Once the spirit of Halloween settles down, there are a bunch of pumpkins left. What can you do? Instead of throwing them away, there are many options on sustainably discarding old pumpkins:
Plant
If you want to start your own patch, you can plant the seeds. Make sure to learn more about planting pumpkins before taking on the challenge.
Compost
You’ll love this tip if you already have a compost pile: simply place the pumpkin on your pile! Pumpkins are composed of 90% water, which helps provide nutrients fast. To avoid sprouts from forming, you can cut the seeds. If you don’t compost, you can always reach out to your local farms or gardens to donate.
Please note, this ONLY applies for non-painted pumpkins. Do NOT use painted pumpkins. They may contain toxic chemicals from paint and are unsafe.
Homemade Bird Feed
You can use the seeds to feed birds. Rinse the seeds and let them dry completely. Once done, place them in an accessible area for birds. If you have a bird feeder, mix pumpkin seeds with birdseed.
Please note, this ONLY applies for non-painted pumpkins. Do NOT use painted pumpkins. They contain toxic chemicals from paint and are unsafe.
Animal Feed
You can let wildlife have a taste of the fall season with pumpkins! Grab the non-painted pumpkins and cut them into small pieces. Gather the diced pumpkin and seeds and scatter far from residential areas.
Please note, this ONLY applies for non-painted pumpkins. Do NOT use painted pumpkins. They contain toxic chemicals from paint and are unsafe.
Consumption
If you’re in the mood for a snack, you can use the seeds! Separate the seeds and rinse thoroughly. Make sure they're dry and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with oil spread out and place them in a single layer. Add your choice of salt, sugar, or your own spice mix. Bake for 5 minutes until they’re golden brown, time depends on the size.
Do NOT feed roasted seeds to wildlife, please refer to #3 and #4 for wildlife.
Old pumpkins do not need to be thrown out in the landfill. There are sustainable ways to discard an old pumpkin and make the most out of the fall season!
