Halloween is almost over, and it’s time to do something with those frumpy-looking pumpkins that have been sitting on your porch for a month.
Instead of throwing it away, turn it into a learning opportunity for your kids! You can teach them about recycling, sustainability, and supporting wildlife all at the same time.
Recycle Pumpkins for Wildlife
Here are five fun ways to make something old into something new that will help feed your furry and feathered friends outside.
Plant pumpkin seeds for next year.
You can do this by saving the seeds until next year (be sure to store them in a cool and dry place), or you can throw the seeds into your garden and see what happens!
Cut your pumpkin into pieces for wildlife to eat.
Some wildlife may like to snack on the meat of the pumpkin. Try leaving the pieces near a window and keep an eye on it throughout the day. When you see an animal coming to feed, take a picture and post it here! (If you painted your pumpkin, you may want to cut off the painted outer skin, leaving only the meat.)
Make your jack-o-lantern into a snack-o-lantern!
I think this is my favorite. Take your old pumpkin, cut a hole in the top, and fill it with birdseed. Watch the birds as they feed on the birdseed or the meat of the pumpkin.
Compost your pumpkin.
If you compost, this is a great way to recycle your pumpkin. If you don’t but you’ve always wanted to try it, then why not start with your pumpkin!
Leave the seeds out for wildlife instead of throwing them away.
It’s getting cooler and food is harder to come by for wildlife. Leave seeds out for birds and mammals to forage on.
If you live in the East Mountains where bears can become mischievous as they search for fall food sources, be careful about where you place your pumpkins. You can try hanging them from (or in) a tree. You could also place them on a second-story deck where the bears cannot reach them. Leaving them out on your front porch is an open bear invitation.
Please show us how you recycled your pumpkin this year by posting a picture in the comments!
Originally published October 2018.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
