{"title":"Beans \u0026 Peas","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"austrian-winter-pea","title":"Austrian Winter Pea","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a great cover crop to use in our cooler months that will help build organic matter and provide nitrogen into the soil. Similar to English peas grown for food but this does not climb and the peas are edible but not early as good. This is grown to produce thick biomass. We use this in the winter months when we do not want to plant other food\/cash\/seed crops and cut it back and turn into the soil early spring. Do not wait too long because although they are pretty, when temperatures start warming in the spring, they can become infested with aphids.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304241123517,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/winterpea2.jpg?v=1777210311"},{"product_id":"bettersnap-cowpea-bush","title":"Bettersnap Cowpea (bush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn excellent cowpea for soil building, summer cover crops and eating! Very productive and tasty!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike snap peas or snap beans, the young pods can be eaten! Very long pods with 1-3 pods\/cluster, are held up high above the plant making them easy to pick. Filled with small white seeds. Resistant to root knot nematodes and many other Southern afflictions like bean mosaic virus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis variety was released in 1995 by Richard L. Fery and Philip D. Dukes of the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304241746109,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"brickys-black-cowpea-bush-semi-runners","title":"Bricky's Black Cowpea (bush, semi-runners)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe're not really sure what named variety this is. As it is with seeds that are passed along and grown in many places, folks forget what they were. This pea came to us from our friend Bricky next door at Morningside Nature Center. He seems to remember getting them long ago from Seed Savers Exchange, before their commercial catalog, through The Exchange (which is still alive and well if you haven't checked it out!). He is one of many in a long line of growing and saving this seed. As with all peas like this, they originate from West Africa, and have a deep history here in the Southeast, where they grow very easily in our sandy soils and hot climate. These did so well that even when we tried to end things late into the fall they just kept on growing and flowering. From seed to seed it was only about a month and a half! Gorgeous black seeds fill rather long pods. Although peas do not typically cross with other peas, we had a mix up in the field with others very close, and did see many persistent bees trying to access the flowers. How fun! Let us know if you see anything unusual pop up when you grow these.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Slow Food Ark of Taste variety! \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fondazioneslowfood.com\/en\/ark-of-taste-slow-food\/sea-island-red-peas\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead more here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304242303165,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/bricky_black_2.jpg?v=1776696974"},{"product_id":"butterfly-pea","title":"Butterfly Pea","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat a cool plant! Here's what we learned after finally getting a hold of very hard to find seeds and grew some in our gardens in 2021. They really like heat, humidity, and regular summer rains. Don't bother starting seeds till our weather is like that, cool and dry! We tried early, setting out little transplants because we were super excited, but they literally did nothing except for survive, until it got really warm and the summer rains began and then they were off!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey want to climb, and will grow 10' tall or more! Low to no maintenance they do well in moderate soil with no irrigation other than what Mother Nature provides during the summer. They last a long time with continuous blossoms and a generous seed offering. The delicate blue flowers are very attractive to pollinators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry them or use fresh to make any drink blue or make your own inks and paints from this lovely pigment. Reacts to acid, so if you drop lemon juice into your drink it will turn purple! Does not have much of a taste, just a fun natural dye!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a rare \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fondazioneslowfood.com\/en\/ark-of-taste-slow-food\/ternate-butterfly-pea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eSlow Food Ark of Taste\u003c\/a\u003e crop! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304242434237,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Butterfly_Pea_5.jpg?v=1776459153"},{"product_id":"cheryls-mammoth-sweet-pea-english-garden","title":"Cheryl's Mammoth Sweet Pea (English Garden)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe exchanged these seeds at a seed swap in Jacksonville awhile back from a lady named Cheryl, who has been growing and saving these mammoth sized English peas for a few years. A shelling pea, also great to eat like a snow pea. We finally have enough of our own home-grown seed to offer you a sample. Packets are smaller, but still plenty for a row or two and some for seed saving. These are hard for us to save in large quantities so be sure to save your seeds for next year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304242827453,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/cheryl4.jpg?v=1776971683"},{"product_id":"conch-cowpea-bush","title":"Conch Cowpea (bush)","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eVery rare! Make us happy and save some seeds from your crop and keep this amazing heirloom going!