Welcome to Pumpkins for Pigs!
Our mission is to match pigs (and other pumpkin-eating animals) with un-carved, non-inked/non-painted pumpkins to prevent them from being thrown in the landfill. They are excellent feed and a wonderful treat to the animals on the farms and sanctuaries. They also make great compost. Thanksgiving comes up and we start moving to the next holiday but often our pumpkins are in perfectly fine shape, and its a waste to throw them out when they are still useful.
From October through mid-December you are encouraged to donate your un-carved, non-inked/non-painted pumpkins to your local farm or sanctuary. (Some organizations will also take them for compost so inquire!) When you go out to purchase that perfect Christmas tree at Thanksgiving time, take your pumpkins with you and donate them to a one of the organizations below that are along your route. Also, when you buy your tree, ask if they have a recycling program; some goat farms would love them for their feed.
How did Pumpkins for Pigs come to be?
Seems so simple. Well, it was. I was feeling increasingly guilty I didn’t have a better way to dispose of my decorative pumpkins come Thanksgiving. So, I kept them until Winter officially started – yeah, we looked weird having pumpkins with a winter holiday wreath on the door but I was biding my time hoping I’d come up with something. There had to be a better option. One year, while visiting my farmer for eggs, I asked if he had any ideas. He invited me to drop them off on my next visit as their pigs would love them. It would be a real treat for them. An idea was born. I was – and still am – positively giddy about the prospect. In reaching out to local farmers, I found they were trying to find ways but simply didn’t have the time to put the word out. We are starting out small – just 4 places that will accept them – with the hopes it will grow. With the gracious help from a life-long friend who makes websites for a living, we now have PumpkinsForPigs.org.
Give your pumpkins to the pigs! Goats like them too!
Donate your pumpkins to an Animal Farm or Sanctuary!
Donation Locations
Below is the location of farms and sanctuaries, mostly in the Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC metro area. We are expanding everyday so please visit this page often.
It is recommended to reach out to the individual Farms & Sanctuaries listed below for drop-off hours and quantity limits.
Virginia
56 Hooves, Bluemont, VA
Deborah Dramby
19960 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135
Phone: 410-925-4807
Email: Deborahdramby@gmail.com
Website: https://deborahdramby.wixsite.com/56hooves
Accepted: Pumpkins, Loudoun-County grown Christmas trees (NO box store trees, local only) [for goats] – call ahead of arrival
Home to 20 goats, 1 alpaca, chickens, ducks, dogs and a cat. Pumpkin seeds naturally disrupt the parasite cycle in our goats bellies so happy to have them. Located in Bluemont, just a few miles up the road from Great Country Farms, Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewery. If you’d like to make a day of it and hang with the animals, give me a call or email.
Autumn Hill Farm LLC, Catlett, VA
Melissa Catts
Elk Run Road, Catlett, VA 20119
Phone: 703-303-2148
Email: autumnhillfarmsales@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AutumnHillFarmLLC/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds
Will also be accepting at Purcellville Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, 9am to 1pm
Blue Frog Vineyard & Farm, Leesburg, VA
Shannon Mader
16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, VA
Phone: 703-297-2617
Website: https://www.facebook.com/bluefrogvineyard/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds – CALL AHEAD
Cool Spring Farm, Berryville, VA
Mike
950 Glebe Lane, Berryville, VA 22611
Phone: 571-238-1931
Website: http://coolspringcsa.com and https://www.facebook.com/coolspringfarm
Accepted: Pumpkins for cattle and compost
Donkey Meadows, Purcellville, VA
Audrey Cadle
38077 Hughesville Road, Purcellville, VA
Phone: 703-901-1715
Website: http://donkeymeadows.com and https://www.facebook.com/donkeymeadows
Accepted: Pumpkins – call for drop off dates/times
NOT Accepted: Gourds, Pine trees
Donkey Meadows is a small farm in Purcellville, VA that raises American Mammoth Jackstock (donkeys). They have a few potbelly pigs that would love to participate!
Downey Mill Farm, Lovettsville, VA
Natalie Warriner
12746 Downey Mill Road, Lovettsville, VA
Phone: 703-231-4571
Email: Nmwarriner@gmail.com
Website: https://carternm31.wordpress.com/about/ and https://www.facebook.com/Downeymillfarm/
Accepted: Pumpkins, gourds, Loudoun-County grown Christmas trees (NO box store trees, local only) – MUST CALL ahead for drop off dates/times
Goats & chickens eat them too!
