10/07/2021
Ever wonder what to do with Pumpkins after Halloween? Here are some ideas!
•Compost – if you have a backyard composting system or are fortunate enough to have a compost service, scrape the candle wax out of the pumpkin, break the pumpkin up, and put it in your compost bin.
•Take it to a Farm or CSA – if you know a local farmer or CSA owner, they might be interested in taking that pumpkin off your hands and feeding it to their farm animals
•Make a bird feeder – scrape out the candle wax, add in some birdseed and sunflower seeds. You can either hang it up or put it on a plant stand in your garden or yard.
•Science experiment – scrape out the candle wax and use the pumpkin for a science experiment. Put in some baking soda and add vinegar and watch the foamy explosion. You could also add a bit of food coloring to make it funnier. Kids will love this.
•Make a face mask – pumpkin is loaded with all kinds of good vitamins and minerals for your skin. Vitamins A, C, and E as well as minerals like zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, and potassium. These will help to promote collagen production, protect from free radical damage, improve cell turnover, help reverse UV sun damage, fight acne, improve circulation, improve skin texture, and much more.
•Stock – don’t throw away the stringy goop! After you remove the seeds, throw the goop into a pot filled with water, add those vegetable scraps that you’ve got stored in your freezer, boil for 30 minutes until the water color changes, and strain. Now you’ve got some yummy vegetable stock to use at Thanksgiving, or whenever you need it. You can toss the strained veggies in your compost bin.
•Roasted Seeds – Wash the seeds and let them completely dry. Save them to plant later and grow your own pumpkins or roast them and eat them. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids in addition to being a good source of fiber and antioxidants.
•Bread – everyone has a pumpkin bread recipe. Add some walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips, yum!
•Pie – puree the flesh and save it for your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie…if it lasts that long.
•Fries – I’ve had sweet potato fries but had never heard of pumpkin fries. Leave it to Pinterest to find this one.
•Cake – somehow a pumpkin cake seems more like a healthy treat so it can be enjoyed more frequently. Unless of course, you put a thick glaze or frosting on it.
