This season my wife bought more decorative pumpkins and gourds than usual. Instead of two or three we have at least 10 and all I could think of was "Well that's going to be a heavy trash bag!". Well, today I found out such items, with a couple of exceptions, can be recycled. Pumpkin Seed Market is all set up to help.
Don’t trash Fall -- well at least your pumpkins, gourds, corn, and even straw bales! Pumpkin Seed Market is offering recycling of your fall décor! As many folks know, Pumpkin Seed pastures their own beef that they stock in their freezer section. In trying to eliminate waste, they do some food recycling with bruised produce, etc. “The cattle always love sweet corn season,” said Eric! “It’s interesting that each cow has its favorite.” For instance some go for the green peppers first and some the cucumbers or tomatoes. But they all love pumpkins! In prior years, any leftover pumpkins at the end of the season were always taken to the farm, chopped up and given to the cows. “I don’t like to see any kind of food wasted, and wanted to offer a new service for our community. Recycling pumpkins is something productive to do with all the outdoor fall decorations,” Eric said.“We all use pumpkins and gourds to decorate, and we forget that they are a good food source!” So how will each item be used? At the farm they will sort and cut the pumpkins and gourds and spread them out for the cattle in the pasture. This does two things: The cattle obviously will enjoy eating a large portion of them, and they will walk on some, too! What’s so special about that you may ask? The cattle’s hooves will actually “work in” some of that organic material which will help to naturally fertilize the pasture! The corn stalks are technically edible for cattle, but Eric says that “our cows have pasture, hay and feed, so we just use the stalks for bedding” Can’t say I blame them for not wanting to eat a dry corn stalk! Again, on the farm everything has a use and “waste” items get a new ways to serve a purpose! The “Pumpkin Trailer” will be at Pumpkin Seed Market until about the 3rd week of November for self-serve drop off.
Please note, bleached or painted items cannot be accepted and any metal wire or clips must be taken off your corn stalks and Indian corn. Pumpkin Seed Market is located on Lexington Avenue at Executive Drive in Mansfield, thepumpkinseedmarket.com.