Enjoy pumpkins, but do so responsibly

Enjoy pumpkins, but do so responsibly

AT THE TRAIL

BRI CORPUS

It’s pumpkin season!

While we love seeing them around our offices and neighborhoods, here at The Cibolo, we remain mindful of where things go after they are used.

More than 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills across the country after being thrown in the trash post-season.

Pumpkins are organic materials and when left to decompose in landfills, they produce methane, a potent air pollutant that traps heat in the atmosphere. In fact, organic waste in landfills is one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the United States.

Additionally, 40% of all food in America is wasted, totaling about 119 billion pounds of food annually. By tossing pumpkins into the trash, we’re contributing to methane emissions and the food waste crisis, both issues that have global impacts.

So, what can you do this season to help?

Tips for Carved Pumpkins

If you are carving pumpkins this season, remember to save those seeds and don’t be afraid of the guts. Once you’ve removed them, place all the goo-covered seeds and insides from your pumpkin into a large bowl filled with water.

With a fork, stir the mixture. Eventually the seeds will rise to the top and the pumpkin pulp will rest at the bottom. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the seeds out of the bowl and place them on a paper towel to air dry.

The seeds can be roasted, planted, or saved for future use, and the nutrient-rich water can be given to your garden plants. Carved pumpkins will only last a few days before they begin to rot, so be sure to have a disposal plan ready.

Tips for Painted/Undecorated Pumpkins

Painting pumpkins is a great option for those of us who aren’t great with a blade.

When not in extreme hot or cold, uncut pumpkins can last months without rotting. This makes them ideal for further use after the holidays have come and gone.

Pumpkins are high in vitamins, and the puree is popularly used in skin care and in cooking for humans and healthy treats for dogs.

If you have painted or added other adornments to your pumpkin, completely wash everything off the outside, or peel the skin off. Once that is done, cut the pumpkin down the center. Scoop out the seeds and refer to the previous tip. The halves can be baked until the walls have softened. Then scoop the softened pieces into a food processor or mix in a bowl. This puree can now be used in a variety of recipes or frozen for later.

Tips for Disposing

Instead of tossing them in the garbage, pumpkins can be cut into smaller pieces and buried in your garden where their moisture and nutrients will feed your soil.

Pumpkins are also used to feed livestock. Thankfully, we have lots of neighbors in and around Boerne with gardens and animals, so check with local connections to see if anyone is in need of used pumpkins.

A website, Pumpkinsforpigs. org provides lists of farms and sanctuaries actively seeking gourd donations of all kinds, so be sure to check them out.