{"title":"Rematriated Indigenous Varieties","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTo honor and support the work of generations of indigenous North American seed keepers and plant breeders, a portion of sales from these seeds will be shared with indigenous seed sovereignty projects. More details soon.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"purple-kingsessing-bean","title":"Purple Kingsessing Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eAlso known as Lenape Blue Bread Beans, these dry beans have a delicious meaty flavor and are used for stews and baking into bread. Six foot vines yield an abundance of purple pods filled with dark purple seeds, with a fair amount of tannish brown off-types. If saving seed for replanting, consider sowing only the purple seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam Woys Weaver was entrusted with these beans when the seed keeper who cared for them in Oklahoma passed away. Many Lenape people now reside in Northern Oklahoma because the U.S. government forced them there in the 1860s. The seed has been brought back to its original land. Kingsessing is derived from the Lenape word \"Chingsessing,\" meaning “a place where there is a meadow.” Originally, this was the name for the land between the Schuylkill River and Cobbs Creek, in what is now West and Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These seeds were grown once again in Kingsessing for Truelove Seeds by staff at the historic Bartram's Garden. If you are Lenape, please reach out so we can rematriate these seeds to you free of charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70-95\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 96% on 11\/04\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every four to six inches. Provide a sturdy trellis as the vines can grow six to eight feet tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of \u003cem\u003eP. vulgaris\u003c\/em\u003e by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":753978245133,"sku":"BN-003","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/tumblr_nxvjndSY1E1se7haqo1_1280.jpg?v=1571609431"},{"product_id":"potawatomi-pole-lima-bean","title":"Potawatomi Pole Lima Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003ePotawatomi Pole Lima is from the Potawatomi Nation in Wisconsin, and so it does very well in cooler climates. This gorgeous and highly-productive bean is great for shelling or dried. Try cooking with corn and onions in succotash (a traditional Wampanoag and Mohegan recipe from New England) or stewed as a Southern-style butter bean. The plants have tall 8-10' vines that are truly loaded with pods and resistant to pests and diseases. This seed comes from William Woys Weaver, who received them from Andrew Bucienski of the Potawatomi Nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 97% on 12\/23\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart (or on either side of a trellis). Thin to one plant every four to six inches. Provide a sturdy trellis as the vines can grow eight to ten feet tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLima beans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of \u003cem\u003eP. lunatus\u003c\/em\u003e by at least 150 feet to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":754507546637,"sku":"BN-005","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/tumblr_oc4nrizJdQ1se7haqo1_1280.jpg?v=1650046347"},{"product_id":"sehsapsing-blue-flint-corn","title":"Sehsapsing (Oklahoma Delaware Blue) Flint Corn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eSehsapsing or Oklahoma Delaware Blue Flint Corn are breathtaking 7-inch cobs containing 8 rows of blue-black kernels that can be ground for flour, grits, and a traditional cornmeal mush called sapan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis corn is also known as Sèhsapsink, Lenape Blue Corn, and Oklahoma Delaware Black Flint and is an important variety to the Lenape people, whose original homeland covers what is now New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New York, and Northern Delaware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam Woys Weaver received seeds of this variety in the 1970s from both Gladys Tantaquidgeon (Mohegan medicine woman and ethnographer) and Walton Galinat (a Connecticut Yankee who specialized in native corn). The USDA received seeds of this variety in 1985 from Charles Dean, the husband of Nora Thompson Dean, an Unami Delaware\/Lenape herbalist who dedicated her life to preserving the culture and traditions of her tribe. This variety was brought west to Oklahoma by her maternal line. Her mother was Sarah Wilson Thompson. Many Lenape people moved west over hundreds of years, continually pushed onward by white settlers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are Lenape, please reach out so we can rematriate these seeds to you free of charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 97% on 04\/29\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn requires warm soil to germinate. Wait a week or two after the last frost and sow seeds directly in the ground. Plant in rows 2-3' apart. For good pollination, it is better to plant at least 3-5 shorter rows next to each other rather than one or two long rows. Sow 1\" deep and thin to every 6-12\" within the row. Keep soil moist until germination. Consider