Pumpkins, trees, and other agricultural wastes

[Donnie]

For quite a few years, I've harbored the private notion that growing pumpkins solely for carving, as well as cultivating fir trees for the sole purpose of home decoration for a few scant weeks in December is a wasteful practice.

Pumpkins grow relatively quickly, I confess, and farmers do profit from their sale. However, their cultivation takes up valuable crop real-estate that, quite frankly, could be put to much better use. We've all seen large pumpkin crop acreages. Especially now, when we're hearing and realizing that our food costs are increasing at a distressing clip. When I was in college, I delivered Chinese food for part time work. Pumpkins were left to rot on porches, forgotten, and were frequently left well into the winter months. Seems to me, the tradition is getting a bit unnecessary.

Many (myself included) made the switch to artificial Christmas trees. To me, again, the practice of raising countless arrays of living, wonderful trees just to cut them down for indoor display is a sad waste. Trees grown solely for Christmas take years to grow. Again, from my days of residential food delivery, I remember seeing a near-needless Christmas tree still decorated and in its stand in one house as late as early March.
This is just my opinion, and I'd be happy to hear your take.

[NolaChick™ {Madam}]

Keeping the tree up until March?? That's just lazy! Anyway, I completely agree with you. My family has always used artificial trees (I live in New Orleans, and although real tress are shipped in, it just seems a little silly down here, not to mention they are a MESS). These days they have so many nice artificial trees out there that it seems silly to spend the time and money on a real one. I understand that storage is a problem for some people, and to them I would just suggest a small artificial tree or forgo the tree altogether and just decorate the living area nicely with other ornaments.

As for the pumpkin thing, yay for Funkins (http://www.funkins.com/TheFunkinPatch/store/products/tag:Classic/)! So cute and fun! There's so much to do at Halloween. I doubt a kid will miss carving a pumpkin. I never did!

[Ava des Mortes]

I used artificial trees simply because it really is a hassle to get a real tree... of course the smell of a real tree is absolutely WONDERFUL... but cutting down a tree just for a celebration ... all over America and elsewhere? No thanks... plus it's messy! and the dog drinks the tree water!

[Retrodolls Pinup Photography]

keeping a tree up until march = house fire!

[Page Against The Machine]

i agreed with the christmas trees, but not the pumpkins.
i mean, you CAN get artificaial, carvable pumpkins that look great but i carve multiple pumpkins every year. not only is it my favorite creative outlet but i eat the seeds and a lot of times cook the pumpkins afterwards.
if the pumpkin isn't fit for eating i cut it up and spread it in he farmers fields near my house that grow thgings like cabbage and eggplant.
i don't think cutting out the jack o lantern tradition is really necessary, people just have to dispose of the remains properly.

[Delyssia LaBelle {Madam}]

my family allways did the replantable tree, we would go to a fram that did that, buy a tree and on new years day replant it in the yard! so at my parents house in NC we have a row of christmas trees! i think thats a good idea, allthough its very hard to find tree farms that still do that. i do think the alternitives are a waist. There is much more you can do with your pumpkins than carve them, when you do carve save the seeds and roast them they have great vitamins in them and taste great! I love the holidays, but there is too much waist going on.

[Marissa Lily]

I agree about the trees and pumpkins really. I use an artificial tree. But the smell of a real tree in the house is great, but it is soooo messy and wasteful. Especially messy if you have pets!

[Cassie Wanda]

Pumpkins
I was discussing this with a client the other day. We were wondering what the pumpkins that aren't bought are used for? Do they sell them to a pumpkin processing plant?
Although, I confess I love carving pumpkins but I do it very rarely.

XMas Trees
My family always gets a real tree, and we always dry it out on the side of our house until next winter when we use it for firewood. I love the smell of real trees. Ahhh Christmas is coming I'm so excited.

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

I agree that there is way too much waste when it comes to Christmas trees. It seems senseless to grow these beautiful trees just to chop them down, then throw them away a month or so later. I like Cassie's idea of drying out the tree and using it for firewood; at least the tree is being put to use and not just thrown out. As for pumpkins, yeah, it does seem a little wasteful, unless you're also using the seeds and pulp for pies or whatever. But who really does that? The good thing about pumpkins is they biodegrade quickly so they don't take up a lot of landfill space!