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beloved heirloom most prized in Florida, of the bush form so the plants are more compact and upright, not requiring trellising. The peas are small round and white, encased in a short pod. Plants were very abundant, and like all cowpeas- so easy to grow during our warmer months as a cover crop and food crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorrowed from The Utopian Seed Project's page:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery part of the South has its favorite field peas. Virginia has its whippoorwill, Louisiana its Rouge et Noir, Mississippi its Silver Hull, Georgia its Brown Crowder, Tennessee its Pink Eye Purple Hull, Texas its Cream Pea, South Carolina its Sea Island Red and Rice Peas. A message from Italy has informed us that Slow Food has boarded Florida’s signature pea, the Conch Pea, on the global Ark of Taste, the register of the most historically resonant, flavorful and endangered foods in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLovers of traditional Floridian food know the conch pea well. It appears at a very few road side produce stands in July and August, sometimes into September. Fresh shelled they are sold in plastic freezer bags to devotees who sometimes travel thirty miles to a source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about this great pea at \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/theutopianseedproject.org\/conch-pea-added-to-slow-foods-global-ark-of-taste\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Utopian Seed Project!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304243089597,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/conch1.jpg?v=1777210219"},{"product_id":"conch-cowpea-pole","title":"Conch Cowpea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBorrowed from The Utopian Seed Project's page:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery part of the South has its favorite field peas. Virginia has its whippoorwill, Louisiana its Rouge et Noir, Mississippi its Silver Hull, Georgia its Brown Crowder, Tennessee its Pink Eye Purple Hull, Texas its Cream Pea, South Carolina its Sea Island Red and Rice Peas. A message from Italy has informed us that Slow Food has boarded Florida‚Äôs signature pea, the Conch Pea, on the global Ark of Taste, the register of the most historically resonant, flavorful and endangered foods in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLovers of traditional Floridian food know the conch pea well. It appears at a very few road side produce stands in July and August, sometimes into September. Fresh shelled they are sold in plastic freezer bags to devotees who sometimes travel thirty miles to a source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got a little sample (see the photo of the vial, that much!) a few years ago from Dr. David Sheilds and grew it out in order to have enough to share. Don't be a fool and eat all the pods and not save seeds. This special variety needs your stewardship. Grow, eat, save seeds, share seeds!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about this great pea at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theutopianseedproject.org\/conch-pea-added-to-slow-foods-global-ark-of-taste\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Utopian Seed Project! \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Slow Food Ark of Taste variety! Read more here: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehttps:\/\/www.fondazioneslowfood.com\/en\/ark-of-taste-slow-food\/conch-pea\/\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304243286205,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"dixie-butterpea-lima","title":"Dixie Butterpea Lima","description":"\u003cp\u003eAnother crop in the category of \"we just grew them out because the seeds were so exquisite!\" We received a bag of these jewels from Naomi with the Alachua Public Libraries seed libraries labelled as Dixie Pea, did some research to learn a bit more and grew these out for two seasons in a row to have enough to share. These delightful little bush beans never get higher than a couple of feet which is nice for not having to build a trellis, and they could be incorporated into a 3 sisters type of garden at the base of another plant. There are about 3 stunning seeds per pod and they are quite productive over a long period of time. In fact we noticed that there would be a big flush of production for a month or two then they would be done, take a break, and then pop again a couple months later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all Limas, they are heat and drought tolerant. We've sown ours in August when its as hot as it gets and harvested dried peas in November.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304244564157,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"eds-flat-italian-heirloom-bean-pole","title":"Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis incredible bean was gifted to us by our state seed inspector, Ed Harris. Upon our first ever official seed inspection (we passed!) it turned out that Ed was also a gardener and seed saver. He gifted Melissa some seeds for a special bean he had been keeping for some time, given to him by a friend that returned from a visit to Italy with this seed. For 20 years, Ed has been saving this seed in his garden here in North Florida. He really loved and it was excited to share with us his treasured bean. We sowed seeds at the end of March by a sturdy trellis, and they did not disappoint!