I've mentioned that I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween, but do I think carving pumpkins is the best part of the holiday. My carving skills are definitely lacking, but I still think it's worth the struggle. Pumpkins are also the ultimate Earth-friendly decoration since they are easily compostable.

After you scoop out the inside of your pumpkin, you should separate the seeds. Compost the gooey insides and save the seeds to roast later for a delicious snack. From everything I've heard and read, carving pumpkins aren't as tasty as other pumpkin varieties for cooking so you don't have to feel bad about composting the flesh.

Once Halloween is over, you can compost the rest of your pumpkin. Make sure to clean out any wax inside, or better yet, use a glass votive or dish to save you the trouble. Cut or break apart your jack o' lantern before you throw it in the compost pile since it can get moldy if left whole. If your pumpkins tend to get moldy before Halloween comes around, wait to carve your pumpkins closer to the holiday. (That's what we intend to do. I'll repost a picture of our pumpkins once they are carved.) Also, keeping your pumpkins away from direct sunlight or rain will help them stay fresher, longer. There are ways to preserve pumpkins using bleach solutions, but that won't allow you to safely compost your jack o' lantern.