February 22, 2024

Pea Planting Day

Pea Planting Day is a special anniversary for us. February 22 is listed on my planting calendar as the first day to plant peas in the Willamette Valley; it also happens that this is the day W and I got engaged to each other, 48 years ago!

Peas are traditionally the first vegetable sown outside in the spring because they will germinate and grow in very cool soil. We plant peas today to ceremonially kick off the start of the planting season, and also to remind ourselves of the beginnings of our relationship; the day we decided to be together forever.

Agenda:
1. Read "The Wheel of the Year"
2. Pea planting ceremony
3. Permaculture pea tips

1. Read "The Wheel of the Year":
I just got ahold of this pretty new kids book by Fiona Cook. It seems to be a sensitive look at the Pagan year, with gentle advice to kids about magic and the cycle of the seasons.  

In the chapter on Imbolc, she says, "Good things take time. When we try to rush things, they'll often fall apart. Sometimes, it's better to sit with the situation, even if it's uncomfortable, to allow the truth to reveal itself. ... During Imbolc the earth is taking its time and inviting us to do the same. So relax, be patient, and trust that things will fall into place."

2. Pea Planting Ceremony:
Planting is such a basic act of life, and we will plant maybe a hundred seeds this year. Today we plant the first seeds - a few peas - with attention, and we plant together. We plant peas as an offering to the earth, and an offering to our relationship. 

We also drink a little wine, and spill some on the ground, to bless the soil.

3. Permaculture pea tips:
These tips help to make pea growing more efficient, and make use of the whole plant:
  • Soak the seed: Last night I put a few peas (for planting today) into a bowl with some warm water.
  • Staggered planting: I'll sow peas every 3 weeks, so I get a harvest over a longer period (starting now and ending mid-April).
  • When harvest starts, I'll pick every other day and freeze any I don't eat: Peas are easy; just bag them and put them in the freezer as soon after picking as possible. There is no need to blanch.
  • Succession planting: When the first plants begin to slow down, I will snip them at the base (leaving the nitrogen in the ground) and slip in a spinach plant or two.
  • Mulch: I don't like to put pea vines into the compost because they are stringy, so I chop them up with a lopper and spread them around as mulch.
  • Save seeds: And finally, I will save a few pea pods that have started to turn brown and just leave the seeds in the pods until fall planting time - early August.

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