From cheap plastic decorations to fast-fashion costumes, Halloween produces a scary amount of waste. Even pumpkins end up in landfills: Of the billions of pumpkins grown annually in the U.S., just a fraction are ultimately used for food.
Luckily Widnor Farms in Custer has a solution for families looking to sustainably dispose of leftover jack-o’-lanterns. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, families are invited to bring leftover pumpkins to the farm and feed them to the hogs. No painted or moldy pumpkins are allowed. The event, called the “Great Pumpkin Rescue,” prevents gourds from rotting in landfills and producing harmful methane gas.
Farmer Brianna Widen started the tradition about three years ago. Her family had already been feeding pumpkins to pigs, so when a customer asked to bring their own leftover gourds to the farm, she took the opportunity.
“Not living in town, I had not even realized that [pumpkins] got thrown away,” Widen said. “And so it was a really fun way to bring people out here, and have them actually see the hogs and then also see the practice of upcycling.”
Upcycling, Widen continued, is the practice of using a nonedible product as animal feed. While she’s very careful to feed her animals high-quality diets, she said freshly carved pumpkins are really “just a squash — and they’re a great food source.”
In addition to feeding the animals, families can enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies throughout the day. Widen added that the event is also a way for kids to deepen their understanding of local agriculture and food systems.
“It’s a really sweet day, because there’s everything from piglets that have just been weaned from their moms to our big, 800-pound sows here,” she continued. “Our pigs happen to be really friendly, so they get to see and experience that up close.”
The Great Pumpkin Rescue takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1858 W. Badger Road in Custer. To keep the hogs healthy, visitors are asked not to bring painted or moldy pumpkins. Info: widnorfarmsblog.com.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
