I need peas. Lots of peas.

[PrettyPaisley]

Where can I look to find copious amounts of field peas ? I want to start buying my own grains and grinding my own feed. And since we are a no soy farmstead I need a different source of protein. Alfalfa isn't easy to come by here so that leaves field peas. One of the grain farmers here says no one grows peas, either - so I need the assistance of you wise folks to help me find peas. Or some other source of protein that isn't soy or fish. After Fukushima I'm staying away from the waters for the next 30,000 years ... Give or take a few.

I'm all ears and super grateful for your willingness to share.

[Fire-Man]

PP, there is someone on craigslist that is advertizing dixie lee peas--cleaned and in 50lb bags, http://myrtlebeach.craigslist.org/grd/4183247814.html

Do not know if you want these or not or how far they are from you!

[geo in mi]

You are too far South for field peas for grain.........http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/drypea.html

geo

[Pig in a poke]

Too far south? Field peas (crowder peas, purple hull peas, etc.) are a Southern staple. Unless PP means something else as field peas.

I, too, was looking for field peas for our pigs. They are available at one feed store in the area, at $50/bag! Tried growing them this summer. They grew fine, but we don't have the acreage it would take to produce enough for feeding livestock. We've been enjoying them, though.

Would love to know if anyone comes up with a good source.

[elkhound]

if you have a local mill that grinds feed i bet they can get it if not already in stock.


ones in my area even grind custom blends of feed.

[arcticow]

Austrian winter peas planted in the fall should make a decent seed crop. There are whole grain mixes for pigeons that are mostly peas, and come in 50 lb. bags. Best deal on something like that would probably be a ton pallet. Most good feed dealers can order in something like this if you plan ahead and will take the whole ton.

[rambler]

Sweet corn (human corn...) and sweet peas are very common around me, Del Monte and Jolly Green Giant were started around here.

Of course, I'm too far away, and all of this is grown with fertilizer and insecticides, so would not pass your filter. And not gonna find much in the middle of winter....

Peas are pretty easy to grow, are you looking for seed? Can buy seed by the 50 lb bag.

A seed store not too far from me probably even has some organic pea seed in 50lb bags.

Albert Lea Seedhouse. You can find them online, but they are easier to find what they actually have with a phone call. I think shipping would kill the deal tho.

Paul

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by geo in mi

You are too far South for field peas for grain.........http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/drypea.html

geo

wow. The only reason they wouldnt be grown for grain is lack of market. But I know of people that grow several acres for human consumption, black eyes, purple hulls and cream peas are what I refer to.

I am thinking that is referring to the field peas we buy by the rail car at work. They look like English peas but dry round and hard as a marble and we get the in green or yellow.

I asked my boss one time what kind they were and said he calls the broker and tells him he needs a carload of " peas " and thats what we get.

22% protein. I buy them buy the bag and mix with grain for my hogs

[farmerDale]

Western Canada grows a lot of peas. The current price is about 5 bucks a bushel for feed peas. A bushel is 60 lbs.

[Whisperwindkat]

Ask your feed dealer. Mine has them in 50lb. sacks for like 18.00. He also has Austrian winter peas (green peas) for about 25.00 in 50lb. sacks. I plant both to help offset the cost. I plant about an acre of black eyes each year and about an acre of the winter peas. the black eyes (cowpeas) do better for me and I tend to get two harvests and sometimes a very light third harvest depending on the weather.

[Gravytrain]

Protein for what specifically? There are lots of sources of protein...and lots of sources of fish meal that doesn't come from the oceans, although avoiding all seafood because of Fukushima, is like avoiding Argentinian beef because of 3 Mile Island. It must be exhausting figuring out what's safe to eat.

Clover, vetch, rape, chicory, grasses, millet, lespedeza, oats, rye, wheat, trefoil?

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Where can I look to find copious amounts of field peas ? I want to start buying my own grains and grinding my own feed. And since we are a no soy farmstead I need a different source of protein. Alfalfa isn't easy to come by here so that leaves field peas. One of the grain farmers here says no one grows peas, either - so I need the assistance of you wise folks to help me find peas. Or some other source of protein that isn't soy or fish. After Fukushima I'm staying away from the waters for the next 30,000 years ... Give or take a few.

