Every year I save a few large mature bean pods and allow them to dry so I can thresh out the seed and save it for use next year to plant in my garden. I plant a green pole bean and a bush yellow bean so I keep the seed separated. Beans will not cross-pollinate  so they can be planted next to one another. They also are non-hybrid, thus I can save the seed, provided I keep the weevil out.

I keep the seed beans in labeled and dated envelopes and store with my other seeds for use next year. Any extra beans are mixed together (in a paper bag) and kept in the kitchen to be used to make bean soup! This year the extra was about 1 pound of beans.