We love having our front stoops decorated with pumpkins, there is no need to not throw them away once the season is over! Pumpkins (like any organic material) are very hard to break down in a landfill and release the potent greenhouse gas, methane. There are lots of great alternatives to dispose of them:
Drop off at local farm
Many will take it for their animals (chickens, goats, pigs, cows and horse all love them!) or for their compost piles. It is important to note they can not be painted (some paints are toxic) or carved/cut (due to mold issues). Make sure to check with your farmer first, certified organic farmers have be very strict with what they feed their animals and add to their compost. Here are a few farms that we know are accepting pumpkins:
Tabora Farms (1220 Upper Stump Rd, Chalfont, PA 18914)
Durham Glen Farm (6200 Durham Rd, Pipersville, PA)
Morgan Creek Farms (2565 Tollgate Rd, Quakertown, PA 18951) –Â drop off at end of driveway at the corner of the barn by the old plow.
Private residence (3933 Burnt House Hill Rd – leave on pallet on very overgrown lawn)
Cook them
All squash and pumpkins are edible and delicious! They all keep well in a cool place, some for months – remember that Native Americans developed many varieties across the country and stored them for the winter, as did the colonists who followed. More varieties were developed in other countries around the world. Baker’s Creek Seeds offers almost 48 varieties of winter squash! Here is a tutorial on how to process pumpkins. Are those big ones too big and awkward to cut? Just go outside and throw them down on a hard surface to break them into pieces!
- Storage: While the ideal temp is only 55º or so, I’ve kept them in my kitchen and cool attic for months. You can also just cook ahead and freeze. (read more)
- Recipe ideas: soups, stews, puree, smoothies, pies, custards, crackers, even Chef Kelly’s pumpkin muffins with streusel topping
- Check out our Winter Squash handout for nutrition facts and more information
Feed to your dogs
Squash and pumpkins are also good for dogs, once cooked they can be added in small amounts to dogs’ food. You can add puree (but make sure to keep it plain, no butter, salt, or seasonings needed) to their food or feed them pieces as a treat (without skin and seeds)!
Compost
Squash make great additions to post compost piles, plus you may get bonus squashes growing next year!
- Add to your compost pile
- Check out a compost service such as BCS Compost or Kona Compost
Want to take a deep dive into the history of pumpkins? Read our interview with a pumpkin!
We hope your pumpkins can live another life as food for yourself, animals or making new soil for next year. How will you dispose of your pumpkins this year?
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