I'm starting 4 kinds of beans right now, but waiting till late August to start the peas. Also recently started a second crop of summer squash and some quick maturing acorn squash. Started broccoli as well to begin harvest in late October. So go ahead on the beans (as long as they are the quick, snap type) but you want to hold off a little longer on most cool-season stuff.

Any suggestions on the best beans to do?

I'll have a 4x8 section and I'll want to leave some for the peas. I might plant a few carrots as well.

I want to do direct seed in the ground so I'm guessing 3-4 seeds per slot?

What do you mean by "per slot?" Most beans are spaced 4-6" apart, I would not put more than two seeds per 4-6". The Square Foot Garden books have good planting guides for maximum yield in a 4' wide planting bed.

well, for bush beans it says you can put 9 plants in a 12x12 section. When I said per slot, I meant per hole made for the seeds. I planted 12 12x12 sections of my 4x8 bed yesterday with carrots and beans. I generally only put 1 seed per hole until the end where I had more seed and put as much as 3 per hole. I know that's probably not best but I guess it's overkill if some don't germinate. I may be cutting off one of them if it's too crowded. I'm still a beginner and learning so I'm obviously going to make some dumb mistakes. I hope putting 3-4 seeds per hole on the last few squares wasn't a terrible idea. I'm going to wait a week or 2 and plant a few more squares of beans and then I'll finish out the rest with peas in late August.