ever...

Welcome @Heliena! Last year was my first year participating and this is a great and knowledgeable group of bean enthusiasts.