The Bite:
Is your next generation ready for a trip to the pumpkin patch? Here's something to hand down: how to make a planet-friendly jack-o'-lantern with an organic pumpkin and soy candles. All the holiday fun - no legacy of waste.
Making Eco Jack-o'-lanterns
Next of (Pump)kin: Halloween Prep Week
10.13.2009
Submitted by alara on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 11:00pm.
The Benefits:
- Organically farmed pumpkins treat Mama (Earth) better than the conventional kind - traditional farms use 30% more energy and water, plus pesticides like 1,3-dichloropropene, a common fumigant that can cause birth defects and other health problems.
- Soy wax candles burn cleaner and longer than regular paraffin candles made from nonrenewable petroleum.
- Jack-o'-lanterns are food for the whole family...seriously. Toasted seeds for you, chunks of pumpkin for pets, and the rest goes to the worms.
Wanna Try:
- Local Harvest - find an organic patch, pumpkin stand, or co-op with this national directory of farms and markets.
- Caterpillars Soy Tea Lights - each candle burns an average of 7 hours - more than enough for a whole night of trick-or-treaters ($6/6).
- SpookMaster Stencils - free pumpkin carving patterns that you can print out on scrap paper, plus lots of how-to tips.
- DIY Bite - make your own roasted pumpkin seeds: rinse seeds and spread on a cookie sheet to dry overnight; toss with melted butter and a pinch of salt; toast, stirring occasionally, in a 300 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden.
- To compost, smash into pieces and add to your pile or bin.
Timeout
Dayton, OH, Mama Biter Jessie Clune looks forward to hitting the pumpkin patch this fall with Sam, 18 months - even if he'll be about the same size as all the squash.
Bang For The Bite
If 10,000 Mama Biters pick an organic pumpkin instead of a traditional one, we'll keep the weight of five second cousins once removed in fumigants off pumpkin patches and away from kids.
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