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Pumpkins are organic waste, and therefore they don’t need to go in the bin. If they do, they may end up in landfill, where, when oxygen deprived, they will struggle to properly break down. In this environment, they can generate methane, a greenhouse gas which has many negative consequences for our planet, thus contributing heavily to the climate change crisis we’re all so painfully aware of.
So, what can you do instead?
If you didn’t carve or paint your pumpkin, then the most obvious thing to do is eat it. You have a delicious food item ready to test your culinary skills on. The Magic Molecule Co. team are all in agreement that a spiced pumpkin soup is always a lovely thing, but there are so many other different things you can try.
Use the flesh of the pumpkin to make something like this, which will be a perfect Sunday roast side dish.
Squash, mustard & gruyère gratin recipe | BBC Good Food
Or if you prefer something sweet, this combination sounds like a winner.
https://www.oddbox.co.uk/recipes/pear-compote-pumpkin-pie-spice-crepes
If you did carve your pumpkin, you can still use the seeds and roast them for a crunchy snack or in a recipe such as this:
https://www.oddbox.co.uk/recipes/rocket-pumpkin-seeds-and-truffle-oil-pesto-pasta
Definitely one the team will be trying this year!
Don’t fancy eating it yourself? Or perhaps you had a particularly successful harvest in your veg patch and cannot face the thought of squeezing more pumpkin into your breakfast, lunch and dinner? Why not consider donating it to a local food bank or kitchen, or asking your neighbours if they’d like to use it?
If you have had some fun carving pumpkins or they’re on the turn, look to compost your pumpkins rather than put them in your usual waste bin. It’ll rot down, adding some lovely nutrients into your compost to help boost the soil in your garden next year. Another fun idea is to plant up your scooped out pumpkins. Add some soil into the bottom and add your seeds. Once the pumpkin starts to decompose and it’s no longer welcome in the house, you can plant it outside where it can rot into the soil and give your seeds a good chance to make it through the winter.
Carved pumpkins could also be excellent animal feed. Do you have chickens? Or know someone who does? They may well be grateful of some food donations for their birds this autumn.
Birds, other garden critters and all the good things in your soil will all be hugely grateful for the nutritious boost of your used pumpkins. And you’ll be disposing of them in much more sustainable planet-friendly ways.
