Welcome to The Environmentalist, your column for understanding the natural world. This edition of the column is a horror story few ever talk about. How pumpkins are haunting the planet!
Fall, one of the best seasons for spooky activities. From taking a walk around the neighbourhood to see the slowly falling leaves, to enjoying a cup of apple cider in a witchy orchard. Autumn is always dear to our hearts, but have you ever stopped to think about what happens with all the pumpkins we see everywhere once October passes?
First, we need to understand the history of pumpkins. It all started in Central and South America where the first widely spread harvest of pumpkins was grown. They arrived in Europe around the 16th century and became an autumn kitchen staple — not for decoration, but for delicious meals. In the 19th century an Irish folktale began to print the legend of “Stingy Jack.” With time, it started to be known as “Jack of the Lantern” or simply Jack O’ Lantern.
Nowadays, pumpkins are a fall staple. Approximately 87,000 metric tonnes of pumpkin were produced in Canada in 2022 alone, the dollar amount nearing $37 million. Even though pumpkin is a nutrient dense food with lots of vitamins, minerals, and low calories, most of it is disposed of after October. This contributes to Canada’s food waste problem, with more than 50 million tonnes of food that is lost or wasted yearly.
Approximately 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills every year in the United States. This without considering the amount of water, soil, fertilizer, equipment, transport, refrigeration necessary only to grow them. Now take in account all the methane and carbon that will be released by those 1.3 billion pounds rotting in a landfill.
Enough! What can we do about it? Pumpkins are edible (and quite yummy)! So here are some ideas for what to do with your pumpkin after the season ends. Compost it, bury it (be aware that you might have a spooky sprout next year), roast the seeds, purée the flesh, use it for broths and soups, leave pieces outside for the local wildlife, donate it to the zoo or local farms! The key is to have fun with it, always remember to remove all the paint and decorations, don’t leave it in public spaces where it might attract animals or an unknowing by-passer. Lastly, before we all head out trick-or-treating, remember that buying mindfully, knowing the place that everything we have comes from, and where it will eventually end up is the best way to have fun in any season. As the Lorax once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” So, let’s care.
