what is
|
After Halloween and Thanksgiving collect as many pumpkins and gourds as you can. Collect them from friends, family, neighbors and businesses who will trash those gorgeous gourds. Bring them to one or all of the Squash Smashes listed below. We will compost the smashed squashes for you and give you prizes for rescuing your neighborhood's gourds from going into the landfill.
If the idea of pulverizing gourds is giving you an adrenaline rush then consider registering for the Smash Contest 2019 to win a Grand Prize (awarded to the team that recovers and smashes the highest quantity of pumpkins by weight over all three events). |
WHY participate in a squash smash? |
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the U.S. end up in the landfill. These discarded pumpkins add to the more than 254 million tons of municipal solid waste produced in the U.S. every year.
Pumpkins are good food, high in essential vitamins and minerals. Most people think that once we carve and light them, their value is gone. However, pumpkins can be turned into nutrient dense food for our plants and gardens if we compost them. |
Who can join in the squash smash? |
FAMILY TRADITION - Add this kid friendly event to your family's holiday traditions. Collect pumpkins and gourds from your street and neighborhood. Post on Nextdoor to let your neighbors know that you are participating in this event. Better yet, register for the Smash Contest 2019 so your family can get credit for the pumpkins you save from the landfill.
FUNDRAISER - Use this opportunity to raise funds for your school's environmental club or your favorite charity. Ask for a donation for the pumpkins you collect from donors and bring to the events. Raise funds for your cause and make a smashing impact on your community's waste footprint! Make sure you register for the Smash Contest 2019. TEAM BUILDING - This promises to be a high energy, fun event for friends, social groups and workplace teams. Get down and dirty, bust some calories and stress and do good for the planet! |
when & where is the squash smash? |
Sunday - November 3, 2019 | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
San Carlos Community Garden 6460 Boulder Lake Avenue, San Diego, CA 92119 Saturday - November 9, 2019 | 1 - 3p.m Wild Willow Farm during the Annual Soil Shindig 2550 Sunset Avenue, San Diego, 91954 Saturday - December 7, 2019 | 9 - 11a.m. Ocean View Growing Grounds 4540 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113 Pumpkin Dropoff Sites Around the County
You can dropoff your pumpkins at the locations marked with a pumpkin icon in this map. These are fundraisers for other organisations. Please read instructions on where to dropoff your gourds and suggested donations amounts by clicking on the locations. |
HOW can I participate in the squash smash? |
Bring your rescued gourds. We'll provide garden tools and bats for the smash but you're welcome to bring your favorite tools as well.
This is no fee to participate if you are smashing casually for fun. Limit upto 1 pumpkin per participant. Show up at any or all of the events listed above. You will be asked to sign a waiver before you enter the smash area. Donations are appreciated. Please register (by filling out the form below) if you are collecting pumpkins from your neighborhood and will be smashing a large number of gourds (more than 1 per participant per event). We will keep track of the weight of each registered team's smashes at each event. Winners will be announced after the last smash on December 7th. Donations and registration fees will be used to benefit Food2Soil and our partner compost hubs. |