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey were prolific, starting to bear by mid-May loads of lovely green pods streaked variably with purple. Even when large they were tender and stringless. We picked often and probably would have had even more if we were picking to eat. We pick to save seeds which slows the plant a bit, putting all it's energy into maturing seeds fully. They finally fizzled out in early July. They would probably be a great fall bean too, planted in August or September.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304244596925,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Ed_s_Italian_Bean_5.jpg?v=1776463430"},{"product_id":"golden-sweet-pea-pole","title":"Golden Sweet Pea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn heirloom sweet pea we originally got from Seed Savers Exchange at the recommendation of a local gardener many years ago. Seed Savers says the seed was collected from India. Best eaten when young, great in stir fries. Tender pods, with a crisp and mildly sweet flavor. The color of the pods makes them really stand out from the plans and really easy to harvest!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVining plant needs trellis support. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304246759613,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/goldensweetpea4.jpg?v=1777567755"},{"product_id":"graham-cowpea-pole","title":"Graham Cowpea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new-ish cowpea variety released in 2010 by the Agricultural Research Service branch of USDA. This variety has a very vigorous and indeterminate growth habit and like most cowpeas, is recommended for use as a cover crop. The new strains are from improved selections of older landrace varieties for rapid growth, high biomass production, long vegetative growth period, and southern root knot nematode resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grew these up the Dudley Family Heirloom Corn in the summer of 2019 at The Family Organic Garden and they were indeed vigorous and productive. It was almost a mistake on our timing as the peas wanted to take over the corn rather than co-exist! But we harvested the corn just in time to let the peas take over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \"Graham\" selection has long pods filled with beautiful speckled purplish-brown seed. They were the last to mature of the three we grew that year. Eat pods when young and green, let grow longer for seed and you can eat them that way too, and save your best seeds for next year. A staple protein source in the South that can be used in so many ways.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304246988989,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/graham1.jpg?v=1777567936"},{"product_id":"grandma-ernestines-lima-bean-pole","title":"Grandma Ernestine's Lima Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the first varieties passed on to Melissa that was a personal project to keep a family heirloom alive. Nine years ago, her friend Adam shared these butterbean (lima bean) seeds from his Gainesville garden. They were his grandmother Ernestine's, and a variety that has been grown in Mississippi since before 1900. This vigorous, drought tolerant, productive lima bean bears loads of tasty pods in the heat of summer and maturing into fall, depending on when you plant. Vines will climb over 10 ft tall, so be sure to trellis them. We sow in April and they produce until frost, with plenty for eating and plenty for seed saving. As far as cooking: most Southern recipes begin thus: \"First, fry three strips of bacon...\" Butterbeans usually get boiled from the dry or fresh state with a bacon-grease or ham-bone addition for flavor. The bacon and grease of course isn't really necessary‚ the flavor is rich enough to do without.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e**Please save your own seeds for future use. Very limited supply.**\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304247054525,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/GrandmaErnestine2.jpg?v=1777212830"},{"product_id":"hardee-cowpea-pole","title":"Hardee Cowpea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new-ish cowpea variety released in 2010 by the Agricultural Research Service branch of USDA. This variety has a very vigorous and indeterminate growth habit and like most cowpeas, is recommended for use as a cover crop. The new strains are from improved selections of older landrace varieties for rapid growth, high biomass production, long vegetative growth period, and southern root knot nematode resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grew these up the Dudley Family Heirloom Corn in the summer of 2019 at The Family Organic Garden and they were indeed vigorous and productive. It was almost a mistake on our timing as the peas wanted to take over the corn rather than co-exist! But we harvested the corn just in time to let the peas take over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \"Hardee\" selection has long pods filled with beautiful red seeds. Eat pods when young and green, let grow longer for seed and you can eat them that way too, and save your best seeds for next year. We tasted a few different varieties and liked the re\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ed one best, a little more richness and good texture. A staple protein source in the South that can be used in so many ways.