Halloween’s over… What to do with your pumpkins?

Now that the spooky season has come and gone, it's time to put those pumpkins to good use instead of letting them go to waste!

Each Halloween, nearly eight million pumpkins are thrown away after being used solely for carving (The Guardian). While pumpkins are bought to make spooky lanterns, many people overlook that they are a nutritious food source. Friends of the Earth reports that about a third of all food produced for humans is wasted. Pumpkins are no exception—yet every part of this vegetable can be reused for food. When carving pumpkins, try saving the seeds and flesh to make tasty recipes.

Instead of discarding your pumpkin after Halloween, here are a few fun, eco-friendly ideas to repurpose your Halloween pumpkins.

Eat the leftovers: If your pumpkin is still fresh and uncarved, you can roast the seeds for a tasty snack, make pumpkin purée for pies or soups, or whip up a batch of pumpkin bread. Delicious and nutritious! Pumpkins and their byproducts (including seeds, peel, and flesh) are rich sources of valuable nutrients (article). Given their nutritional value and potential health benefits, pumpkins should be incorporated into seasonal foods (article).

Compost it: Pumpkins are organic and decompose easily. Composting them is a fantastic way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Make sure to remove any decorations like candles or paint before composting. Composting is an eco-friendly method for managing organic waste, including pumpkins and other plant materials, by converting them into nutrient-rich soil amendments (article). Composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil quality, and decrease landfill waste (article).

Feed wildlife: Cut your pumpkin into pieces and leave it out in your yard or garden as a treat for birds and squirrels. It’s a natural snack they’ll love! Just be sure to keep them off the ground so they don’t harm hedgehogs (article). Pumpkin waste can be a valuable resource for livestock feed, offering nutritional benefits (article). Feeding wildlife, including with items like pumpkin, is a complex matter. While some people choose to feed wild animals, this practice can cause issues like nuisance behaviour in animals (chapter). If feeding wildlife, it’s important to use appropriate foods in limited amounts to avoid disrupting their natural diet and behaviour.

DIY bird feeder: Turn your pumpkin into a bird feeder by cutting it in half, filling it with seeds, and hanging it from a sturdy tree branch. It’s a great way to attract local birds while recycling your pumpkin! Feeders supplement natural food sources and allow close observation of birds (article). Feeding birds can improve their fitness and survival, especially during harsh weather (book). To attract birds, gardeners can create bird-friendly environments by providing food, water, and nesting opportunities (book).

Crafty décor: Hollowed-out pumpkins can make beautiful planters or candle holders for the autumn months. A little creativity can extend your pumpkin's life well beyond Halloween. While traditionally associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving, pumpkins can be repurposed creatively after the fall season (article). Pumpkins are valued for their ornamental qualities that last well beyond the harvest season (article).