If you are like my family, you probably have a few pumpkins lingering on your front porch or steps that will soon turn into a liquefied mess. Before this seasonal icon becomes a chore to clean up, consider a few green ways in which you might recycle your Jack-o-lantern.
One of the easiest things you can do is simply to compost your pumpkins. An advantage to this method is the potential to have pumpkin vines grow out of your compost pile in the spring. This works great with those gourds you toss after Thanksgiving as well, and in the spring you can see what sprouts up. You may even harvest your own pumpkins, squash, or gourds next fall!
If composting is not your thing but you have chickens (or know someone who does), a flock can make quick work of a halved pumpkin; I throw a pumpkin to them every few days and they eat everything but the stem and skin turning trash into delicious eggs.
Finally, once I have satisfied my compost pile and flock, I often will chop one open and leave it in the yard for other critters like squirrels, raccoons, and possums. Keep a flashlight handy and you can check at night to see who visits.
Whatever you do, try not to send your pumpkins to the landfill and let nature get a crack at it first.