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304247513277,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/hardee.jpg?v=1777421983"},{"product_id":"landrace-tepary-bean-mixed-colors","title":"Landrace Tepary Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003eDifferent than the beans you're used to, these desert Southwest adapted beans have been traditionally grown by Native Americans in the hot and dry desert climate. Drought and heat tolerant this is a survival food to be worthy of keeping around in the garden. Although they are much smaller, they have more protein and higher fiber than common beans. This multi-colored mix came to us from a seed swap years ago in High Springs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've had luck growing it even during our soggy summer months, sowing in May and harvesting seeds in August, but probably best to be a fall sown bean when the weather is drier and pods and seeds can mature into the drier months. They make a great cover crop for easily covering the ground and blocking out weeds, while helping fix nitrogen in the soil. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis will climb if given something to grow up, but does not require it. If they do climb, they can be quite aggressive, so not great to have climb up other plants in the garden. Climbing plants are much easier to collect pods from though and it is recommended if you are growing these for the pods and seeds. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaution: these are susceptible to root knot nematodes, so plant accordingly and treat like any other garden plant that is susceptible by rotating with nematode suppressing crops before and after. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304248266941,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Tepary_Bean_seeds_spilled_out.jpg?v=1776685987"},{"product_id":"lofthouse-landrace-bean-bush","title":"Lofthouse Landrace Bean (bush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eJoseph Lofhouse is a farmer in Utah known for his style of plant breeding that mixes up all different varieties to create diverse \"landrace\" types. We just love the colors of these beautiful beans, and they did quite well for us too. They seemed earlier than other bush beans and were fairly productive. Eat them as green beans or save them for dried beans. We grew a small handful out for two years in a row to slowly build up enough Florida-grown stock to offer you. The gardeners at Gainesville Giving Garden really enjoyed them too and said they did better than the plain old bush bean types you typically get at a feed store. Here's what Joseph has to say:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA landrace containing hundreds of varieties of dry beans. Bred to mature quickly in a cold mountain valley. Contains old heirlooms and new segregating hybrids. Growth habit tends toward bush beans or short-vines which don't climb poles. Plants with super-long or twining vines are culled. The beans mature in about 75 to 90 days. I often harvest the food crop about ten days after the plants are killed by fall frost. These have been selected for easy threshing using human scale techniques like beating with a stick or stomping with feet. I typically harvest and thresh at the same time by pulling up the dry plant and beating it against the inside of a garbage can. These are great used in chili, bean soup, or refried beans. When used in soups, some seeds stay firm no matter how long they are cooked while others disintegrate to make a rich broth. I plant a week or two after the last expected spring frosts. This variety is a plant breeder's dream. There is so much diversity that something is likely to do well anywhere that it is grown. There are plenty of traits, colors, textures, and tastes from which to select while using this as the progenitor of new varieties. Selected by Joseph Lofthouse to thrive under subsistence level growing conditions without pesticides nor fertilizers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e**P\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003elease save your own seeds for future use. Very limited supply.**\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304248692925,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"manoa-sugar-pea","title":"Manoa Sugar Pea","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis variety has been grown and bred under conditions in Hawaii, from the University of Hawaii's Seed Lab. It's a sweet English type pea that grows well in the cooler months of our warm climate. Manoa is resistant to powdery mildew and fusarium wilt disease. Vining plants need something to climb on. Tender sweet peas are abundantly produced following gorgeous purple flowers. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304248987837,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/manoa2.jpg?v=1777557111"},{"product_id":"mississippi-purple-hull-cowpea-bush","title":"Mississippi Purple Hull Cowpea (bush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic southern heirloom developed by the Mississippi Ag Experimental Station in 1973. This crowder type bush variety will send out runners but typically maintains a nice bush form which doesn't require trellising. Very productive and bears lovely reddish-purple colored pods that are on top of the plant, which is great for easy picking!