Crop Spotlight: Black Eyed Peas

August 26, 2020
Black Eyed Peas growing in the field at Sankofa Community Farm.

Writer Amiyah Stradford has been a youth farmer at Sankofa Community Farm since 2018. She runs the Farm’s blog, which you can read here.

This week, we’re focusing on Black Eyed Peas, a popular crop at our farm. It’s widely loved by staff and students. Also called cowpea, Black Eyed Peas have been found in recipes going back to the Middle Ages! This plant originated in west Africa and it is one of the most widely-dispersed beans in the world. It can even be found growing wild in parts of Asia. It’s widely used in soul food, especially in the Southern US. You may have heard that they bring good luck: in the South, eating them on New Year’s Day is considered very good luck. They’re cooked with greens—the beans symbolize prosperity because they swell when cooked and the greens symbolize money. Most beans grown commercially are the California Black Eye variety.

Here’s some benefits of the Black Eyed Pea:

  • Excellent source of calcium, protein, fiber, and vitamin A.
  • Nourishing to the soil.
  • Helps with cell formation.
  • Helpful during pregnancy.
Dried Black Eyed Peas

Did this teach you anything you didn’t know? Tune in next week to hear about a new crop!  

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Birds

Boating & Fishing

Flowers, Plants & Trees

Gardening

History

Kids' Activities

Sankofa Community Farm

Southwest Philadelphia

Water Quality

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Youth Internships

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Stroll the Schuylkill River Trail or join us for biking!

Birds

Look up! More than 100 species of birds rely on this ecosystem.

Boating & Fishing

Enjoy all that the Tidal Schuylkill River has to offer.

Flowers, Plants & Trees

See what’s blooming, find a favorite tree, and stroll the gardens and natural lands.

Gardening

Bring the Garden home! Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more.

History

Uncover the interconnected stories of this historic site.

Kids' Activities

Join us year-round to learn, make, share, and wonder.

Sankofa Community Farm

“Go back and get it!” Growing food sovereignty with an African Diaspora focus.

Southwest Philadelphia

Resources and opportunities especially for neighbors in Southwest Philly.

Water Quality

Find our latest data on the river’s bacteria levels and recent rainfall.

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Enjoy upcoming workshops, self-care, and events. Are you a Southwest artist? Let’s partner!

Youth Internships

Calling Southwest students: paid internships available with the river, the farm, and the trees.