Vegetable Pea Soup

I prefer this particular pea soup over pea soup made with ham. And I prefer yellow split peas to green ones. If using yellow split peas, make the soup on the stovetop and not a crock pot, as long cooking in the crock pot turns the peas brown.8 cups water or vegetable broth2 cups green or yellow split peas1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced2 large cloves garlic, minced1 cup chopped