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pods are at first a bright green, and then turn color as they mature. Easy to shell green or dried. Great variety for fresh eating and preserving for later frozen fresh, or dried seeds (which should also be frozen due to the prevalence of bean weevils!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowpeas are great for our climate as they grow in the hottest months, build soil, add nitrogen to the soil when used as a cover, and they have great tasting edible and very nutritious protein rich beans!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304249151677,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/misspurp3.jpg?v=1776973768"},{"product_id":"pigeon-pea","title":"Pigeon Pea","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePigeon pea is a wonderfully multipurpose plant: it produces edible peas, makes a great hedge or windbreak, provides a trellis for other vegetables, fixes nitrogen, offers light shade for plants growing beneath it, and makes excellent animal feed. The peas can be eaten like lentils or cooked beans. The fresh pods are tough and need to be cooked or shelled. Shelling takes some work and is slower than with familiar shelly peas like English garden peas or cowpeas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA perennial shrub that can reach 7 feet tall, pigeon pea tends to die back after freezing temperatures, so it should be treated as an annual unless growing in a frost-free climate. It is also day-length sensitive and won’t flower until fall, giving us a relatively short harvest window before cold weather arrives. In our climate, it’s not always the most productive food crop unless a late first frost gives us a longer season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve had plants survive for two years when successive winters were warm, and those plants produced loads of peas all winter! Those growing in frost-free areas will have better pea harvests. The rest of us can grow pigeon pea for many of the other reasons it’s wonderful. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve grown two types, one with yellow flowers and one with pink. The pink-flowered plants produced beautiful striped pods and flowered a little later and less heavily, but eventually caught up with the yellows. With so many pollinators in our garden, the bees may have crossed the two, so our seed may be a hybrid between them. Our other available variety comes from Eckerd College in St. Pete, Florida, and has brown seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few winters in a row when we've not had freezing temperatures, we've had some live for 2 years. Those conditions provided loads of peas all winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe had two different types one with yellow flowers and one with pink, the pink ones has stripey pods that were so lovely, and bore pods a bit less and a bit later but eventually caught up to the yellows. We have so many pollinators in our garden, that the bees may have crossed them, so our peas may be a hybrid between the two. The other variety we have available comes from Eckerd College in St. Pete, FL and they have brown seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor a great write-up on this plant, check out David the Good’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Survival Gardener\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\" \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thesurvivalgardener.com\/pigeon-peas-survival-plant-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003earticle about pigeon peas\u003c\/a\u003e.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250265789,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Pigeon_Pea_5.jpg?v=1776460615"},{"product_id":"piggot-cowpea-pole","title":"Piggot Cowpea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Louisiana variety dates back to the 1850's when the Piggott Family grew these peas in Washington Parish, touted as the best tasting field pea around. Early and productive, great fresh or dried. Pods are 6-7 \"with medium-size brown speckled seeds. Long vines up to 8 ft. are vigorous and drought-resistant. Will climb on a trellis if provided, or scramble along the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course cowpeas didn't come from Louisiana, but they found their way here through the slave trade from West Africa, where they are native. Cowpeas (aka field peas and sometimes also just called Black-eyed, even though they are not all Black-eyed) are now widely grown throughout the world. They make an excellent source of protein and other nutrients, and are an under-appreciated crop by many gardeners who only grow it as a cover crop or for animals. They are particularly great here in our Southeastern climate because they are adapted to heat, humidity and are drought tolerant too. Grow cowpeas!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto borrowed from Sow True Seeds...we can't find ours!