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2009 News and Information

Pumpkins Prove Their Worth, Even After Halloween

29 October 2009 

For over 40 years, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, has been a Halloween icon enrapturing television audiences across North America. Who could forget Linus patiently waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise out of the most sincere pumpkin patch of all time?

Not the thousands of children who have just chosen the perfect specimen for their Halloween’s jack-o’-lantern, or the parents who then have to deal with gooey innards and scorched shells post-carving. And certainly not today’s food gurus, who have put the sincere squash back on the trendy food list.

Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by Irish immigrants. All Hallows Eve on October 31 marked the end of the old Celtic calendar year. On that night, hollowed-out turnips, beets and rutabagas with a candle inside were placed on windowsills and porches to welcome home spirits of deceased ancestors and ward off evil spirits and a restless soul named "Stingy Jack", hence the term “jack-o'-lantern.” The Irish turned to pumpkins when they arrived in North America, which were more plentiful and easier to carve.

Today’s jack-o'-lantern proves to be far more than just a disposable candle stick holder. 

Have Jack for dinner
Within the first 24 to 48 hours of carving, depending on conditions, Jack can be salvaged for a post-Halloween feast.

Pumpkins are not only edible, they’re healthy, abounding in lutein and alpha- and beta-carotene (all are antioxidants). So, rather than toss the seeds and meat when carving, look up some delicious recipes and serve Jack at your next dinner party.

Simply puree the pumpkin and freeze for another day’s baking or cooking. 

Put Jack in the box
Worms like Jack. In fact, whether finely chopped and mixed with yard trimmings in a backyard composter or in a porch/balcony vermicompost bin, the worms will help create a nutrient-rich compost that can be used to grow next year’s Jack.

Add curb appeal
Richmond yard trimmings collection program for single family homes will pick up pumpkins left on the curb if in a securely fastened clear bag of manageable weight, or mixed in with the fall leaves. Be sure to put out your yard trimmings after 8 p.m. the night before collection day, or before 8 a.m. on the day of collection. 

Return Jack to his roots
Dig a shallow trench in the vegetable or flower garden, disperse shredded pieces of Jack throughout and back fill. This diverts beneficial solid waste from the landfill. 

Pumpkin Trivia
  • It’s estimated that well over one million kilograms of pumpkins are carved annually in Metro Vancouver.
  • BC produces about 3 million pounds of pumpkins a year. These are valued at almost $400,000 per year.
  • Pumpkins are orange because they contain massive amounts of antioxidants such as lutein, alpha- and beta-carotene. These nutrients turn to vitamin A in the body.
  • Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
  • Pumpkins originated in Central America.
  • Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

If you would like more information on recycling and composting please visit www.richmond.ca > City Services > Recycling and Garbage.