Why aren’t there many posts about growing our own LDopa source: MP, in the Fava or “Velvet” Bean? Aunt Bean @Fava-1 seems to have it down pat; even writes a blog under Parkinson’s Recovery for farming and her experience.
Many buy powdered MP from other countries/suppliers but I wonder who else is growing their own (as I am learning to do it as well).
Climate is right in NC. Aunt Bean @Fava-1 grows in TN. Any others?
I've started growing some fava beans now, but it's my first attempt. They bloom in the winter and you can grow them as cold as in the southern U.S. and southern Europe. It might be possible to grow them in colder areas if the summers aren't to hot. You can find webpages on how to grow them. I started with green beans out of the pods, but buying the seed ready to plant is supposed to be more reliable. They need above 60F to sprout.
@pvw2 Great!
So, What is your plan for consumption/ medical titration from C/L Dopa, for example?
Eat beans and leaves green. They won't produce beans in summer, but will produce leaves.
Hi,
are you sure that you will reap the benefit by eating the beans and leaves green without extracting and titrating the Levodopa for the exact required dose?
None of my PD medications have Levodopa and Carbidopa (L/C). For those on L/C medication Fava beans could cause them to overdose. I only plan on eating small quantities and monitor the effect. Note the beans and leaves have other nutrients. I'm not substituting them for PD medications as necessary for some who can't afford buying medications.
The plants are struggling in the heat right now. Not sure if I can keep them alive through the summer, but I saved beans to plant in the Fall. I did plant them under an oak tree, so that they had full sun in the winter and partial sun in the summer. The plants had no trouble at 20F (-7C).
The vegetable garden is on the "to do” list. Maybe next year. Meantime I harvest from the bio supermarket shelves
We need GREAT soil. Now, how to get chemical free...
Growing Mucuna Pruriens should be easy...literally a walk in the park 
It is an extremely sturdy and hard living plant / shrub and requires no upkeep. Grows anwhere. So, available in most parts of the world, notably in Africa and Asia.
Therefore, my guess is that it should grow in the Americas or Europe.
We bought some of the beans, but never followed through. They're still in the package. We buy our mucuna from Barlowe's herbs.
Has anyone had success making a good fava bean tincture? My first crop of fava are forming buds now and I am trying to decide when to pick them. I have read all of Aunt Bean's posts and "book" so I am ready to give it a go but would love to know if others have had success in making a good tincture.
I think it’s all too complicated (growing, harvesting) and unpredictable ( standardization). I’m probably going to “fold” on this idea.
I picked the buds from the dozen plants I grew in my greenhouse and have them in a jar of Everclear. Once I picked the buds the plants did not regrow more buds so yield is very low. I have more fava plants growing outside now so I should have more buds in a few weeks (unless the polar vortex kills them tomorrow) but the yield hardly seems worth it. Too bad because I really liked the idea of a tincture that will take effect in a shorter time than the 40 minutes it takes for Mucuna Puriens or Sinemet.
Greenhouse! 🍀
Mucuna Pruriens and B1 capsules 
Mucuna Pruriens 
Mucuna Pruriens (MP) vs Sinemet
mucuna pruriens 
Simon and Mucuna Pruriens
