Halloween has come and gone – it’s November and already the Christmas decorations are available in stores! Let’s face it, it’s almost time to swap out the pumpkin and gourd decorations for holly wreathes. So, what should we do with those old gourds? They’re organic and can’t properly decompose without soil microbes and air, so adding them to the landfill is not the best solution. Each year after Halloween, pumpkins, old hay bales, and leaf litter enters the waste stream, left to release methane gas in landfills. Fortunately, there are several eco-friendly ways to get rid of the old pumpkins!
Let Wildlife Enjoy It
Please note that this should ONLY be done with un-touched gourds. Do not let wildlife eat from bleached or painted pumpkins, as this can accidentally poison them! Also, if the pumpkin was carved, be sure that there are no leftover candles inside and that the pumpkin is mold-free. Once the pumpkin has received the “all-clear”, toss it into the woods in your yard, or see if your local nature center or park is accepting old pumpkins. Raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other animals will thank you for the free snack!
If you don’t have a suitable area to put them out for wildlife, check to see if local farms or zoos want them. Many pigs, goats, and other animals will have fun with the gourds!
Create Bird Feeders
The seeds can be added to bird feeders and the gourds themselves can become suet block holders! One of my personal favorite woodpecker feeders is a pumpkin with suet stuffed into holes. This can be a really fun way to leave un-carved/painted gourds outside to attract colorful and cheerful visitors to your home.
Compost the Ol’ Things
Pumpkins and other gourds are high in nutrients that can return to the soil. Throw them in your compost bin, or in a brush pile in your yard. You never know – there’s a strong chance that you might even grow a volunteer pumpkin patch!
Make a Delicious Meal
Whether you want to roast the seeds and eat them over salads or as part of a fun granola or trail mix, or use the flesh to make a pie, there are so many fun ways to eat pumpkins! I really enjoy making a soup-base, since I like savory flavors rather than sweet ones. Of course, just as with wildlife, you do want to be sure that your pumpkins are free of chemicals and mold before using it.
As more and more people compost, feed the wildlife (or themselves!) with old Halloween pumpkins, the number of pumpkins entering the landfill (over 1 billion!) can decrease and prevent this fun decoration from becoming an environmental pollutant!
