By james art LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – As homeowners begin to put away their fall decor, a pig farmer in Lubbock is hoping that people getting rid of their leftover pumpkins will donate them to a “pumpkin” cause.
Gilt-T-Pleasure Farms focuses on raising pigs, lambs and goats ethically and does so in part by feeding them all-natural food.
Although pigs will eat just about anything, Clayton Randolph says that doesn’t mean they should.
He says at the farm in North Frankford, near At’l Do Farms, they try to feed their pasture-raised pigs things that his own family would eat.
More than 120 pigs and piglets are not fed commercial feed, but all-natural fruits, vegetables, grains and sometimes hay.
The farm works with other local farms and businesses to make sure their bountiful harvests or damaged products don’t go to waste.
“They kind of want to move to a zero waste initiative and so we’re helping them with that. And you know, our pigs enjoy it. They love it. It’s mostly water, but it really helps them in the summer,” he said.
The farm also works with large chains to make good use of its by-product.
“The waste that comes out of grocery stores is insane, how much goes to landfill. So we keep that out of the landfill and it helps us keep those animals fed,” Randolph said.
Randolph’s pigs just had their first pumpkins of the season, and he says that will be their staple diet through December.
While people are cleaning up their fall decorations, Gilt-T-Pleasure Farms wants to get their pumpkins off the porch. Randolph will take them, but hopes people will drop them off at their front door or even schedule a time to tour the farm and feed the pigs.
“The pumpkins are really a way for us to reach out to the community and get them involved,” he said. “It’s a way for the community to get involved and hear about us, see what we’re doing and hopefully buy some pork or lamb, or even a goat if they want to try goat meat.”
He says these donations keep his pigs on an all-natural diet, which makes his pork different from what customers can find at the store.
“The customer base is growing, almost daily, and I’m just glad to see a change instead of just all the commercial stuff that you don’t know where it’s coming from,” he said.
“We are 100% transparent, we will tell you exactly how we raise our animals and get people to come out. We actually encourage them to come out and see the animals and what we do and how we do it.”
Gilt-T-Pleasure Farms is located at 11110B N FM 2528 in northwest Lubbock County. To contact the farm, text 806-789-4869 or follow the farm on Facebook.
If you’re not local, you can find a list of other Texas farms accepting donations here, or Randolph says he can probably put you in touch with a farm near you.
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