Green Beans November
A String of Green Bean History
• The common bean was
cultivated in ancient
Mesoamerica as early as
8,000 years ago?
• Beans were even found in a
“mummy covering” of a
woman in a Peruvian
cemetery dating back to preInca civilization.
The Three Sisters
• Native Americans figured out that if they
planted beans, corn and squash together,
the plants did better than growing alone.
• Corn is the oldest sister. She
stands tall in the center.
• Squash is the next sister. She
grows over the mound. With her
leaves, she protects her sisters
from weeds and shades the soil
from the sun keeping it cool and
moist.
• Beans are the third sister. She
climbs through squash and then up
corn to bind all together as she
reaches for the sun.
Home Grown Facts
• California is third in production of
green beans in the United States.
• Tulare, Orange and San Luis
Obispo Counties are a few of the
largest bean producing counties in
California.
www.anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/7240.pdf
Beans are Special
• Plants need nitrogen to grow. Nitrogen is
found in the air we breath but very little can
be found in soil. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/Crops
• Beans are nitrogen fixers. This means they
can take nitrogen from the air and return it
to the soil to be used by plants.
• Because of this, farmers often plant beans
in the their crop rotations to replenish the
soil.
How beans or legumes give
plants nitrogen
What is a Legume?
• A type of plant, like a pea or bean
plant, with seeds that grow in long
pods or cases.
• The seeds can be eaten as food.
What’s in a Name ?
• There are two main categories of fresh beansedible pod beans and shell beans.
• The colors and shapes vary tremendously.
There are more than 200 species of beans.
• The pod color of green beans can be green,
golden, purple, red or streaked, but the beans
inside the pod are always green.
It’s a Snap!
• Green beans are called edible pod beans.
• Edible means you can eat the pod.
• Have you ever heard them called ‘string
beans’? Originally, a tough string ran
along the seam of the bean pod. You
could see the string when snapping off
the end of the pod.
• The snapping noise is the reason for its
other common nickname, ‘snap beans’.
Some beans grow on a bush and
are called bush beans. Some
grow on a pole and are called pole
beans.
Reasons to Eat Green Beans
• Compared to dry or shell
beans, green beans
provide less starch and
protein and more vitamin
A, vitamin C and
calcium.
Besides eating some green
beans this month…..
• Don’t forget to get
plenty of exercise.
• Play tag, learn yoga,
take a hike.
Test Your Knowledge
1. The common bean was cultivated in
Mesoamerica how many years ago?
8,000 years ago
2. What are the Three Sisters?
Corn, beans and squash
3. What are the two main categories of fresh
beans?
Edible pod and shell
• Beans put nitrogen back into the soil. T or F
True
For CalFresh information, call 1-877-847-3663. Funded by USDA SNAP, an
equal opportunity provider and employer. Visit www.cachampionsforchange.net
for healthy tips. •California Department of Public Health