Broad (fava) beans 2012

We have had hectic rain in the past week - a total of 180mm (+/- 7 inches) to be precise.  But, all that prolonged overcast, wet weather put a serious dint in our solar power storage.  Luxuries like blogging fell by the wayside, as power for the fridge and lights took preference. 

Before the wet weather set in I had managed to harvest the last of our broad beans for 2012.

In anticipation of the hectic windy conditions I had them growing in all sorts of places - like next to conifers.  That actually worked well... :)

Broad beans being supported by
a conifer

...and made finding and harvesting them much easier than if they were all sprawled on the ground...

They climbed up inside the conifers
branches, and made the harvesting
of the beans much easier LOL

... but the predictable wind still managed to get it's way some of the time...

The wind managed to have it's way with this lot though

Between the nasty giant yellow slugs and the field mice, the tithe was willingly given.

Mice and slug holes - ah well, guess that's the
tithe taken care of.

But, can anyone tell me what is wrong with these beans?  Those black spots bother me.  Not enough to stop me from eating the  contents of these pods.  But, enough to want to find out what is wrong with some of my broad beans.

Broad bean infection?

Last year I froze a whole bunch of my broad bean harvest, but, for some reason they "turned" in the freezer.  So badly that our friend, and GP, Dr A, said that "if that's what I'm raving about, I can keep them.  If he never tastes another one in his lifetime, that's fine by him"...  So this year I took a leaf out of Mr H's book and I left beans to dry in what sun there was.  Be warned though.  If you choose this method of drying your broad beans, they turn a mucky shade of brown.  Mr H assures me that they are still delicious though... :)

Sun dried broad beans

I roped MKid in to help with the harvesting and shelling.

A small portion of our broad bean harvest this year

Bless him, he told me that picking his own peas and beans, and shelling them is his most favourite past time ever...!  Anyone want the services of a willing worker, who is excellent at what he does, and all he wants in return is a cooldrink to quench the thirst, and an ice cream to cool down the hot, busy fingers?

MKid was such a help - and he loved the chore :)

But, there was an unexpected bonus this year.  RMan doesn't like the "extra" shell on the cooked beans, so I stood there patiently peeling them off after I had cooked them.  I accidentally pushed a couple of the empty shells with my elbow and they landed on the floor.  Scallywag pouched on them!

Scallywag - picking out the broad bean shells in
preference to the proper dog food.

It turns out that dogs l-o-v-e broad beans - even the empty shells!  Go figure :)

At least I don't have to add the cooked shells to my compost heap anymore - I always hesitate throwing something cooked into the compost - now I don't need to.