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2025 Fall Edition | gatherwisconsin.com
What Do I Do With My Pumpkin After Halloween? By Katie Cink
One of the best parts of the fall season is spending your weekends partaking in the fall festivities. There is something magical in the air whether you are sipping on warm apple cider or visiting a local pumpkin patch with your family. If you have ever had the pleasure of going to a pumpkin patch with young children, you know finding the perfect pumpkin takes time, dedication and a careful eye. Not only do kids take finding the right pumpkin very seriously but carving it is also a careful act that takes dedication and an attentive eye. The process of picking and carving a pumpkin is not only a skill but an art. But what about when the season’s over? What are you supposed to do with the pumpkin that you just put so much time and effort into? Check out our easy tips and tricks to sustainably dispose of your pumpkins!
Composting
One sustainable way to dispose of your pumpkin is by composting. Composting is the action of collecting food scraps to reduce food waste. Compost items such as watermelon rinds, eggshells and even pumpkins can be put into a container. Break the pumpkin up before putting it into a compost bin. Once the container is full the contents can be utilized in a garden as fertilizer. Don’t have a compost bin? Try burying them in the yard. Burying pumpkins in the ground can improve soil health by providing nutrients.
Donate to a Local Farm
Talk to a local farmer about donating pumpkins to a farm. Some farmers will take old pumpkins to feed their animals. This can serve as enrichment or a toy for farm animals. Goats and pigs especially love a special treat!
Utilize the Pumpkin’s Seeds
When you first purchase a pumpkin before carving it or using it for decoration, harvest the seeds from the inside. These seeds could be baked in the oven to create a delicious snack or planted into the ground. Seeds that are planted in the ground will produce a pumpkin for next year!
Feed to Wildlife Some wildlife such as deer, birds and squirrels will eat pumpkins that are left out. If you are feeling creative create a wildlife feeder. In a hollowed pumpkin add discarded food scraps such as apples, nuts, seeds or even bird seed. No matter if you choose to compost or create something with your leftover pumpkin you are now practicing sustainability just like Wisconsin farmers. Take the stress out of the holiday season and pick an option that works best for your family. You can rest assured that all your hard work picking out the perfect pumpkin did not go to waste!
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