The “beans” (Phaseolus vulgaris and P. coccineus): A family legacy. Biocultural diversity of “beans” from Covunco Abajo, Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina | Los “porotos” (Phaseolus vulgaris y P. coccineus): Un legado familiar. Diversidad biocultural de “porotos” de Covunco Abajo, Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina

English. In the locality of Covunco Abajo, Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina, a group of women came together following workshops conducted by the INTA Rural Extension Agency to address aspects related to their productive systems. During the workshops, they observed that all participants had a great diversity of local seeds, mainly “beans”; nine varieties of beans belonging to two species, Phaseolus vulgaris and P. coccineus, were identified. These varieties were mainly acquired through family heritage or exchange, and their use included culinary, ornamental, commercial, and emotional purposes. We adopted the framework of biocultural diversity, from an ethnobiological perspective, to analyze and document the connection between “beans” and the women of Covunco Abajo. A total of nine households with seed homes were recorded, involving 13 people who participated at different times. Through workshops, discussions, shared mate, and interviews, we uncovered the stories behind the “beans” of Covunco, their diversity, and the knowledge and practices associated with seed cultivation and conservation. In the locality of Covunco Abajo, Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina, a group of women came together following workshops conducted by the INTA Rural Extension Agency to address aspects related to their productive systems. During the workshops, they observed that all participants had a great diversity of local seeds, mainly “beans”; nine varieties of beans belonging to two species, Phaseolus vulgaris and P. coccineus, were identified. These varieties were mainly acquired through family heritage or exchange, and their use included culinary, ornamental, commercial, and emotional purposes. We adopted the framework of biocultural diversity, from an ethnobiological perspective, to analyze and document the connection between “beans” and the women of Covunco Abajo. A total of nine households with seed homes were recorded, involving 13 people who participated at different times. Through workshops, discussions, shared mate, and interviews, we uncovered the stories behind the “beans” of Covunco, their diversity, and the knowledge and practices associated with seed cultivation and conservation.

Spanish; Castilian. En la localidad de Covunco Abajo, Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina, un grupo de mujeres se juntaron, a raíz de talleres realizados por la Agencia de Extensión Rural de INTA, para tratar temáticas vinculadas a sus sistemas productivos. En los talleres observaron que todas tenían gran diversidad de semillas locales, principalmente “porotos”; nueve variedades de porotos, pertenecientes a dos especies Phaseolus vulgaris y P. coccineus. Estas variedades las obtuvieron principalmente por herencia familiar o por intercambio y su utilización es de índole alimenticio, ornamental, comercial y también afectivo. Nos basamos en el marco de la diversidad biocultural, desde la perspectiva de la etnobiología, para analizar y documentar el vínculo entre los “porotos” y las mujeres de Covunco Abajo. Se registró un total de nueve unidades domésticas con casas de semillas, sobre un total de 13 personas que participaron en distintos momentos. Entre talleres, charlas, mates y entrevistas fuimos descubriendo la historia detrás de los “porotos” de Covunco, la diversidad presente, los conocimientos y prácticas asociadas al cultivo y a la conservación de las semillas.