Cooking beans in the ground may have originated with the New England Native American tribes. The method was then used by marching regiments as they arrived at their destination and the cook had arrived early in the day to prepare the beans buried in holes with hot rocks, so that troops could be fed immediately. The tradition continued into peace time with Grange suppers, Old Home Day suppers and church suppers throughout New England. Today, few of these public suppers continue the tradition of cooking their beans in bean holes.  On Saturday, October 21, First United Methodist Church of Gilford continues its long tradition of over 50 years serving the best bean-hole beans in the region as part of its Harvest Supper.

On the Friday before the dinner, the beans are par-boiled, placed in huge iron pots with maple syrup, salt pork and spices. In the late afternoon the two large iron pots are moved to the holes lined with red hot stones where the holes have been prepared by keeping a wood fire burning in the hole the entire day. After covering the holes, the pots are left in the ground for 24 hours; Saturday afternoon the pots are uncovered and lifted out and moved to the dining hall so beans can be scooped into dishes for serving. Folks return year after year to get their favorite--either dark red kidney beans or yellow-eye beans--both cooked with maple syrup from a local farm in Gilford. Besides the two kinds of beans, diners are served all-you-can-eat corned beef, cabbage, boiled potatoes, carrots, home-made rolls and apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. Tickets for both the 5:00 setting and the 6:30 setting are available and cost $16 for adults and $8 for children under 12.

If you would like to see the beans uncovered, lifted from their holes and carried into the church, you are welcome to come to the back parking lot at 4:30 on Saturday the 21st. First United Methodist Church (Hope Ministries) is located at 18 Wesley Way (off Rt. 11A near the 3/11 bypass) in Gilford.

Call the church office at (603) 524-3289 for information and to make reservations for the dinner. Tickets sell out quickly so call early. If leaving a message, please leave your name, number of tickets and time of the setting you want.