One of the worst parts about being the eco-conscious type is that I feel like I’m the Bah Humbug of every holiday. I cringe at plastic Easter egg hunts and Christmas trees being killed to put in homes. And Halloween is no exception for this major reality check.
Pumpkins have become synonymous with Halloween. It seems there’s no way to separate the two. I remember one year in my young adult life, I started to feel uncomfortable and weird when I realized I hadn’t carved a pumpkin for the holiday. The gooey “guts,” the smell of the pumpkin, the roasting seeds, the candle lighting up whatever face I had attempted. That, to me, was Halloween.
But, times are changing and, as a whole, we’re becoming more aware of how our actions effect our planet and how our planet, in turn, effects us. And, pumpkins, I’m very sad to say create a huge negative impact on our world. Like any crop, they take tons of water to grow in the first place. But, unlike other crops, most of the pumpkins people purchase end up as waste, not as food. Then, as the pumpkins decompose, they release potent greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. “BOO” never seemed so appropriate.
So, what do we do…?
REDUCE
The first step is to reduce. If you absolutely aren’t ready to part with the pumpkin tradition YET, then at least cut back. Don’t support events that hurl pumpkins in catapults for sport. (Better yet, write to them and let them know why you don’t support their event or farm.) Buy less pumpkins. I’ve seen people with scores of pumpkins as decoration. Simply start by cutting back.
If you’re feeling up for it, cut out the pumpkins altogether. I’ve seen amazing spooky jack-o-lanterns made from beets, turnips, and potatoes. While this may sound odd at first, some of these types of carving practices were done long before pumpkins. I also find that these all create naturally spooky faces. What’s different about using these for carving is that when you scoop out the insides beforehand, those insides are most of the vegetable and can be used right away for eating. Any remaining bits can be composted. Also, these vegetables are smaller, which means less water waste in growing and less waste after. While I have seen other “alternative” jack-o-lanterns besides these, I think it’s always best to keep in mind which one will create the least amount of food waste.
Another idea is to create some durable craft pumpkins that can be put out and used year after year. Perhaps you can make some fabric ones as seen in this video or maybe there’s a craft base that allows you or your child to re-decorate the faux pumpkin each Halloween.
REUSE
The best way to reuse a jack-o-lantern pumpkin, of course, is to eat it. Unfortunately, once pumpkins have been carved, and lit up, there’s little appeal for eating the “flesh” that’s been out. Also, jack-o-lantern pumpkins have not been grown with taste in mind, and this type of pumpkin is usually sub-par for recipes. One suggestion is to find a pumpkin variety that is edible, decorate the exterior, if you’re feeling inclined, and then use the insides for any number of pumpkin dishes when you’re done displaying it.
Also, if the pumpkin flesh isn’t all that tasty, there are still beauty recipes that could work for making the most of the pumpkin. There are hair masks and body scrubs and face mask recipes online that use the flesh as beauty aids.
RECYCLE
The best way to recycle your pumpkin is to compost it. Read up on this first, as there are some tips you might want to be aware of like removing all the seeds and cutting the pumpkin into smaller pieces to help speed up the composting process. Also, I’ve noticed that because of the high water content of pumpkin, you may want to stay aware and add extra ‘brown’ materials while the pumpkin is doing its thing.
If you don’t have a compost pile, there are sometimes local drop-off sites after Halloween, so be on the lookout for those. You might also be able to bury some of the bits in your yard directly, so look into that as well. I once had a whole family of javelinas take care of recycling my pumpkin for me in the middle of the night, but that wasn’t exactly planned…
ENDING THOUGHTS
Traditions are very tough to change. But, as our world grows and becomes more aware, change is something we are constantly facing. I know this may sound like a bummer of a post to some, and I totally get it. But maybe, just maybe, we can embrace creating some new (and old) Halloween traditions that work for the time we’re in now.
Thank you for reading. Your actions can and will make a difference!
