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by Simran Randhawa

Okay, so, somehow?? It’s November?? I swear it was like 2020 two days ago, but no, it’s November 2021. I’m shocked.

Anyway, October was our thrilling spooky season, and I went trick-or-treating because I still pass for sixteen (especially when I wear a mask), but now it’s November. So, why do I still see pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns outside homes? Granted, people are busy, but it’s the second week of November – people!! You should have your Christmas lights up already!!

But seriously: on November 1st, you might be wondering, “What should I do with all these pumpkins?”

There are many eco-friendly options out there for reusing pumpkins post-Halloween. For one, pumpkins, like any other fruit or vegetable, works as an excellent natural fertilizer for your garden and grass. Depending on the size of the pumpkin, you should cut it into smaller pieces to speed along decomposition. Then, put the pumpkin pieces out in the sun or bury them with thin layers of dirt with worms and insects so that nature can run its course. Don’t forget to remove the candles or any wax from inside the pumpkins before you do this.

Another option is to use it in your food! You can get really creative here: pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin soup, baked pumpkin bread – the list can go on and on! Now, I’m not a major cook or anything, but I would love to give any of these a try.

If your pumpkins are still in great shape, you can still use them decoratively! For example, you can create bird feeders or food bowls (for yourself or your pet). There are also pumpkin pots and planters, or maybe a decorative piece for inside your home. If you’ve painted on your pumpkin something scary, you can paint over it again with something beautiful or a cliché saying like: “Live, Laugh, Boo” (bad joke, I’m so sorry, I tried).

What I’m getting at is that there are options.

Sure – there’s always the compost bin. This is probably the easiest and fastest option for those who don’t have time to reuse their pumpkins decoratively or in their food. But not everyone has the option to compost because their regions don’t have compost systems in place. So does that mean going out of your way to compost in another region? I hope not – and this is where you get the government involved.

Some of us may not care at all about any of this and may continue to leave our pumpkin decorations to rot while they wait to be picked up by the dump truck. Don’t let another pumpkin waste away in a landfill. We can literally use it as soil to make our planet stronger or feed it to our pets or leave it for the squirrels (unless they’re painted on – I repeat, do not let painted pumpkins near animals). All I’m saying is that we don’t have to waste anything. All it takes is some patience and creativity, time and interest.