Bernards Township Pumpkin Smash Returns At English Farm

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee will hold its sixth annual Pumpkin Smash on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at English Farm, 3625 Valley Road in Liberty Corner.

The community is invited to bring old Halloween pumpkins to the farm to be smashed and discarded in what organizers describe as an environmentally friendly way. No registration is required.

Residents may bring pumpkins on Nov. 7 or earlier that week while the farm is open. There is no limit on how many pumpkins people can bring.

Organizers said pumpkins may be carved or whole, but non-biodegradable items such as candles, stickers, googly eyes and plastics should be removed before the event.

"The event is great family fun, and the pumpkins are used as feed for the chickens and the pigs. It's a win-win," explained Joe Sorge, chair of the Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee.

The event is open to all ages, and participants who smash a pumpkin can then feed it to animals at the farm.

Volunteers will be on hand to monitor safety. Attendees do not have to bring a pumpkin and may still take part by smashing pumpkins already at the farm.

According to the township, the annual event handles more than 250 pumpkins each year that otherwise would have ended up as non-recycled waste.

The U.S. Department of Energy says that while pumpkins are biodegradable, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the United States end up in landfills.

"We are excited to continue to support this event," said Alice Smyk, chair of the Bernard Township Environmental Commission. "It's important to keep our pumpkins out of landfills, so as to avoid greenhouse gas emissions."

The Agricultural Advisory Committee is responsible for promoting and preserving agriculture as a viable economic activity in Bernards Township and helping agricultural enterprises continue contributing to community quality of life.

The Bernards Township Environmental Commission works to ensure environmental issues receive priority to help protect natural resources, including land, water, air and bios.

English Farm, the event site, is a historic family farm that has produced diversified agricultural products for more than 275 years. The farm follows sustainable farming practices and operates as a viable agricultural business.

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