Hello, new (or returning) fans of guinea pigs everywhere!
This page is for my (loosely used that word) service project, Produce For Piggies. Let's start by explaining what Produce For Piggies is:
Produce For Piggies is a service project designed to help small animal rescues by donation of fresh fruits and vegetables. This does not require a farm, or large amounts of money to buy the yummy treats (aka fruits and vegetables). Grocery stores regularly throw away 50-100 pounds of produce that is still in good condition, and that the piggies and other small animals are happy to except. With the help of a Kroger grocery store outlet, and All Creatures Animal Rescue (ACRS), the founders of P4P set up a collection time, and collected the produce ever week to donate to ACRS. TIP: If you are interested in starting your own branch of P4P, you may take a similar route in setting up your P4P. Before you approach a grocery store (you will have to talk to the produce manager, and explain clearly what you are trying to do) about donating their extra produce you should: contact a rescue. You will need to find a suitable small animal rescue that has the capacity to take the produce. If they have a limit on how much they can take, you will need to inform the grocery store about that limits. Also, before contacting the grocery store, check out their produce section. If they have stuff on the shelves that you would not eat yourself, their leftovers aren't going to be good for piggy consumption. If at all possible, try a couple different stores to find which one has the best produce. Some also have really annoying policies about donating their extra food that they would normally toss out, making it more difficult then it really has to be (how hard is it to be nice to piggies?).
P4P is currently in the process of growing (through this blog, subsequent youtube posts, and coming websites/Facebook group, etc). At our home base, we are currently on pause as to collecting produce, as we wait and volunteer to help with Luna's House Animal Rescue as they build their Animal Care and Education Center. P4P is excited about this project as it may set up a permit location for (this branch of) P4P to drop off produce, and support the wonderful little piggies there as they wait for adoption!
Other Service 4 Piggies Ideas:
Birthday Party; Caring For Magical Creatures:
Looking for a creative birthday idea? How about one that supports local animal rescues as well? Well, that's what the P4P founder came up with. This Caring For Musical Creatures birthday party was a great hit!
Piggy Stockings:
Produce For Piggies is a service project designed to help small animal rescues by donation of fresh fruits and vegetables. This does not require a farm, or large amounts of money to buy the yummy treats (aka fruits and vegetables). Grocery stores regularly throw away 50-100 pounds of produce that is still in good condition, and that the piggies and other small animals are happy to except. With the help of a Kroger grocery store outlet, and All Creatures Animal Rescue (ACRS), the founders of P4P set up a collection time, and collected the produce ever week to donate to ACRS. TIP: If you are interested in starting your own branch of P4P, you may take a similar route in setting up your P4P. Before you approach a grocery store (you will have to talk to the produce manager, and explain clearly what you are trying to do) about donating their extra produce you should: contact a rescue. You will need to find a suitable small animal rescue that has the capacity to take the produce. If they have a limit on how much they can take, you will need to inform the grocery store about that limits. Also, before contacting the grocery store, check out their produce section. If they have stuff on the shelves that you would not eat yourself, their leftovers aren't going to be good for piggy consumption. If at all possible, try a couple different stores to find which one has the best produce. Some also have really annoying policies about donating their extra food that they would normally toss out, making it more difficult then it really has to be (how hard is it to be nice to piggies?).
P4P is currently in the process of growing (through this blog, subsequent youtube posts, and coming websites/Facebook group, etc). At our home base, we are currently on pause as to collecting produce, as we wait and volunteer to help with Luna's House Animal Rescue as they build their Animal Care and Education Center. P4P is excited about this project as it may set up a permit location for (this branch of) P4P to drop off produce, and support the wonderful little piggies there as they wait for adoption!
Other Service 4 Piggies Ideas:
Birthday Party; Caring For Magical Creatures:
Looking for a creative birthday idea? How about one that supports local animal rescues as well? Well, that's what the P4P founder came up with. This Caring For Musical Creatures birthday party was a great hit!
Piggy Stockings:
What piggy doesn't want to party? Making these Christmas stockings are easy- just grab a normal stocking, some felt (the colors of the desired guinea pig), and fabric paint. Cut the felt out in the shape of a guinea pig, and sew it on to the stocking. Then just add some fabric paint (for eyes, ears, and decoration on the stocking), and ta da! One piggy stocking (works for other critters as well)!
These stockings make great gifts to your masterful piggies (remember to fill them up with the piggies favorite treats!), they also can be sold to raise money for a local animal rescue. They also make for a good photo if you want to tuck your guinea pig into the stocking! (Hilarious, cute, and harmless- might be punished severely by your guinea pig master, but don't say I didn't warn you)
