2025 Little Easy Bean Network - Growers Of The Future Will Be Glad We Saved

[Oxford]

Chriesistei ~ pole
In researching this variety I realized it's translated name is 'Cherry Pit'. I don't usually translate names but this one is so cute I may go with Cherry Pit instead. It has quite an interesting history really (from Google AI):

"The 'Chriesistei' pole bean is a rare, traditional Swiss heirloom variety from the Canton of Aargau, known for its distinct, cherry-colored seeds. The name translates to "cherry stone" in Swiss German. The bean is a traditional variety specific to the Aargau region of Switzerland, with different local strains. The Swiss organization ProSpecieRara (which focuses on preserving rare and endangered heritage plants and animals) currently logs four varieties of the Chriesistei bean in its database: Chriesi-Stei, Chriesistei Boniswil, Chriesistei Dintikon, and Chriesistei Reinach."

@heirloomgal, just saw this.
Fun fact: this explanation comes originally from me, sent to a Canadian bean preserver. And I am an official bean preserver of Chriesistei Dintikon for Prospecierara. I have also an other "Chriesistei" bean not listed there. And of course, I am living in the Aargau region

 

[Oxford]

Schöne von Richigen ~ pole
Such a pretty name - 'Beautiful Ones from Richigen'.
View attachment 78922View attachment 78923

@heirloomgal
The story to this Swiss bean: this bean was found in a chest in a farm house in the Emmental region in the 1940s after a severe hailstorm had destroyed all bean plants, and when people were searching for any remaining bean seeds. A foster daughter had brought them years earlier from Richigen (close to Bern).

 

[Artorius]

great! thank you!

it was supposed to be a surprise for him but this is now ok too, i'm just glad to have a chance to share them. if you'd like some of them for yourself take a few out because i have plenty and can send more next year.

I categorically declare that I have not read it

 

[Blue-Jay]

it was supposed to be a surprise for him but this is now ok too

Ohhhh flowerbug I'm so very sorry I ruined your surprise. Sometimes it helps if you include little reminder notes in your package. I have so many things going and I forget stuff really easy sometimes.

 

[flowerbug]

Ohhhh flowerbug I'm so very sorry I ruined your surprise. Sometimes it helps if you include little reminder notes in your package. I have so many things going and I forget stuff really easy sometimes.

haha, it's all ok, no harm done.

 

[P Suckling]

Heirloomgal wrote "
Chriesistei ~ pole
In researching this variety I realized it's translated name is 'Cherry Pit'. I don't usually translate names but this one is so cute I may go with Cherry Pit instead. It has quite an interesting history really (from Google AI):

"The 'Chriesistei' pole bean is a rare, traditional Swiss heirloom variety from the Canton of Aargau, known for its distinct, cherry-colored seeds. The name translates to "cherry stone" in Swiss German. The bean is a traditional variety specific to the Aargau region of Switzerland, with different local strains. The Swiss organization ProSpecieRara (which focuses on preserving rare and endangered heritage plants and animals) currently logs four varieties of the Chriesistei bean in its database: Chriesi-Stei, Chriesistei Boniswil, Chriesistei Dintikon, and Chriesistei Reinach."

Please don't go with the name Cherry Pit, Heirloomgal. You would be stripping this very traditional Swiss bean off its heritage. Call it what you will for yourself, but do not pass seeds on to anybody else without its full name. Granted, the name Chriesistei is a mouthful and pronounced with a Swiss accent even more so. But, and this is important, there are several other different beans called Kirschkern, Cherry stone etc, we really need the full name to distinguish this one from all the other quite similar but not identical 'cherry pit' beans. Like Pro Specie Rara themselves are doing. There is so much confusion with translated names already (among them tomato Bonny Best, aka Bonner Beste - or is it actually even the same tomato?), please do not add to this confusion.