Lewis Jett, an associate professor of horticulture at West Virginia University, believes there’s an untapped market for heritage beans, mountain beans with a deep connection to Central Appalachia, beans that might give a bit of a boost to the local economy and provide a tastier and more nutritious alternative to the prevalent commercial “green beans.” It’s a difficult equation to solve.

Edrick Marrero, a University of Puerto Rico horticulture extension agent, is helping develop a Master Gardener program on the island.

The tropical milkweed in my garden are plants grown from starts provided at giveaway at a farmers market in Washington, D.C. in May 2017. (See, Catering To Monarchs In DuPont Circle)