I have some lemon balm seeds if you would like to trade for artichoke seeds. Let me know . Deb DementedDeb1@aol.com

My Grandmother used to make what she called "pickled beans". She would prepare jars like you would for canning anything else. Then she blanched the beans, packed the hot beans into hot jars and filled them with hot water leaving about an inch of headspace. Then she would pour 1 tablespoon of salt right into each jar and loosely put on the lids. She did not process them but she would put them in a shallow cardboard box lined with newspaper and store them under the sink or in the cellar. She said to wait until they "worked off". After a while they would ferment and overflow the jar a little. She would then take the jars, clean them up and process them. She would just use a water bath canner for this. I guess all the salt killed the bugs and there was no need to process them in the pressure canner. These beans had a wonderfully sharp, sour flavor. Sometimes she would mix the beans with a little white corn, cut off the cob.

I received a surprise today from Chris (grolikecrazy)! Thank you. :) The plain letter envelope had holes in it- looks like it was damaged in transit. There was no bubble wrap or other padding inside of it to cushion the seeds. Seeds sent to me with no bubbles almost always do get destroyed like this, because the PO runs mail through some hard metal rollers unless it's in a bubble mailer marked FRAGILE in big red letters. :( The Dianthus barbatus seeds were about 75% destroyed and the Red Noodle Yard Long Bean seeds were completely dust. Thank you grolikecrazy, for kindly sending to me. I can still sow the few Dianthus seeds that made it, and hopefully get some plants! Excited about that. :) I'm sorry this happened, Chris. You were so kind to send seeds to me. I'm very glad you were thinking of me, and some of the Dianthus seeds do appear to be usable. It made my day to receive this, even if it is just a few seeds. : ) Thanks, Grovespirit Wondering why the surprises I mailed out haven't shown up here yet. I do hope they didn't get lost in the mail.

jonsgirl - My hubby isn't a bean lover either, but WILL eat Bean Burgers. I bake up a bunch and freeze them for a good vegetarian meal. As long as I butter and toast the homemade multi-grain bun and he can load it with grilled onions, he's happy!!! -Grainlady BEAN BURGERS (source: Eat More, Weigh Less - by Dr. Dean Ornish 1/2 c. minced green onions (I also use chopped fresh chives) 1-1/2 T. minced garlic 2 T. white wine or vegetable stock 1 29-ounce can cooked drained pinto beans 3/4 c. cracker meal 2 egg whites (I use one whole egg.) 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley 2 T. seasoned rice vinegar 1/2 t. SPIKE seasoning powder (I get this at our local health food store) Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small nonstick saute pan, braise the onions and garlic in the white wine until soft. In a medium bowl, combine the sauteed onions and garlic, beans, cracker meal, egg whites, parsley, vinegar, and seasoning powder. Mash well with a fork or potato masher until blended but not entirely smoowh. On parchment-lined nonstick baking sheet, drop the mixture by 1/2-cup amounts and flatten gently with a spoon to form six 5-inch "burgers." Bake for 25 minutes, or until set and beginning to brown lightly. Serve hot. Note: I make smaller "burgers". Don't like super-sized food and 5" burgers, even made with beans, is just way too big!