The 2023 Great Pumpkin Rescue

Find a drop-off location near you and donate your pumpkins, squash and gourds as part of Oxford County's Great Pumpkin Rescue

Oxford County is home to the Great Pumpkin Rescue!

Almost 2.2 million tonnes of edible food is wasted each year in Canada. Instead of going to waste, pumpkins, squash and gourds can be repurposed into community meals and feed for livestock.

Rescue your pumpkins, squash and gourds after Halloween by diverting them from the landfill at several drop off locations in Oxford County from November 1-6, or according to the signs on site at the following locations.

• Good Nature Eco Farm, 135148 13th Line, Thamesford N0M 2M0
• Kiwanis’ Community Garden, 108 Wonham Street South, Ingersoll, N5C 3V2
• Lara Martin-Dow and Stephen Dow, Rolling Stone Boers, 375158 37th Line Zorra Township
• Little Hobby Hill Farm, 333624 Plank Line, Salford ON N0J1W0
• Little Fields Farm, 867207 Township Rd 10, Bright, ON N0J 1B0
• Milky Way Farm (Meaghan Brandenburg) 484872 Sweaburg Rd, Woodstock, ON N4S 7V
• Purses and Things, 584592 Beachville Road, Beachville, ON N0J1A0.
• Sam Boyse’ Northlane Farm 662742 Road 66 Thamesford, ON N0M 2M0
• The Smith’s 70 Glenn Avenue, Sweaburg, South-West Oxford, ON N4S 7V6
• Tillsonburg Transfer Station, 50 Newell Rd, Tillsonburg, ON N0J 1H0
• Travis Palen's Farm 345548 Quacker St, Norwich, ON N0J 1P0
• Woodstock Enviro-Depot, 944 James St. Woodstock, ON N4S 085
• Woodstock Farmers’ Market, 875 Nellis St, Woodstock, ON N4S 8Z9 (Note: This location is one day only, Sat. Nov. 4th, 7 am to noon.)

Unpainted, untainted pumpkins only please, without wax, metal or plastics that cannot be consumed by livestock.

Find more tips and recipes on what to do with your leftover pumpkins to prevent food waste by reading the Waste Reduction Week blogs at www.wasteline.ca.  

Download the poster of drop-off locations

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The Great Pumpkin Rescue started organically by local farmers and environmentalists who wanted to rescue discarded pumpkins, squash and gourds after Halloween from the landfill. The group shares information, promotes and coordinates other uses for pumpkins, including uses for:

• Home recipes
• Community meals
• Donations to local soup kitchens
• Feed for pigs, goats and chickens

The Great Pumpkin Rescue Facebook page offers tips and suggestions for using, repurposing, donating and composting your used Halloween pumpkins, squash and gourds, as well as fantastic recipes.