The Green Pumpkin

Everywhere I look, pumpkins are already for sale. This staple of Halloween can be an opportunity for waste or an opportunity for saving money. The green pumpkin is a great lesson for little ones.

Think about how many pumpkins, which are a sustainable product, Americans buy every year. Millions of pounds of pumpkin are thrown into the garbage annually. Rather than just carving the pumpkin and sticking a candle in the center, there are a number of ways to green up pumpkin use this year and offset your carbon footprint.

Firstly, purchase only locally grown organic pumpkins. They may not be the largest ones available but they will be natural, sustainable and safe to eat. Buying pumpkins that are flown or driven into your area is bad for the carbon footprint and increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the air.

Hollow out your pumpkin in a responsible manner. You can use all of the pumpkin so there is no reason for any of it to end up in the garbage. Any pieces you do want to throw away should land on the compost heap.

Toast and salt seeds, use innards for pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup and place remaining pulp in freezer to be pureed at a later date for Halloween style beverages. And for those who want a zero waste lifestyle? Search online for a pumpkin rind pickling recipe. Yes, they do exist.

If you hate the taste of pumpkin, then don’t purchase one. Buying things for one night just to throw away is a very irresponsible way to live and it is a complete waste of money. If you can’t live without a craved pumpkin this season, give the remains to a family member or neighbor to cook with. And if that doesn’t work for you, consider a carbon credit for each pumpkin you purchase.

If we begin to approach holidays and get togethers as opportunities to help the planet and use our creativity rather than what they are now carbon footprint enhancers, we can make permanent lifestyle changes. Natural decorations, organic cotton costumes and of course, pumpkin rind snacks, is one way to help the planet this coming holiday.