Pumpkins for the Planet 2026 - Get involved!
Pumpkins for the Plant is a local grassroots initiative which brings our community together. Feel the glow of satisfaction from helping the planet (and maybe a little glow in your abs as well, if you are lifting pumpkins!). All help is appreciated - no amount of time volunteered is ever too small.
Pumpkin Collection Sites for 2026
Here are the 2026 Collection Sites for Pumpkins in Ottawa South!
Drop off your intact or carved (not mouldy) pumpkin at these locations until Tuesday Nov 3 at 8 pm. Otherwise save your intact pumpkins until PumpkinFest on November 8 and drop them off at Ernie Calcutt Park (759 Mooney’s Bay) https://maps.app.goo.gl/JiEkWHqdtmqu5cvT9
Volunteer to be a Collection Site, Farm Facilitator, Food Rescue Wrangler, Social Media Maven or Pumpkin Powerlifter!
Fill in our Volunteer Form to tell us when you are available and what special interests or skills you have! There are many roles that can be done virtually and in person.
Note: We are looking for collection sites ONLY in River Ward, Alta Vista Ward and Gloucester-Southgate unless you are able to provide your own parade (transportation) of pumpkins to the park before Tuesday Nov 3 at 8 pm.
Tell people about Pumpkins for the Planet and PumpkinFest while Trick or Treating!
We are finalizing some simple information cards that can be printed out and handed out as you go trick or treating. Tell neighbours how they can repurpose their pumpkin, leave an information card in little libraries, or slip them under some pumpkins as you head out trick or treating. You can also print one out for your door! We will be adding documents to this folder - or send us an email and we will send you the page you would like.
LIFT SOME PUMPKINS! 💪
Want some physical exercise? Come out to help us lift and move pumpkins! **Great for student volunteer hours**
A. Tuesday November 3rd (evening): Moving/sorting Pumpkins at various collection sites
B. Wednesday November 4th (all day + evening): We also need people who live near collection sites to help load too - so let us know if you are available on Wednesday November 4th before 1 pm or after 6 pm help load up trucks and trailers!
C. Thursday November 5th (daytime): Continuing to sort and load pumpkins from 8 am - 5 pm at the various collection sites.
D. Sunday November 8th (9- 12 & 4 - 5 pm): Help us prepare for PumpkinFest with wonderful displays of pumpkins at 759 Mooney’s Bay Place (Ernie Calcutt Park).
If any of these roles interest you, please fill in our form or send us an email letting us know when you are available.
Volunteer at PumpkinFest
Want to chat with people, enjoy some hot chocolate and meet community groups working on Food Insecurity? We need volunteers to help with people wrangling and to animate the OSEAN table and organize kids activities on Sunday November 8th as part of PumpkinFest at Ernie Calcutt Park (759 Mooney’s Bay Place).
Send us an email for more details.
