[deepinthewoods]

how do you adequately dry these for saving for next year, ive got one mutant plant that has produced some seriously longpodage. is there a proper way to dry them?

[Fleecewife]

If you don't have a mouse problem you can let them dry on the plant until just before the pods pop.  Then pick the pods and let them finish drying somewhere dry indoors.  Once totally dry, take out the beans from the pods - they should be dark brown, hard and slightly crinkled, in fact just as they look when you buy seed.  Store them in a paper envelope, again where the mice can't get at them and it's not damp.
Broad beans are the easiest seeds to save.  Make sure the ones you pick are the best/biggest/disease free and no wormy holes in.

[deepinthewoods]

ok thanks fw.
the crop is coming to an end, could i cut the plant and hang the whole lot up to dry? in the shed as the sun has decided not to work this summer.

[Fleecewife]

That would work.  Maybe take off most of the leaves first, so that would not slow down the pods drying.  Also, hang them over something to catch any beans which drop out.
 
btw I modified what I wrote the first time, whilst you were replying    (I always do that - must be indecisive  )

[northfifeduckling]

I tend to keep the biggest and best looking beans from each pod for next year. I just dry them on a tray on a low radiator, then put them away.