Your SouthCoast Pumpkin Could Contribute to Climate Change

By now, you have no doubt seen pumpkins and other seasonal gourds in the stores or farm stands on the country roads that wind through the SouthCoast.

After all, it is mid-September.

Fall and all that comes with it is big business around these parts. We may not be New Hampshire or Vermont, but Southern New England can offer a pretty spectacular autumn festival of color.

While many along the ocean live for summertime, fall provides a welcome respite from the heat and humidity. Hayrides, apple picking, pumpkin carving, cooler temperatures, football, and the brightly colored falling leaves serve to usher in the holiday season here along the SouthCoast.

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When pumpkin spice everything – from coffee to scented broomsticks – begin to reappear, and Acushnet's Apple Peach Festival fills the air with music and the smell of home-baked goodies for sale, sensible folks ask, "Is it too soon to get the pumpkin?"

Some folks place store-bought pumpkins on the stoop in September while others prefer to pick their own in early October.

When to "get the pumpkin" depends upon what you plan to do with the thing. Romper.com has a pumpkin patch full of ideas on when you should get a pumpkin, what to do with it once you have it, and what to do with it after you're all done with it.

When pumpkin season is through and it's time for the Christmas decorations, be careful how you dispose of your pumpkin.

Did you know that disposing of your pumpkin in the landfill creates greenhouse gases and adds to climate change woes? Who knew?

The SouthCoast is full of great local farms with locally-grown produce and pumpkins for picking from the fields or off of the shelves. Some even offer hayrides and corn mazes. 

Perhaps consider buying a white pumpkin, growing in popularity in these parts, to offset the traditional orange pumpkins used for fall decorating.

Pumpkin and apple picking make for a fun Sunday afternoon family outing, and it helps the local economy.

Here is a sampling of some area farms you might want to consider.