bear in the buckwheat

[nitrosteamer]

What does bear in the buckwheat mean?

[mikewith]

The only occurances of that phrase in Google are the link to your question (!) and to sites listing a Cape Breton folk tune of the same name. The music of Canada's maritime provinces is largely of Gaelic origin. So the song - and expression - are likely to come from either Cape Breton or Scotland. Sorry this doesn't actually answer your question but it might put you in the right direction!