Grand Junction residents looking to clear away sagging front porch jack-o'-lanterns have several options besides the landfill, as Colorado Mesa University reported. Shawnee Sagers, a technical instructor for agriculture science at Colorado Mesa University, told the outlet that pumpkins make an excellent organic material for composting, livestock feed, and soil enrichment.
To compost successfully, Sagers told Colorado Mesa University that pumpkins should be chopped into smaller pieces to speed up decomposition, noting that stems should be left out because they take longer to break down. Sagers also told the outlet that backyard compost piles require a balance of brown carbon materials and green nitrogen materials, noting that microbial life loves fresh produce. Livestock such as chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle can also enjoy pumpkins as a seasonal food source after being split into pieces, according to the reporting. Additionally, Mesa County residents can utilize the Mesa County Organic Materials Compost Facility, and the CMU Tech Community Education Center is offering an Advanced Composting course on November 21 from 9 to 11 am.
