According to research, over 8 million pumpkins are thrown away each year in the United Kingdom, which is an enormous amount of waste! Here are 4 things you can do with your left-over pumpkins this Halloween.
1. Feed the wildlife
Left over pumpkin carvings make delicious and nutritious food for your local wildlife. Squirrels, foxes, badgers and birds are amongst the animals who enjoy left over pumpkins as a tasty treat, but also makes for good enrichment items for pigs and chickens. Make sure to take any tealights out of the candle, and that the inside is free from any leftover wax before chopping it up into chunks and putting outside.
If you want to be even more creative with your pumpkin, you can try making it into a make a wildlife feeder by filling it with bird seed!
2. Turn it into compost
If your pumpkin is looking mouldy or mushy, then it’s a good idea to turn it into compost, which can later be used for fertilising other plants. Pumpkins are 90% water which means that they are broken down very easily. If you don’t have your own compost bin or pile to add to, check with your local recycling centre, farms, community gardens or allotments that you can donate to. Top tip: Make sure all the seeds are removed to prevent unwanted pumpkin plants growing.
3. Cook up something tasty
If you have any uncarved pumpkins lying around, then there are plenty of recipes to try that will turn your pumpkin into something delicious. From pumpkin pie, to soup, cakes, and even curries and pasta sauce – this fruit can make a whole host of versatile recipes.
Why not try making this traditional American pumpkin pie recipe from BBC Good Food.
4. Grow more pumpkins
Why not try growing your own pumpkins for next year? Save some of the seeds and pop in the ground now for to see them grow for next year. Pumpkins, which are part of the squash family, are easy, low-maintenance plants to grow, and the large yellow flowers they produce in the spring and summer months are a great source of nectar for bees and other important insects!
