a pile of orange and white pumpkins

As we get closer to Halloween, it’s time to start decorating your home with corn stalks, scarecrows, spider webs, and most importantly, pumpkins. Whether used for decorations or carved up to be jack o’ lanterns, pumpkins are a staple of Halloween and fall.

But did you know that pumpkins have more uses than just for carving? Pumpkins have a variety of health benefits and can be much more functional than just a decoration. 

Consider these alternative ways to use pumpkins:

1. Bake the seeds

When carving pumpkins, don’t forget to keep the seeds! Pumpkin seeds are a delicious source of nutrients and a fun, festive snack. You can bake the seeds to be sweet or savory. Click here for a pumpkin seed recipe (the sweet kind — it’s the holidays, after all).

2. Pumpkin bread

Have you ever made pumpkin bread with real pumpkin before? It’s easy and fun to do. The form and texture are similar to banana bread. Click here for a great recipe. 

3. Use the pumpkin as mulch

When Halloween is over, don’t just throw away your old jack o’ lanterns. You could use them in your garden! Farmers often use pumpkins as compost because they decompose easily and are perfect nourishment for the soil. This is a great way to recycle your pumpkin and get more value out of it.

4. Dried Pumpkin Dog treats 

Pumpkin is a miracle food for dogs with many health benefits. They are easy to make, and your furry friend will love them. Click here for the dried pumpkin dog treat recipe.   

5. Pumpkin Face Masks

All-natural face masks are healthier for your skin and give better results than store-bought masks. If you’ve ever considered making your own facemask, now is your chance. Click here for a pumpkin face mask recipe.  

6. Chicken Feed

Pumpkins are also great to feed to chickens. Urban farming is growing increasingly popular as more people keep bees, grow veggies, and keep chickens in their backyards. This will save some money on buying chicken feed. Pumpkins are packed full of nutrients and vitamins that are good for chickens.

There are many more uses for this unique gourd other than just decorations. Here at Green Acres Landscape, we like to be resourceful with our products because the perfect pumpkin for your doorstep can also become the perfect slice of pumpkin bread.

We sell pumpkins in a variety of sizes here at Green Acres Landscape. For more information about our products, call us at (503) 399-8066 or visit our Facebook page to see pictures. 

This post was first published on greensacreslandscapeinc.com.