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250298557,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"promiscuous-mixed-cowpea-bush-short-runners","title":"Promiscuous Mixed Cowpea (bush, short runners)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe were given seeds from our friends in North Carolina with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theutopianseedproject.org\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Utopian Seed Project\u003c\/a\u003e. Here is the story from Chris:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"This is the beginnings of an African Pea Ultracross, created as part of a search for promiscuous peas! In most things related to seeds, I always first turn to Yanna Fishman, board member of The Utopian Seed Project and an incredible seed keeper. I told Yanna I was looking for African peas [A.K.A. southern peas, black-eyed peas, or cowpeas ‚[though they are not just food for cows!] and when I arrived for a visit she had pulled out jars and jars of different African pea varieties. They were diverse and beautiful, but there was one jar pushed to the corner labelled only 'Sports'. Yanna explained that she plants all of her peas pretty close to each other and hand shells everything. When she gets peas that don't look like their parents, she puts them off to one side and they all end up in the 'Sports' jar. It's quite likely the sports were actually crosses and this jar represented just the promiscuous peas I was looking for! In 2023 we planted two 50ft rows of Yanna's peas alonside one row of Joseph Lofthouse's landrace African peas. We also had plantings of 'Texas Green Emerald' (the green pea in the mix) and 'Rouge de Burkina Faso' (the red pea) planted in adjacent rows. This mix is a combination of all the seeds with high hopes of ongoing intercrossing.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese were grown one season in our Florida gardens in the summer of 2024 and they took only a month and a half from seeding to seed harvest. The colorful mix is pleasing to look at, and makes a colorful cooking pot! They were mostly bushy type plants that made a great ground cover, with the occasional short runner reaching out across the beds. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250495165,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/promcowpea3.jpg?v=1776973615"},{"product_id":"red-noodle-yardlong-bean-pole","title":"Red Noodle Yardlong Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA spectacular bean for the home garden, providing tender and delicious fresh beans through the hottest months of summer, when regular beans are long gone. Plants produce an abundance of 18\" long, red bean pods that should be picked when fairly young and firm. Sweet and stringless, enjoy them steamed, stir-fried, or in soup. One bean chopped into pieces is like several smaller green beans, and in our opinion, way better and more interesting! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYardlong beans are the same species as cowpea, which is also thrive in our subtropical climate. But they are distinctly different. Cowpeas travelled to the Middle East and Asia from Africa, and over centuries of breeding, Asian farmers developed long, tender pods. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eLong beans have been recorded in Chinese literature around the time of the Song Dynasty in 1008! Yardlongs are still popular in Asian cuisine today. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a really unique plant that will get a a lot of attention in your garden!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250790077,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/rednoodle3.jpg?v=1777568082"},{"product_id":"sacaton-brown-tepary-bean","title":"Sacaton Brown Tepary Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003eDifferent than the beans you're used to, these desert Southwest adapted beans have been traditionally grown by Native Americans in the hot and dry desert climate. Native Seeds\/SEARCH say this was a Gila River Indian Community variety known as \u003cem\u003eS'oam bawi\u003c\/em\u003e. Drought and heat tolerant this is a survival food to be worthy of keeping around in the garden. Although they are much smaller, they have more protein and higher fiber than common beans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've had luck growing it even during our soggy summer months, sowing in May and harvesting seeds in August, but probably best to be a fall sown bean when the weather is drier and pods and seeds can mature into the drier months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe originally got our seed stock from a seed swap at Earthskills Gathering and spent a couple years multiplying it in order to share. So curious what you think! Please give us feedback!\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250921149,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"sea-island-red-pea","title":"Sea Island Red Pea","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sea Island Red Pea is a treasured heirloom cowpea from the Gullah Geechee communities of the coastal Southeastern US, traditionally grown in the Sea Islands and Lowcountry. Deeply rooted in Gullah cuisine, these peas are key ingredients in dishes like Hoppin' John and Reezy Peezy, often paired with Carolina Gold Rice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA nitrogen-fixing plant, it's also a valuable companion crop between crop rotations, and when you need to rest your hot summer garden with a cover crop. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThey grow exceptionally easy as most cowpeas do in our subtropical climate. This flavorful, prolific southern pea \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ehas some short runners and enjoys climbing a trellis, but they also work well as a bushy ground cover with no trellising. The pods are short to medium sized and typically held above the foliage for easy picking. Pods are slender and filled with small red peas. They are also very tasty as a fresh young green pod, if you're looking for a green bean in the middle of summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur offering is a special mix of two strains shared with us by Social Roots and Comfort Farms, both in Georgia and then saved together here in our gardens in North Florida.  