Halloween is over and Spooky Season has come to a close. While most Halloween décor gets packed up and stored for another year, pumpkins are not so lucky.

I’ve always wondered what alternatives there are to throwing out the jack-o-lantern. There has to be a better use for it than just taking it to the transfer station or throwing it out. Turns out there are a ton of different options! From smashing the pumpkin to pumpkin bowling, it turns out there are plenty of uses for that discarded jack-o-lantern.

• Roast The Seeds

  How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

  Save the seeds from your pumpkins this year and make roasted pumpkin seeds for a healthy, crunchy snack. If you're carving a Jack-O-Lantern, then don't waste the goodness inside, follow this easy step-by-step guide, and you'll be rewarded with a special treat!

• Make Pumpkin Bread

  Ultimate Pumpkin Bread Made With Fresh Pumpkin | Only 8 Ingredients

  If Starbucks could make pumpkin bread this good I might actually support them. Then again, they don't. Here's how to make real pumpkin bread

• Make a PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte)

  The Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

  How to make the best pumpkin spice latte with pumpkin puree, coffee, milk, and fall spices. Better than Starbucks! See the easy recipe and video.

• Smash Them!

  Smashing Pumpkins: A Cultural History of a Halloween Tradition - Modern Farmer

  How the wonton destruction of pumpkins became a Halloween tradition.

  Looking to blow off a little steam? Need to burn off that sugar rush from eating all the kids candy? Pumpkin smashing is a Halloween Tradition dating back over a hundred years.

  “By the end of the 20th century, pumpkin smashers had inserted themselves as Halloween mainstays.” – Modern Farmer

• Compost It

  The dos and don'ts of composting your pumpkins

  If you want to make sure your pumpkins don't go to waste, here's how to compost them.

• Feed The Wildlife

  Is Pumpkin Good For Wildlife: Feeding Animals Old Pumpkins

  Once autumn and Halloween is over, you may find yourself wondering what to do with the leftover pumpkins. Is pumpkin good for wildlife? Find out here.

  A smashed pumpkin is perfect for wildlife! Leave it outside and watch the birds and deer finish it off.

• Bury It

  https://www.lifesavvy.com/151087/why-you-should-bury-your-pumpkin-after-halloween/

  If you don’t have an established composter, burying your pumpkin is an excellent choice! Over time the pumpkin will decompose and enrich the surrounding soil. Besides… the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” comes to mind.

• Use It As A Planter

  Jack o Planterns

  Step by step instructions to make Jack o Planterns or Jack-o-Lantern Planters from a pumpkin and some garden plants!

  This is a perfect way to bring out your creative side while making the perfect fall planter!

• Donate It To A Zoo or Farm

  Welcome - Pumpkins For Pigs

  Our mission is to match pigs (and other pumpkin-eating animals) with un-carved, non-inked/non-painted pumpkins to prevent them from being thrown in the landfill. They are excellent feed and a wonderful treat to the animals on the farms and sanctuaries. They also make great compost.

  No farm near you? Donate it to a local community garden!

• Pumpkin Pie

  Perfect Pumpkin Pie

  Smooth, creamy, and delicious, this easy pumpkin pie made with sweetened condensed milk makes the perfect Thanksgiving dessert.

  With Friendsgiving on the horizon, and Thanksgiving after that, making a pie is the perfect way to use up any pumpkins you have! Or, if you don’t want to wait, who is to say you can’t make a pumpkin pie just for fun…

   

• Pumpkin Bowling

  How to Play Pumpkin Bowling | ehow.com

  Whether you are staging a fall festival, Halloween party or a family fun night, bowl everyone over with a round of pumpkin bowling. This game consists of rolling a pumpkin into ghostly pins. Putting all of the pieces together is simple and components are easy to find.

  Looking for a family bonding experience? Look no further! By setting up some empty two litter bottles or paper towel rolls,  you can make the perfect at home bowling ally. Use the pumpkin like a bowling ball and try and knock down the pins!

• Plant The Seeds

  How to Prepare and Plant Fresh Pumpkin Seeds in the Garden

  The easy process of planting pumpkin seeds from a freshly carved or sliced pumpkin for growing in the garden.

  If you have your own pumpkin patch there is no reason to get dressed up in matching outfits and drive forty five minutes for a photo shoot when you can just do it at home!

Ayla Brown is the morning show host on “Country Mornings with Ayla Brown” from 5:30-9:00am. You can read the rest of her blogs here

Country Mornings with Ayla Brown

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