Fort Bacon Farm, Purcellville, VA
36258 Snickersville Tpke, Purcellville, VA 20132
Phone: 571-271-1154
Email: madelinemcl@yahoo.com
Website: https://fortbaconfarm.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/fortbaconfarm/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Acorns, Gourds
Georges Mill Farm Artisan Cheese, Lovettsville, VA
1873 Georges Mills Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Phone: 571-442-7444
Website: http://GeorgesMillCheese.com and https://www.facebook.com/GeorgesMillFarmArtisanCheese/
Accepted: Pumpkins – for the goats (small quantity – call ahead), Loudoun-County grown Christmas trees (NO box store trees, local only)
God's Glory Farm, Purcellville, VA
16322 Purcellville RD, Purcellville, VA 20132
Phone: 301-219-3131
Email: info@godsgloryfarm.com
Website: http://www.godsgloryfarm.com and https://www.facebook.com/GodsGloryFarm/
Accepted: Pumpkins for goats and compost
Honeysuckle Farm, Purcellville, VA
****NEW ADDRESS*** 19606 Telegraph Springs Road, Purcellville VA 20132
Phone: 703-774-7025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/HoneysuckleFarmVa/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds
Long Meadows Alpacas, Lovettsville, VA
Aimee & Troy Long
12745 Milltown RD, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Phone: 571-969-0566
Website: https://www.longmeadowsalpacas.com
Accepted: Pumpkins, Acorns, Loudoun-County grown Christmas trees (NO box store trees, local only)
Long Meadows Alpacas has 2 mini donkeys, 26 alpacas, 4 super friendly bottle fed goats, and, of course, the stars, Sham & Bullseye, their pet pigs.
Long Stone Farm, Lovettsville, VA
Justin & Casey Wisch
38212 Long Lane, Lovettsville, VA
Phone: 540-454-2505
Email: info@longstonefarmva.com
Website: http://www.longstonefarmva.com and https://www.facebook.com/longstonefarmva
Accepted: Pumpkins, Acorns, Gourds
Mill Road Farm, Leesburg, VA
Chris Hatch
19440 Dunlop Mill Rd, Leesburg, VA
Phone: 703-777-1356
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MillRoadFarm
Accepted: Pumpkins
Sweet Fern Farm, Lovettsville, VA
Christian Hoyt
38097 Britain Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Phone: 703-431-8585
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sweetfernfarmVA/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds, & Acorns
Spring House Farm & Farm Store, Hamilton, VA
Melissa
16848 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton, VA 20158
Phone: 540-822-0556
Email: info@springhouse.farm
Website: https://www.springhouse.farm/ and https://www.facebook.com/SpringHouseFarmVA
Accepted: Pumpkins
Our mission is to operate a sustainable, ecologically friendly farm dedicated to providing the finest foods that our earth can naturally produce. We offer products through our Farm Store in Hamilton, VA and online via CSA or a la carte orders.
Skyview Acres, Winchester, VA
Sharon Mauzy
2737 Senseny Rd, Winchester, VA 22602
Phone: 540-247-8585
Email: skyviewfarming@gmail.com
Website: https://www.skyviewfarming.com and https://www.facebook.com/skyviewacres
Accepted: Pumpkins, Acorns (OH YES!), Gourds
The Farm at Walnut Creek, Hamilton, VA
Amy Favinger
39550 Meadowlark Drive, Hamilton, VA 20158
Phone: 540-751-8741
Email: farmatwalnutcreekva@gmail.com
Website: https://www.farmatwalnutcreekva.com and https://www.facebook.com/pg/thefarmatwalnutcreekva/about/
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds, Acorns
Whiffletree Farm, Warrenton, VA
Jesse Straight
8717 Springs Rd, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 540-229-5192
Email: jessestraight@gmail.com
Website: http://www.whiffletreefarmva.com and https://www.facebook.com/WhiffletreeFarmVA
Accepted: Pumpkins, Acorns (OH YES!), Apples, Gourds, Veggies
Other States
Anschuetz Farm Pastured Pork, Gettysburg, PA
Kevan Anschuetz
Gettysburg, PA (but located only about 5 miles from Emmittsburg, MD)
Email: papasturepork@yahoo.com
Phone: 717-965-0376
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, MD
15200 Mt. Nebo Rd, Poolesville, MD
Phone: 301-428-8128
Website: http://animalsanctuary.org and https://www.facebook.com/PoplarSpringAnimal
Accepted: Pumpkins, Gourds
Sunshower Farms, Holualoa, HI
Sunshower Farms is a 20 acre off-grid sustainable coffee and vegetable farm on the slopes of Hualalai in Kona, Hawaii.
Phone: 808-443-6330
Email: kate@sunshowercoffee.com
Website: http://sunshowercoffee.com and https://www.facebook.com/sunshowercoffee
Accepted: Pumpkins – for the goats
Call First: Gourds, Pine trees
Resources
Work With Your HOA
Want to make the most of your trip to the farm or sanctuary? Put up fliers in your neighborhood and create a collection point, selecting a day or two during the season to take your donated pumpkins in one trip. Its easy. Just work with your HOA to get permission to post. Talk to your neighbors and get to know them.
Community Involvement & Awareness
Create fliers and post them in your local coffee shops, salons, and restaurants to get the word out that there is a better way to dispose of their pumpkins!
Get Your Farmer Involved
If you go out to the country and buy pumpkins, ask them if they will accept them back as donations at the end of the season. Often, they have pig farms they work with to take those pumpkins they didn’t sell and will accept them as part of their pick up. Or, they will know who in their farming network would accept them and you can let us know and we will add to this site!
Contact Us