From seed to seed the time was very short- about a month and a half! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qDajqEQ78vY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHere is a great short documentary \u003c\/a\u003eabout the pea and it's Geechee heritage.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304250953917,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Sea_Island_Red_Cowpea.png?v=1787080777"},{"product_id":"suttons-harbinger-sweet-pea-pole","title":"Sutton's Harbinger Sweet Pea (pole)","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe obtained our initial seeds from Seed Savers Exchange many years ago. This heirloom English Pea was introduced to the commercial seed market by Suttons Seeds in \u003c\/span\u003e1899 and is still going strong today! It performs exceptionally well for us in North Florida as a winter and early spring crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThis vigorous, productive vining pea needs a trellis to climb. The plants produce loads of \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003edelicate and stunning white flowers, followed by tender, sweet pods that are easy to pick.  Harvest them young and enjoy like snow peas, or let them mature further and shell them like traditional garden peas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has quickly become a favorite for its vigor, tenderness, sweetness, and productivity. We’ve saved seed from this variety for many seasons in our climate, and it continues to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304251510973,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/sutton3.jpg?v=1777223919"},{"product_id":"tyler-cowpea-pole","title":"Tyler Cowpea (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new-ish cowpea variety released in 2010 by the Agricultural Research Service branch of USDA. This variety has a very vigorous and indeterminate growth habit and like most cowpeas, is recommended for use as a cover crop. The new strains are from improved selections of older landrace varieties for rapid growth, high biomass production, long vegetative growth period, and southern root knot nematode resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grew these up the stalks of Dudley Family Heirloom Corn in the summer of 2019 at The Family Organic Garden and they were indeed vigorous and productive. It was almost a mistake on our timing as the peas wanted to take over the corn rather than co-exist! But we harvested the corn just in time to let the peas take over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \"Tyler\" selection has long pods filled with beautiful tan-colored brown seed, similar to Iron \u0026amp; Clay. Young green and tender pods can be eaten similar to a green bean, or let them grow longer for edible seed, saving some to grow next year. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304251740349,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Tyler_Cowpea.jpg?v=1776457857"},{"product_id":"velvet-bean","title":"Velvet Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA plant with many common names: Magic Velvet Bean, Bengal Velvet Bean, Florida Velvet Bean, Mauritius Velvet Bean, Yokohama Velvet Bean, Cowage, Cowitch, Lacuna Bean, and Lyon Bean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever you call it, this tropical legume is a vigorous producer in our climate where it absolutely thrives in the hottest months, climbing 15' high or more, and bearing loads (LOADS!) of beautiful deep dark purple flowers and large black velvety pods. Great for your Goth garden collection, if you have one or aspire to have one. One seed survived the rabbits the first spring we tried growing this, and a single plant produced an estimated 1,600 seeds!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt takes a long time to fully mature to seed, so plant in April or early May for a long frost-free season. This variety is a non-irritating or itchy one, although with the amount of time we spend with them they do get a bit irritating. Most of the year as they were growing, we did pet them and say hello. So velvety!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown for soil improvement and silage and fodder for livestock, it is also edible and medicinal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth the immature pods and mature seeds are edible, and like other legumes benefits from soaking and boiling to remove anti-nutritive compounds. It is very high in protein and considered a significant food source in regions where it is most commonly grown. Personally we have not tried eating this one yet, so we want to hear about it if you do!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bean apparently has many medicinal uses and applications from aphrodisiac to being neuro-protective, and is emerging as a potential support for Parkinson's Disease. There is so much to learn and love about this magic bean!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304251805885,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/velvetbean4.jpg?v=1776972635"},{"product_id":"whipporwill-cowpea-bush","title":"Whipporwill Cowpea (bush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhippoorwill peas were once the standard for southern peas, but are now a rare variety. It grows as a bush, only a few feet high, but will send out runners about 5 feet long given enough nutrients and moisture. Like all cowpeas, it is highly tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is quite productive, with vines producing many 7-9\" green pods filled with small light brown and speckled seeds, over an extended period of time. Very young green pods can be enjoyed like a green bean. Or the dried pods can be saved to eat the dry bean inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis unique pea is boarded to the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fondazioneslowfood.com\/en\/ark-of-taste-slow-food\/whippoorwill-cowpea\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSlow Food Ark of Taste\u003c\/a\u003e. Be sure to save your own seeds of this treasure, and share them widely!