Sustainable Solutions for a Happier Halloween

As you gear up for all the fall fun of costume parties, haunted houses, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating, don’t forget to think about your choices and their impact on the environment. It’s easy to get carried away come the holidays, but a little forethought can help you have a more sustainable and enjoyable Halloween.

Pumpkin Carving

From jack-o-lanterns to intricately carved masterpieces, there’s nothing quite as fun come autumn as carving a pumpkin with friends, family, and little ones. Pumpkins are already a sustainable Halloween decoration, given their organic nature, but a little preparation ahead of time will stretch your pumpkin even further.

Where to Buy Your Pumpkins

As pumpkin patches pop up on every corner, scope out your options where pumpkins have traveled the least. Big box stores and large pumpkin patches often import their pumpkins from great distances, which takes an awful lot of vehicle travel. Instead, buy your pumpkins from local farms and mom and pop shops where the pumpkins grow closer to home.

Setting Up a Sustainable Carving Station

Before you plunge into your pumpkin, set your pumpkin carving location up to avoid unnecessary waste.

• Table coverings. Carving a pumpkin is a messy job. Think ahead and cover your table with a washable tablecloth or newspaper that can be tossed in the recycling or compost bin when you finish.
• Save the seeds. All those seeds you scoop from the pumpkin make for a delicious and healthy snack. Set out a clean bowl to collect the seeds and roast them in the oven afterward for a satisfyingly crispy reward.
• Compost the guts. All those extra stringy and slimy guts are excellent for compost piles. You can either set out your indoor compost bin or a separate bowl to collect the goop.
• Flameless candles. Every carved pumpkin needs good light. Instead of a traditional candle, consider using a safer, flameless LED light.

Pumpkins will rot quickly, so it’s best to carve your pumpkin on October 30th or 31st to avoid sad, droopy jack-o-lanterns. If you wait, you can even bring your carved pumpkin back inside after trick or treating, scoop out the flesh and use it to make a delicious pumpkin pie!