Approximately 15.8 million pumpkins go to landfill each year… that’s equivalent to 95 million meals! Now that’s as scary as Halloween!
Here’s how you can use the whole pumpkin this Halloween.
The Seeds
- Rinse the orange stuff off the seeds and pat dry with a tea towel. Put the seeds on a tray and roast for 15-25 minutes depending on how crispy you want them.
- To give the seeds to the birds, leave unseasoned and let them cool before putting them out. They are a great nutritional source for birds going into winter.
- To eat them yourself as a tasty snack, add oil, salt and your choice of spices. This could be paprika, curry powder, or even cinnamon if you fancy a sweet treat! Enjoy!
The Pumpkin
- Any pieces of pumpkin that you carve out can be roasted and used for an array of dishes! Pumpkin puree, soup, risotto, chili, the list goes on!
- Search online for some pumpkin recipes and try your favourite one.
After Halloween
- Pumpkins breaking down in landfill produces methane… Instead, compost your pumpkin at home or in the compost bin! Don’t wait until it starts to rot and goes slimy – cut it into smaller pieces and put it in your compost.
- Alternatively, if it is still in good condition, reach out to any local wildlife parks who might want the pumpkins for animal snacks… or put a few pieces in your garden for birds. Make sure you place the pumpkin flesh and seeds somewhere out of reach of hedgehogs, as pumpkin isn’t good for them. Make sure it’s also not mouldy, and compost the rest if it’s not eaten quickly!
Happy Halloween!