\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304252166333,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/whipporwill3.jpg?v=1777556541"},{"product_id":"willow-leaf-lima-bean-pole","title":"Willow Leaf Lima Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eGorgeous multi-color seeds on really productive plants with narrow-shaped leaves unlike most other Lima Beans. About a 40' single planted row produced 13# of gorgeous multi-colored seeds. We planted early August and we were harvesting October through the first frost in December.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeed came from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and they received seed from Dr. James Wolf, via David Bradshaw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e**Please save your own seeds for future use. Very limited supply.**\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304252264637,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"winged-asparagus-bean-pole","title":"Winged Asparagus Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e*these seeds are easy to germinate if you follow our tips! Nick a little piece of the orange seed coat off with nail clippers but careful not to injure the embryo inside. Soak overnight and plant the next day. Seeds are very hard and resistant to germination without this step!*\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a really unique bean, a new one to us that we'd been waiting to try for a long time. She didn't disappoint! This cool bean from New Guinea is a 4-sided ruffled bean that is quite large and definitely something folks will stop to look at in your garden! Referred to as \"asparagus bean\" because its supposedly similar to asparagus, which is a novelty in Florida because it's such a challenge to grow. Although some gardeners are not fans of the flavor, others say it's their favorite legume ever!! This tropical perennial is entirely edible from root to pod. The tuberous root is eaten as a starch cooked or raw, its leaves are eaten like spinach, the flowers are sweet and edible, and the bean is edible raw or cooked as a green pod, or cooked as a shelled bean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocal seed saver Eugene Fueyo grew these and gave us the seed that we're offering. He grew it from seed purchased from Baker Creek where it was called \"Urizun Japanese Winged Bean\" Here is what he had to share with us:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eDay length neutral and the pods, seeds, leaves, and tuberous root are all edible. It did great in the horrible soil (but full sun and decent moisture and I did inoculate them) I had direct planted them and they produced tons through the worst of summer heat and rain. Grew about 8-10 ft long with multiple vines per root. Pest were limited to ants trying to eat the pods in the late season, but they only made aesthetic damage. Hummingbirds and bees were all over the beautiful blue flowers. The sprouting was erratic and I had read somewhere that presoaking the seeds was not a good idea after I had planted some that way. Most sprouted for me eventually whether I presoaked or not\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304252362941,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/asparagusbean5.jpg?v=1777210775"},{"product_id":"red-noodle-yardlong-bean-pole-copy","title":"Extra Long Yardlong Bean (pole)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA spectacular bean for the home garden, providing tender and delicious fresh beans through the hottest months of summer, when regular beans are long gone. Plants produce an abundance of very long, extra long, like....up to 3' long green beans!! Pick when beans are fairly young and firm. Sweet and stringless, enjoy them steamed, stir-fried, or in soup. One bean chopped into pieces is like several smaller green beans, and in our opinion, way better and more interesting! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYardlong beans are the same species as cowpea, which is also thrive in our subtropical climate. But they are distinctly different. Cowpeas travelled to the Middle East and Asia from Africa, and over centuries of breeding, Asian farmers developed long, tender pods.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eLong beans have been recorded in Chinese literature around the time of the Song Dynasty in 1008! Yardlongs are still popular in Asian cuisine today. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a really unique plant that will get a a lot of attention in your garden!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got our seeds from Seed the Stars and this is the second generation grown in our Gainesville gardens. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48415466389693,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/Extra_Long_Yardlong_2_Large_a46862ce-2cfc-4de9-a450-96216e20b697.png?v=1790697859"}],"url":"https:\/\/workingfoodseeds.org\/collections\/beans-peas.oembed","provider":"Working Food ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}