planting successions every few weeks for continual harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn is wind pollinated and should be isolated by 2-3 miles from other varieties of corn to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. Another option is to separate your corn plantings by 3-4 weeks so they do not flower\/tassel at the same time. Allow the cobs and kernels to dry on the plants before harvesting for seed. If you are concerned about neighbor's corn plots hybridizing yours, consider only harvesting seed from the plants towards the middle of your plot, leaving the outer rows for eating. If necessary, lay out the cobs to do some final drying before removing the husks and seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899367501837,"sku":"ZEA-001","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Sehsapsing_1.JPG?v=1571609432"},{"product_id":"blue-shackamaxon-bean","title":"Blue Shackamaxon Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eStriking deep purple dry beans. According to William Woys Weaver in his recently re-released Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, Blue Shackamaxon Pole Bean is named for a Lenape meeting and fishing place along the Delaware river, which is now known as the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods of Philadelphia. It is said to be a pre-1800 Lenape pole bean that was preserved by Quaker farmers in the area - and is said to have been cooked in black mush - a polenta made with blue or black cornmeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo honor and support the work of generations of indigenous North American seed keepers and plant breeders, a portion of sales from this seed will be shared with indigenous seed sovereignty projects. More details soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 35\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 93% on 12\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every six inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. vulgaris by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21395525042256,"sku":"BN-013","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Blue_Shackamaxon_Bean.jpg?v=1571609438"},{"product_id":"hannah-freeman-bean","title":"Hannah Freeman Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis pole bean has long pods that can be eaten young and tender as a snap bean and beautiful patterned seeds that can be cooked in the shelly or dry stages. It thrives growing next to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/products\/puhwem-corn?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=bdc1925eb\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003ePuwhem Corn\u003c\/a\u003e and climbs it as if enthusiastically greeting an old friend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHannah Freeman (1730-1802) was a Lenni-Lenape woman who made baskets, worked seasonally in agriculture, traditional healing, and childcare, and travelled the Brandywine River Valley by foot where she lived primarily among European settlers. She was known as Indian Hannah and then after her death as the \"last Delaware Indian of Chester County, Pennsylvania.\" While most of her tribe fled westward, her family stayed behind, and into her old age she was a daily reminder to the Quakers who occupied her ancestral lands that the land was not truly theirs. William Penn promised that as long as Lenape people lived by the Brandywine River, he would not claim their land. Despite this, colonists divided the land and \"pitied\" Hannah, providing for her until her death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis seed, known more widely as Indian Hannah Bean, was grown and preserved by H. Ralph Weaver (1896-1956), who received them from the Webb family of Northbrook in Chester County. Weaver's grandson, William Woys Weaver, has preserved this variety (along with thousands of culturally important heirlooms) and he explains that the Webbs 'owned' the land on which Freeman spent the final days of her life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are Lenape and would like to grow these and other Lenape varieties, please send us a message. We would be grateful to send some back to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 99% on 06\/26\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every six inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. vulgaris by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecker, Marshall J. \"Legends about Hannah Freeman ('Indian Hannah'): Squaring the Written Accounts with the Oral Traditions.\" Keystone Folklore 4, no. 2 (1992): 1–14. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=t7TYAAAAMAAJ\u0026amp;pg=PA12\u0026amp;lpg=PA12\u0026amp;dq=webbs+northbrook+chester+county\u0026amp;source=bl\u0026amp;ots=JY5Rzle1Bt\u0026amp;sig=ACfU3U38Wdw5cHrHnYdNS0DjunJ9opOsqA\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;sa=X\u0026amp;ved=2ahUKEwiYsYms673mAhVFm-AKHcMfBz04ChDoATABegQICxAB#v=onepage\u0026amp;q=bean\u0026amp;f=false\"\u003eWebsite.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarsh, Dawn G. \u003cem\u003eA Lenape among the Quakers: The Life of Hannah Freeman.\u003c\/em\u003e Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2014. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.unl.