Okay, Halloween is over, but what can you do with all of those leftover pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns? Actually, there is plenty you can do, from home schooling activities to feeding your family. Read on to find out ten different ways to use your leftover pumpkins.
- Feed them to the wildlife. Hunter routinely gather old Halloween pumpkins and use them to lure deer to hunting grounds. While we won’t be hunting in our backyard, we will be able to provide the native wildlife with a tasty snack.
- Donate them to a farmer. Farmers can use the leftover pumpkins to feed some of their livestock.
- Toast and eat the seeds. Just add a little salt, an you have a tasty snack.
- Save the seeds and plant them next year. You can grow your own pumpkins. It will be fun and educational, and it may even save you money. Just remember to plant seeds from at least three or four pumpkins. You want to make sure that you have a mix. Pumpkin plants come in either male or female, and you will need both to produce pumpkins instead of just vines and flowers.
- Make the pumpkins into pumpkin puree for pumpkin pies, pumpkin bars, pumpkin butter, pumpkin soup and all sorts of great treats. I think sugar pumpkins are best for this, but I have heard that decent pies can be made from carving pumpkins as well.
- Create centerpieces and thanksgiving displays with your Halloween pumpkins. Obviously, they will need to be ones that haven’t been carved into jack-o-lanterns.
- Turn a pumpkin into a turkey with the addition of feathers, construction paper or felt.
- Compost the pumpkins for a rich addition to your garden.
- Use the pumpkins for home schooling. How much do you think they weigh? Why might a big pumpkin weigh less than a small pumpkin? Will the pumpkins float if you place them in a bathtub full of water?
- Hollow out the pumpkins and make them into boats.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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