{"title":"Cover Crop Seeds","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShop cover crop seeds selected for Florida and southern growing conditions. Explore regionally adapted, climate-resilient varieties chosen for soil building, resilience, and strong garden performance. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","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":"black-and-tan-sesame","title":"Black and Tan Sesame","description":"\u003cp\u003eJust a lovely flower to have in the summer garden! Sesame is heat-loving, their blooms are attractive to bees and resemble foxglove type flowers, and they make a great nematode remedy summer crop. Yes, these are sesame seeds like the ones on your bagels. You can easily save seeds to grow these each year, and keep a few to eat too. They are a mix of black and tan colors. Lovely!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe love watching the big huge bumble bees go all the way inside the blossoms. They absolutely adore sesame as much as we do.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304241844413,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/sesame5.jpg?v=1777210899"},{"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":"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":"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":"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":"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":"mustards-ultracross-cover-mix","title":"Mustards Ultracross Cover Mix","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a colorful and textured mix up of many varieties that were left to go to seed during a mustard variety trial at The University of Florida's Field and Fork campus farm. There are purples and greens, frilly, smooth, and fuzzy ones....expect a delightful mix! Some are great for eating, some are mild, and some really spicy. A few have excessive hairs that make them unpleasant for eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMustards are a great option for a winter cover crop to help remedy an area that had root knot nematode infestations. We like to use mustards for this purpose in fall\/winter beds that we're not planting in. Chop them down before the spring beetles show up and start munching on them, and just before or during flowering. They produce a good amount of leafy greens to add organic matter to the soil. If you incorporate them into the soil, wait at least a few weeks to plant anything, to allow the biofumigant properties to dissipate so they won't impact your next crop. Chopping\/mowing them up finely is a good option, or placing a tarp overtop of cut down plants so they can rot in place. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304249741501,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/UCmustards2.jpg?v=1777210385"},{"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":"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":"sunn-hemp","title":"Sunn Hemp","description":"\u003cp\u003eA tall legume used extensively in the summer time as a cover crop for soil building. It can get woody if not pruned. Can be pruned or mowed many times to increase branching and biomass production. Yields more nitrogen than cowpea and is known to suppress nematodes. Sown in the warmer months to keep soil active, growing and suppressing weeds while you may choose not to grow because it's too dang hot!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Working Food Seed \u0026 Merch Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304251445437,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/files\/sunnhemp2.jpg?v=1777422158"},{"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"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1734\/5725\/collections\/Sea_Island_Red_Cowpea.jpg?v=1787068612","url":"https:\/\/workingfoodseeds.org\/collections\/cover-crop-seeds.oembed","provider":"Working Food ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}