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1259\u0026amp;context=unpresssamples\"\u003eWebsite.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeaver, William Woys. \u003cem\u003eHeirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History\u003c\/em\u003e. New Edition. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press, 2018. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/williamwoysweaver.com\/books\/\"\u003eAuthor website.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31442002542727,"sku":"BN-015","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/indian_hannah_bean.jpg?v=1576630233"},{"product_id":"puhwem-corn","title":"Puhwem Corn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eLenape flour corn for corn bread and dumplings. 10-foot tall plants produce 2 cobs each.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePuhwem Corn was stewarded by Nora Thomson Dean (Touching Leaves Woman) and her family in the Lenape\/Delaware community in \"Indian Territory,\" Oklahoma. Born in 1907, she spent the later half of her life preserving and documenting the knowledge and traditions of Lenape people. This particular variety is used for making bread, as you can see in the fourth photo, an excerpt from the 1971 article \"Delaware Ethnobotany\" by George A Hill Jr. in which he interviewed Nora Dean and other Lenape elders. Nora was working on her own cookbook, which was published after her death, called \"Lenape Indian Cooking,\" and it includes many traditional and modern corn preparations and recipes. Gladys Tantaquidgeon, Mohegan anthropologist and medicine woman, wrote \"Folk Medicine of the Delaware and Related Algonquin Indians.\" In her section on corn, she describes a world of rituals connected to the Spirit of Mother Corn as well as ceremonial diets and the medicines of corn, of which only vestiges remain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA couple interesting tidbits:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"The different varieties of maize are not planted near one another because, it is said, 'One will visit the other and forget to come back.'\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"When corn matures one must share the first gathering with a less fortunate tribesman or with some old person…In order that people may continue to receive the blessings of the Creator, every man is obliged to share his first fruits and game with others before partaking of them himself.\" This second point exactly echoes what my Karen farmer friends from Myanmar tell me about their custom of feeding their elders with their first harvests in order to receive blessings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got our Puhwem seed from the USDA seed bank. Also check out Sehsapsing Blue Corn, another Dean-family Lenape variety. If you are Lenape, please reach out so we can rematriate these seeds to you free of charge. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known as Oklahoma Delaware White Corn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 110\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 98% on 04\/29\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn requires warm soil to germinate. Wait a week or two after the last frost and sow seeds directly in the ground. Plant in rows 2-3' apart. For good pollination, it is better to plant at least 3-5 shorter rows next to each other rather than one or two long rows. Sow 1\" deep and thin to every 6-12\" within the row. Keep soil moist until germination. Consider planting successions every few weeks for continual harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorn is wind pollinated and should be isolated by 2-3 miles from other varieties of corn to avoid unwanted cross-pollination. Another option is to separate your corn plantings by 3-4 weeks so they do not flower\/tassel at the same time. Allow the cobs and kernels to dry on the plants before harvesting for seed. If you are concerned about neighbor's corn plots hybridizing yours, consider only harvesting seed from the plants towards the middle of your plot, leaving the outer rows for eating. If necessary, lay out the cobs to do some final drying before removing the husks and seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31727381250183,"sku":"ZEA-009","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Puhwem_1.jpg?v=1578277921"},{"product_id":"skunk-bean","title":"Skunk Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003eBlack and white speckled dry beans from the Haudenosaunee and Abenaki nations of North Eastern North America. These tall, vigorous vines produce abundant beans in just 90 days. This variety is sometimes called Flagg or Chester for their more recent caretakers, but are more widely known as Skunk, which is Aní:tas in the Mohawk and Oneida languages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 97% on 12\/03\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every six inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. vulgaris by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soul Fire Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42188217057518,"sku":"BN-021","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/SkunkBean1_ed.jpg?v=1639436167"}],"url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/rematriated-indigenous-varieties.oembed","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}