Wasting pumpkin is the real scare

CELINA - This year, don't let pumpkins and jack o' lanterns haunt the graveyards of garbage.

Instead, turn the tricks into treats by recycling the whole pumpkin - guts and all.

Feeding farm animals, pets

Jim Myers, owner of CountrySide Heritage Swine, a Celina-based pig farm, said pigs love the autumnal fruit.

"If you give them a whole pumpkin, (they'll get the) nutritional value, the vitamins and minerals, from the pumpkin," Myers said. "The seeds are known to help with the digestive tract and help clear out worms."

Pigs enjoy walnuts and fresh, clean fruit and vegetable scraps, such as strawberry tops and cabbage leaves.

He said his chickens also love pumpkin, melons and squash, adding that chickens will "eat about anything. You throw in a pumpkin that's been cut into pieces, they'll pick it apart."

Myers advised giving the animals fresh pumpkin and removing any debris inside.

"If they're your own pumpkins and you want to feed them to your pigs, I'd say that would be OK," he said. "I would just be careful of votive candles in there. Don't feed them the wax. I'm not sure what that would do if it would harm them or not. As far as the shell, when you're done with it, it shouldn't hurt the pigs at all, as long as it's just a clean shell and there's nothing extra - no pins or needles or decorative stuff stuck in it."

For anyone who has chickens or pets like cats and dogs, he said pumpkin is safe to give as a treat.

Pumpkin is a low-calorie superfood chock-full of vitamins and nutrients, according to the Animal Humane Society. Its high fiber content is particularly helpful for combating both diarrhea and constipation.

Pumpkin is naturally low in calories and sodium, which, in combination with its fiber content, makes it useful for weight management. It helps pets feel fuller without the calories, making it a great fat substitute when making homemade treats.

It also contains beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, and potassium to support healthy eyes, skin and coat. It can also serve as an immune system booster to help fight off illness.

The Animal Humane Society recommends avoiding giving a pet the stem, leaves, skin or raw seeds of the pumpkin.

While it's OK if the animals sneak a bite of the flesh or raw pulp here or there, the organization advises steaming or roasting the pumpkin flesh and adding the mixture to pet food. Animal lovers can even roast or grind well-rinsed seeds to sprinkle on top of food. Make sure to avoid adding oils or seasonings to the mixture.


Baking

The most popular way of using pumpkin is the most delicious - baking and cooking with it.

Fresh pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, which benefits vision and strengthens the immune system, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A cup of pumpkin contains 16% of the daily recommended amount of potassium. It also has heart-healthy vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, which can help prevent heart disease.

The seeds are also incredibly nutritious and packed full of zinc, protein and fiber, per Chow Line, an Ohio State University Extension service. They also help produce serotonin, which boosts sleep and mental stability. Zinc helps keep the skin healthy and helps the body heal wounds and fight off illnesses and infections.

"The seeds are a nutritional gold mine," Carleigh Bodrug, a chef known for cooking with common food scraps, said. They're packed with protein, magnesium, zinc and healthy fats, according to a 2022 study in the journal Plants.

One of Bodrug's recipes involves removing the seeds, rinsing them and roasting them with cinnamon for a crunchy snack or salad topper. Then you can use the stringy guts of the pumpkin to make a pumpkin puree for muffins. This version differs from canned purees in grocery stores - which typically use a different type of pumpkin or squash - because carving pumpkins have stringier innards and a milder flavor. A carving pumpkin's guts can still be used for baking - you'll just have to amp up the seasoning to boost the flavor.


Composting

Composting the pumpkin is an eco-friendly option to keep the fruit out of the landfill.

More than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins rot in U.S. landfills each year after Halloween, according to the Department of Energy.

Myers said everything that decomposes emits methane, which is a byproduct of the decomposition of waste. However, directing that gas and decomposition into composting can produce nutrient-rich soil.

"A large percentage of what ends up going to the landfill is stuff that could have been composted," said Dante Sclafani, compost coordinator at Queens County Farm in New York. "So even just cutting down something like pumpkins could really help curb how many garbage bags you're putting out every week."

Before composting, remove any candles, plastic, glitter, or other decorations - they can contaminate the compost. A little glitter or paint won't ruin the pile, but it's best to get it as clean as possible before tossing it in. Then, chop up the pumpkin in 1-inch pieces so it can break down easier.

"Pumpkins are full of water, so it's important to maintain a good balance of dried leaves, wood chips, sawdust, shredded newspaper, cardboard, straw - anything that's a dry organic material - in your compost bin," Sclafani said. If you don't maintain this balance, your compost might start to stink.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a healthy compost pile should include a mix of "greens" - like pumpkin scraps and food waste - and "browns" like dry leaves, straw or cardboard, in roughly a three-to-one ratio. That balance helps the pile break down faster and prevents odors.

And if your pumpkin has been sitting on the porch all month? That's actually ideal.

"It's never too far gone for compost," Sclafani said. "Even if it's mushy or moldy, that actually helps, because the fungus speeds up decomposition."

"Composting anything organic is better than throwing it out because you're not creating more refuse in landfills, you're not creating methane gas," said Laura Graney, the farm's education director.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.


Pumpkin Seeds:
2 cups pumpkin seeds,     rinsed and dried
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons brown     sugar
1 teaspoon ground     cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground     clove or allspice,     optional
1 teaspoon sea salt

Remove the seeds from the pumpkin, rinse under cold water and remove any membrane that remains stuck to the seeds. Lightly pat seeds dry with paper towels, then spread on a sheet tray and allow to dry at least one hour - the longer the better.

Once the seeds are dry, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Toss the dry pumpkin seeds with olive oil in a separate bowl until they're well coated. Evenly coat the pumpkin seeds with seasoning mix. Place the seasoned seeds onto a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake 17-20 minutes or until the seeds are golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before eating.

For maximum autumnal festivity, families and individuals can try heating up apple cider, snuggling up with a trusty flannel and watching a movie.