One Seed, One Community aims to strengthen our community by providing a shared experience in growing nutritious food and saving seeds. We are growing the Cherokee Trail of Tears bean with love and kindness to nurture a community of belonging, respect, and care for one another. We will gather in fall to mix the beans, share stories, connect, and celebrate.

An introductory workshop to meet fellow seed savers and learn how to plant, grow, and harvest the beans will take place on Wednesday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library's Community Room. Seeds provided from Seed Savers Exchange.

Seed Savers Exchange notes: Also known as Cherokee Black, this variety is good as both a snap and a dry bean; when mature, the greenish-purple 6” pods encase shiny jet-black seeds. This bean was shared with Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche of Hugo, Oklahoma. His Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves.

Pole habit, snap or dry, 85 days. Direct seed 2-4" apart. Plant in full sun. Trellis, tepee, or fencing--beans climb 6-8'.

We warmly welcome your participation.

One Seed One Seed One Community was designed by Hillie Salo of Silicon Valley Grows, Silicon Valley, CA. This “One Seed One Community” has been one of their local projects for 4 years. This is the first year seed libraries across California are joining together to participate in One Seed, One Community by growing the Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean.