Getting a pumpkin to decorate for Halloween? Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the funky squash we use to decorate in October are still food that we can enjoy! With these quick and simple tips, here’s how you can get the most out of your pumpkins and have a more sustainable Spooky Season this year!
Purchasing:
The best practice for purchasing pumpkins for Halloween is to visit a local pumpkin patch. Even though stopping by Target or the grocery store may be convenient, visiting a local farm is a great opportunity to connect with the farms that grow food in your area. In addition, by shopping at a local pumpkin patch, your money stays within the local economy and your pumpkins will be fresher than those you would find at corporate stores too! So what are you waiting for? Gather the whole family and head on over to the pumpkin patch for some fall fun – I’ll race you to the corn maze!
Decorating Option 1: Paint!
When it’s time to decorate your pumpkins, consider swapping out your carving tools for some paint! Painting pumpkins allows you to preserve the pumpkin flesh for delicious dishes later. As soon as November hits, cut open your pumpkin and roast the seeds for a scrumptious, savory snack. Bake the flesh and make dishes like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, or even pumpkin stew!
Here are a few of my favorite recipes for you to try out in the kitchen after Halloween this year!
Nourishing Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup by Table for Two
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars by Healthful Blondie
Perfect Pumpkin Seeds by Home Cooking Memories
The only remaining parts of the pumpkin that won’t be used are the stem, the skin, and the goop. But before you throw that in your landfill bin, remember that these items make great compost!
Decorating Option 2: Carve!
If the idea of picking up a paintbrush is terrifying and you don't want to give up carving your Jack-o-Lanterns, make sure to save the seeds when you scoop out the pumpkin goop to roast later!
Just be sure that once Halloween is over, you compost the guts and the rest of your pumpkin’s body in a backyard garden, your local composter, or somewhere where wildlife can enjoy the Pumpkin Spice Life as well.
Why Halloween pumpkins matter:
Every year, the United States throws away 145 billion meals worth of food. Let that sink in for a moment. One hundred, forty-five BILLION.
Food waste isn’t just problematic because every 1 in 11 people in the world are hungry, but also because it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. As food breaks down in landfills, it emits methane – which is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to heating up our atmosphere.
By purchasing locally, cooking pumpkins, and composting this Halloween, you are choosing to be part of the change to curb these devastating statistics and lead the world towards a greener future.
Pumpkin pie and doing better for the planet? – Sounds like a “Treat-or-Treat” scenario to me!
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