Parenting

Long live the pumpkins! Repurpose pumpkins to extend Halloween happiness

Pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns are essential Halloween decorations. But once the trick-or-treaters have come and gone, what can you do with these festive gourds? Rather than just throwing them in the trash or compost pile, repurpose your pumpkins with any of these ideas.

Get cooking

Pumpkin is a healthy ingredient that can be used in a variety of delicious recipes, such as soup, hummus, salads and more. It’s best to use the fleshy part of fresh uncarved pumpkins for recipes. But if you are carving, you can use the innards to make a great vegetarian pumpkin stock.

Get crafty

Birds love the taste of pumpkin just as much as we do. Making a bird feeder is a great option for your leftover jack-o’-lanterns and is a fun activity for the kids!

What you need:

  • Hollowed-out pumpkins, cut in half horizontally
  • Two wooden dowel rods
  • Birdseed
  • Strong twine or cord

How to:

  1. Insert the dowels
    • Poke a dowel into the pumpkin a few inches down from the top edge. Push it straight out through the opposite side of the pumpkin.
    • Poke the second dowel through the pumpkin so it crosses just under the first dowel.
  2. Add the twine
    • Cut the twine into four equal lengths.
    • Tie a strand to each dowel, then tie the loose ends together in a large knot at the top.
    • Fill with seeds and hang in your yard.
For more Fall tips and ideas, visit our Pinterest board!
From newborns to adolescents, kids come first at Children’s Hospital of Georgia. To find out more visit augustahealth.org/kids or call 706-721-KIDS (5437) to make an appointment for your child today.

About the author

Children's Hospital of Georgia

Children’s Hospital of Georgia is the only facility in the area dedicated exclusively to children. It staffs the largest team of pediatric specialists in the region who deliver out- and in- patient care for everything from common childhood illnesses to life-threatening conditions like heart disorders, cancer and neurological diseases.