I'm all ears and super grateful for your willingness to share.

What you are looking for are cowpeas.........
Here's a fact sheet showing cowpeas as livestock feed.
http://www.feedipedia.org/node/233

There is a trememdous local, regional, and international variation in the popular name of the cow pea....(Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), vs. the field pea, (Pisum sativum L.),

Your local farm seed dealer may be able to help you find a source of cowpea seeds that will adapt to your soil conditions. The bush type would be best for dry beans, but you might find a trailing, or vining variety for animal forage and hay. Your area may be okay for cowpeas, and it should be as good as alfalfa for forage requirements. The biggest obstacle will be getting the planting equipment and harvesting equipment if you want to grow it in large quantities. There will be a learning curve, too, especially if no one around you grows it and can give you pointers. Sounds like you have a garden crop for starters......I would try some straight from the grocery store first(black-eyed peas), just to experiment.

Hope this helps,

geo

[dirtman]

I'm wondering what the problem with Soy is. I know there is a lot of GM soy that is NFG but I've been planting soy I first got from Seed Savers Exchange for the past couple of years thinking that this was a good thing.

[PrettyPaisley]

Soy mocks estrogen in the body. Like other legumes, it needs to be properly prepared (fermented, ect) and eaten in small quantities. Even if it's not GMO it shouldn't ever be the cornerstone of livestock feed - or consumed in the quantities in the SAD.

I grew a mess of pink eyed purple hull this summer in my semi-crappy soil. They grew awesomely considering I just sewed them in and watered. I'm sure it won't be an easy feat but I think I'll try growing a big old plot or two again this year and see what happens. Still won't be enough but it's a start.

And a quick google search on what's happening in the Pacific Ocean will enlighten you on the seriousness of Fukushima. Just because it's not all over the news doesn't mean we aren't in a world of hurt.

[Gravytrain]

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

And a quick google search on what's happening in the Pacific Ocean will enlighten you on the seriousness of Fukushima. Just because it's not all over the news doesn't mean we aren't in a world of hurt.

I hear ya! Do a quick google search on Sasquatch sightings and you'll soon realize that we're surrounded!

[rambler]

Soy is a wonderful product, and it fixes N for itself so it is a cheap protein producer, but it also needs to be handled a lot to make good feed or food, broken down into oil and meal, or at the least roasted whole for livestock, similar for human consumption in any quantity.

Paul

[elkhound]

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Soy mocks estrogen in the body. Like other legumes, it needs to be properly prepared (fermented, ect) and eaten in small quantities. Even if it's not GMO it shouldn't ever be the cornerstone of livestock feed - or consumed in the quantities in the SAD.

I grew a mess of pink eyed purple hull this summer in my semi-crappy soil. They grew awesomely considering I just sewed them in and watered. I'm sure it won't be an easy feat but I think I'll try growing a big old plot or two again this year and see what happens. Still won't be enough but it's a start.

And a quick google search on what's happening in the Pacific Ocean will enlighten you on the seriousness of Fukushima. Just because it's not all over the news doesn't mean we aren't in a world of hurt.

dont let the nay sayers raz you PP....check this out.



Sickened by service: More US sailors claim cancer from helping at Fukushima

wheres the outrage over this???


They and 49 other U.S. Navy members who served aboard the Reagan and sister ship the USS Essex now trace illnesses including thyroid and testicular cancers, leukemia and brain tumors to the time spent aboard the massive ship, whose desalination system pulled in seawater that was used for drinking, cooking and bathing. In a lawsuit filed against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plaintiffs claim the power company delayed telling the U.S. Navy the tsunami had caused a nuclear meltdown, sending huge amounts of contaminated water into the sea and, ultimately, into the ship's water system.



http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/20...-at-fukushima/

[PrettyPaisley]

Thanks Elkhound. I don't pay too much mind to some of the well-meaning folks who like to razz me around here.

[Gravytrain]

Is this what you were talking about?

[gwithrow]

you could call Sunrise Farms in Virginia...they produce non gmo feeds as well as soy free and I think they sell some just ingredients...they have a website, but I have had better luck calling them....shipping will be the bugger....I have thought about driving up there but the fuel would be high also....there is a store here that orders in bulk a time or two during the year and that is not bad......