Smash a squash: Bring your pumpkins to Monmouth College's farm on Nov. 9

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (10/31/2024) — Wait! Stop! Don't throw away that pumpkin!

The good folks at the Monmouth College Educational Farm would like to have them, and there are several reasons for their plea to bring them pumpkins at 10 a.m. Nov. 9.

Chief among those, said Monmouth biology professor Eric Engstrom, the farm's director, is the environmental benefit of used pumpkins as compost.

"We'd love to see them in the ground here at the farm, not in a landfill," said Engstrom, who joined Monmouth's faculty in 2015 and was promoted to a full professor earlier this year.

More on composting in a bit, but another perk is the opportunity to visit the farm, which is located on N. 12th St., a few hundred feet north of E. Boston Ave. Some of its features are a blueberry patch, a chicken coop and a new yurt classroom.

And then there's the opportunity to let off a little steam, getting into disposing of your past-its-prime pumpkin with a sledgehammer or by simply tossing it up in the air.

"People can smash their pumpkins and then they can get a little tour of the farm," said Engstrom, who said refreshments will be provided.

Pumpkin smashers will also receive an information sheet on how to start their own composting site in their yard.

"After you get one established, you can put it on your lawn, and your flowers will grow better," said Engstrom, who said he and Monmouth students would be available to answer any related questions.

A compost pile is a much better resting place for a senior squash than out in the middle of the street.

"This is about more than just smashing pumpkins," said Engstrom. "I could even see turning this into one of our biology labs. It's a little strange, but ..."

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