Organic Garden Pea Seed Production

Project Leader: John Cooley, Rivendell Farm, Delta, CO

Technical Advisor: Ron Godin, Western Colorado Research Center, Hotchkiss, CO

Project Years: 2006-2008

Proposal Summary

This project will address the problems associated with the production of organic vegetable seed, specifically the garden pea. Organic growers are having difficulty locating organic seed and the situation is magnified for the garden pea. There are drastic shortages of organic garden pea seed due to weevil infestations, of which there are no acceptable organic controls. There is a need for development of production and seed breeding research, especially for the garden pea seed. This project will address those needs through education workshops, field days, and pea seed production research fields. This project will benefit and enhance local organic seed production and provide education to local farmers to begin their own seed production.

In March of 2006, a two day workshop will be held by the grower group participating in this experiment, along with the Valley Organic Growers Association, with the recognized organic seed breeder Dr. John Navasio. Following the workshop, Dr. Navasio will be available for consultation to all of the workshop participants.

A group of three farmers will participate in pea seed production trials. Each farm in the grower group investing in this project is devoting 1/4 acre to trial production of organic pea seed. The goal of this portion of the test is to procure organic seed that is documented disease-free and has been germination tested.