Put pumpkins to good use

Don’t toss your gorgeous gourd decorations into the bin! Try these sustainable practices instead.

One of the best parts of fall is enjoying all the fun festivities and decorating with fresh pumpkins. Then, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, everyone is quick to replace — or trash — those gorgeous gourds with other holiday decorations.

In the U.S. alone, more than 1 billion pumpkins reach the landfill every year. But did you know uncarved pumpkins can last up to three months? And they can be used for more than just temporary seasonal decorations.

Instead of chunking them, try these sustainable practices instead.

1. Cook them. Many people think you must use a cooking pumpkin (aka: sugar pumpkin) to make delicious recipes. But you can use decorative ones too! Large orange pumpkins (including warty goblins) can be used for pumpkin pie, creamy pumpkin soup, or even just roasted alongside other vegetables. White pumpkins can be stuffed with sausage and gruyere or blended with spiced curries. Pro tip: Roast the seeds to add some festive crunch to any fall cuisine.

2. Compost them. Any variety of pumpkin is a great addition to your compost bin. They’re rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which aid in plant growth. They can also add a lot of moisture to the compost. Just make sure to prep your pumpkin for composting by removing any decorative components like adhesive, glitter or wax, and remove the seeds if you don’t want any baby pumpkins popping up in your compost!

3. Feed them to livestock. Pumpkins can add the variety that they need in their diet while serving as a protein and energy source. If you don’t own livestock, consider giving them to your friends who do, or even donate them to a local farm. Every bit of the pumpkin will be greatly appreciated and used to its full capacity as a fall treat for the animals to enjoy!