where can i donate my pumpkins

4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Halloween Pumpkins

1. Leave old pumpkins for local wildlife. You may have been using it as decoration for the past few weeks, but a Jack-O'-Lantern is still a fruit.
2. Donate pumpkins to your local zoo. Don't have much wildlife in your backyard? ...
3. Compost pumpkins in your garden. ...
4. Smash it (and let someone else clean it up). ...

Full Answer

Where can I Donate my un-carved pumpkin?

Oct 08, 2021 · Zoos and wildlife rehab centers may also accept donated pumpkins as food or enrichment. Sander cautions that the biggest caveat with feeding any animals pumpkin is they have to be fresh. “Moldy pumpkins or those with significant bacterial contamination can be dangerous,” Sander says.

What do you do with pumpkins after harvesting?

If you haven’t sprayed your carved pumpkins with insect killers or other harmful chemicals, you can donate them to your local zoo or animal shelter. This is another safe and eco-friendly method to dispose of unwanted pumpkins. The shelter or zoo can use the pumpkins as fodder for animals by mixing them with other vegetables and meat.

What to do with leftover Halloween pumpkins?

How can I get rid of a pumpkin in my neighborhood?

What can I do with my old pumpkins?

8 Ways to Reuse/Recycle Pumpkins After HalloweenCompost your pumpkin. Pumpkins are 90 percent water, meaning they break down quickly. ... Make a pumpkin planter. ... Make a pumpkin feeder. ... Leave pumpkin seeds for wildlife. ... Plant pumpkin seeds. ... Cut into pieces for wildlife. ... Roast pumpkin seeds. ... Make pumpkin serving bowls.

How do you get rid of pumpkins?

How to Dispose of Pumpkins (6 Easy Ways)Why You Shouldn't Throw Pumpkins in Trash. Insect Attack/Pest Attack. ... Dispose of Pumpkins by Putting it in Compost.Try Burying the Pumpkins.Disposing of by Smashing Them.Donate the Pumpkins.Leave the Pumpkin for the Wildlife.Make Something Delicious from the Pumpkins. Making a Broth.

What do farmers do with old pumpkins?

In those cases, the excess pumpkins are typically donated to local zoos, given to a farm's animals such as hungry pigs and eager cattle, or “disced” by farmers and used as natural fertilizer for the land.Oct 27, 2015

What do I do with my old pumpkin after Halloween?

What can you do with pumpkins after Halloween? 6 ideas to get new use out of your pumpkinsAdd them to a compost pile. Pumpkins are mostly made up of nearly 90% water and decompose quickly, making them ideal for composting. ... Holiday decorations. ... Donate them. ... Feed wildlife with your pumpkins. ... Eat them. ... Save the seeds.Nov 4, 2021

Can I throw my pumpkin in the woods?

Please don't just throw it in the woods. According to many wildlife experts if you plan to donate your old pumpkin to Hudson Valley wildlife, make sure that you smash the pumpkin open before you throw it into the woods for animals to eat.Oct 26, 2021

Can you leave pumpkin out for wildlife?

The good news is that pumpkins – provided they aren't painted or coated – are safe, nutritious and delicious for wildlife. And wild animals love pumpkins.Oct 26, 2021

Is it bad to throw away pumpkins?

Just make sure to remove any decorations or pumpkin seeds before tossing them in the pile. Burying your pumpkin is another option many are not familiar with. Waste Management says the "pumpkins will eventually break down and enrich the soil, therefore improving the health of the flowers and plants in your garden."Oct 31, 2021

What happens to pumpkins that don't sell?

"Larger pumpkin growers," said Mynatt, "usually return any unsold pumpkins back to the field and plow them in to add extra nutrients to the soil. People on farms that have livestock often feed them to cattle, sheep, goats, chickens and poultry.

What can I do with old pumpkins and gourds?

What to do with pumpkins after Halloween – 10 ways to use up your gourdsMake a pumpkin bird feeder. ... Save the seeds to grow your next pumpkins. ... Feed wildlife. ... Feed your compost. ... Transform your pumpkins into planters or vases. ... Treat your skin to a fresh face mask. ... Feed your pumpkins to your pets. ... DIY a pumpkin spice latte.More items...•Oct 29, 2021

What happens to the left over pumpkins?

But how often do you eat the pulp and seeds that you cut out? Thousand of tonnes of edible pumpkin leftovers get thrown away. The insides of the spooky veg are cut out, binned and end up in landfills, creating gases which are harmful to the environment. But lots of the pumpkins we throw away can actually be re-used!

Can pumpkins go in garden waste?

Remember that pumpkins shouldn't be put in your garden waste collection.Oct 14, 2021

What can I do with small pumpkins?

9 Uses for Mini PumpkinsThey make the perfect bowl filler.Turn them into a tea light holder.Make simple place markers.Let kids take markers to them.Play tic tac toe.Add Fall to even the smallest of spaces.Give the squirrels a treat.Make them into edible bowls.More items...•Aug 28, 2017

What do you do with pumpkins for Christmas?

How To Upcycle Your Pumpkins Into Delightful Christmas DecorUpcycled pumpkin supplies.Cover pumpkin with paint.Use different sized brushes to decorate.Cut a carrot to make polka dots.Use bottle caps to place under drying pumpkins.Glitter paint gives a nice affect. ... Use mod podge to adhere glitter.More items...

Pumpkin recipes will spice up your fall

If you’re carving any jack-o'-lanterns this year, make sure to save every bit of the pumpkin, from the insides to the skin to the seeds.

Old pumpkins can be composted

Whether the pumpkins you’ve put on your stoop are still in decent condition or completely rotten by the end of Halloween season, they are the perfect addition to any compost pile — just make sure to remove any decorations first, such as candles or ribbons.

Composting a pumpkin is easy

If you don’t typically compost, now might be the perfect time to start. Check out our guide to starting a backyard compost, and our guide to composting while living in an apartment.

Drop your pumpkin at a special community compost drop-off spot for pumpkins

Many communities install temporary compost bins for residents to drop off their old pumpkins at the end of Halloween season — and they can be very effective at curbing landfill waste this time of year. For example, the city of Thunder Bay, Calif.

Zoos often accept old pumpkin donations

In addition to municipalities, some zoos accept donations of old pumpkins, which zookeepers give to animals to play with and eat.

Better yet, donate leftover pumpkins to an animal sanctuary

While zoos capture wild animals, breed them, and force them to live in confined, cramped conditions much unlike their natural habitats, animal sanctuaries rescue animals from situations of abuse and neglect, making them a more ethical place to visit and support with your donations.

Dispose of Pumpkins by Putting it in Compost

Disposing of pumpkins by putting them in compost bins is one of the safest and most eco-friendly solutions for those living in apartments.

Try Burying the Pumpkins

Another one of the safest and eco-friendly options of disposing of pumpkins is by burying them.

Disposing of by Smashing Them

Many local authorities arrange for a pumpkin smash event after Halloween.

Donate the Pumpkins

If you haven’t sprayed your carved pumpkins with insect killers or other harmful chemicals, you can donate them to your local zoo or animal shelter.

Leave the Pumpkin for the Wildlife

If your local animal shelter or zoo refuses to take pumpkins or if there’s no local animal shelter or zoo in your area, you can leave unsprayed pumpkins for the wildlife too.

Make Something Delicious from the Pumpkins

This method of disposing of pumpkins is for the leftover pumpkin bits from carving.