Every year after Halloween, we come together with friends and followers to save the pumpkins left in the fields at AGA Farms in Perkasie, PA! This year, we are excited to announce that we successfully harvested approximately 3,500 pounds of pumpkins! Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful event!
Our three dogs—Candy, Sully, and Kewpie—were eager helpers in the pumpkin harvest! Candy, our wise 14.5 years old chocolate lab, was joined by Sully our English mastiff, who is around 7 or 8, and our little ball of energy, Kewpie the yellow lab, who will celebrate her 2nd birthday in January. Each dog brought their unique spirit to the day - they loved meeting each of you! Kewpie, experiencing a pumpkin harvest for the first time, sprinted around nonstop for the entire four hours. Candy and Sully tried to teach her how to snack on pumpkins and by the end of the day, all three pups were completely worn out!
Our journey with AGA Farms started with a Piggybacking Partnership in the Fall of 2017. Over the past eight years, we've watched the farm flourish—even during the pandemic! We've seen them plant grapevines, test out making pumpkin wine, which was a delightful idea but unfortunately they discontinued after the first season. And now their new venture, Aviator Winery, is flourishing! For those who couldn't join us this year, don’t miss the chance to pick up your Christmas tree at AGA Farms starting on November 29th! And while you’re there, enjoy a drink at the winery. The farm is dog friendly, and on good weather days when the hangar door is open at the winery, dogs are welcome there too!
We recommend trying their Grüner Veltliner if you prefer a dry and tart white wine. For those who enjoy a dry, fruity red, the Cabernet Franc is an excellent choice—each wine is made from grapes grown right on the farm!
After a fulfilling Piggyback pumpkin rescue harvest, we gathered at their winery for drinks and friendly conversations. Everyone who RSVP'd to the pumpkin rescue harvest went home with a Piggyback Box filled with some of our best-selling treats, making it an unforgettable day!
Our work continues now with cleaning, cutting, gutting, slicing, baking, toasting, drying, and packaging the pumpkins into four different treats. There’s something truly satisfying about turning rescued pumpkins into delightful snacks that not only keep pets happy, but healthy too.
Are you interested in joining us for a food rescue mission in the future? We love sharing our journey and emphasize the importance of food sustainability while having fun! If you have any questions about our activities or want to get involved, please leave your queries below. We can't wait to hear from you!
The Importance of The Piggyback Pumpkin Rescue Harvest
Over the years, our partnership has shown how valuable this pumpkin rescue harvest is in reducing waste. Each pumpkin we save not only prevents food waste but also enriches our community through nutritious, hand-made treats. We can honor the resources that went into growing these pumpkins - labor, water and time, by making use of them fully, instead of tilling them back into the soil. Partnering with AGA Farms has emphasized the importance of transforming seasonal produce into beneficial foods we can share with our favorite furrmily members.
As we look toward the future, we aim to build on this mission. Food rescue initiatives allow us to engage with the community while creating a sustainable future. Every pumpkin harvested represents an opportunity to teach others about sustainability and the importance of supporting local farms.
Building Community Through Fun Events
Our annual harvest event has become a beloved tradition in our community. It's not just about pumpkins; it's about connecting with each other and creating lasting memories. Families, friends, dog lovers, and local businesses come together to enjoy a good day of work, reducing food waste and supporting family farming.
If you love community service, sustainability, animal advocacy, or just being outdoors, consider joining us next year! We have a great time during the harvest while accomplishing something meaningful together.
Stay Tuned for Next Year’s Piggyback Pumpki Rescue Harvest!
As the 2024 harvest wraps up, we are already looking forward to next year. We invite everyone who participated to continue engaging with us. We’ll keep you posted about our next rescue mission and upcoming events. We want even more of you to join us!
Join the Movement!
The Piggyback Pumpkin Rescue is more than just an event; it’s about coming together, celebrating our community, honoring partnerships built on the shared desire to reduce food waste, and making a real difference in food sustainability. The camaraderie shown by all participants reinforces our belief that together, we can achieve great things!
Let’s keep this movement thriving! If you missed out on helping us rescue pumpkins this year, there’s always room for more enthusiastic hands and happy hearts next year! So mark your calendars and follow our journey with AGA Farms. We can’t wait to see you at our next exciting food rescue mission!
For those in the Philadelphia area, we are piggybacking with Back To Earth Compost again this year! Bring your pumpkins to one of their collection sites so we can make good use of them!
Feel free to leave your questions below or let us know if you’d like to participate in other food rescue missions. Together, we can celebrate community and sustainability, one pumpkin, one restaurant, one brewery, one farm at a time!
Happy Fall and remember, Treat Sustainably!
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