After being on the waitlist for over a year, I finally received the invitation email to join the Rancho Gordo Bean Club. As a club member, I receive a quarterly shipment of 6 bags of heirloom beans, an additional goodie, and a newsletter from the heirloom bean grower for $50. I excitedly waited for my first shipment which I received in early September — perfectly timed for the hearty stews and roasts I have queued up for this autumn.

Items received in my first box:

• Buckeye Bean: Small heirloom with an addictive creaminess not found in ordinary legumes.
• Flageolet Bean: Super mild European-style classic heirloom beans that is delicate yet firm when cooked.
• French-Style Green Lentil: Small, meaty green lentils. West Coast-grown for our own unique terroir.
• Marcella Bean: Delicate and creamy cannellini bean with the thinnest of skins.
• Mayan Red Bean: Part of the Rancho Gordo-Xoxoc Project — These rare beans are the result of two companies working together to help small family farmers in Mexico continue to grow their indigenous beans, despite international trade policies that seem to discourage genetic diversity and local food traditions.
• Royal Corona Bean: Big fat super runner bean that’s creamy and buttery like no other.
• Stardust Dipping Powder: An addictive chile-lime mix for dusting fresh fruit, popcorn and even the rims of cocktail glasses.

I plan on updating this post with bean reviews + potential recipes as I cook my quarterly beans.