Most of us have good feelings about carving pumpkins. They are colorful and friendly reminders that the fall season is here to be enjoyed. And we all can be artists! When pumpkins have become Jack-O-Lanterns or yard decorations and before they inevitably turn to mush, we must do something with them. Of course, we can trash them to get them out of sight before they are totally disgusting. In that event they are usually taken by our trash collector to a landfill where they are lost . . . forever! Or, we can give these fall trademarks the chance to continue in the endless cycles of nature. Yes, we can and should compost them!

YOU can convert pumpkins into soil. That makes sense if you do backyard composting. The problem is that most people do not yet have a compost bin to do this. Here is where we at the Field Station can help. Give us that chance!

There is an easy way for community members - within the Borough and Townships - to drop off those "expired pumpkins." Bring them to the Field Station, 937 Fayette-New Wilmington Road. Here we collect and compost all sorts of things (even unsightly food wastes). Leave the pumpkins on the platform near the sign that says "Community Compost Drop-Off." We'll take over and within four to six months, by the gentle action of microorganisms, soil will result from former pumpkins!

Within the Borough there is an even easier way to solve the problem of used pumpkins. Trash pick-up is on Thursdays, so do not leave the pumpkins out with trash on November 2 or 9 -- that would take them to a landfill. However, on November 7 and 8 (Tuesday and Wednesday mornings or afternoons) someone from the Field Station or local Kiwanis Club will cruise the streets daily to rescue pumpkins left at the curb. How hard can that be? Once in our hands (and machines) the pumpkins will be mixed with other compostables and changed by fungi and bacteria into a useful commodity - we call it brown gold!

And after Christmas, when cut Christmas trees have warmed our homes and hearts, the same pick-up routine will be followed at the Field Station for those symbols of the holiday season.

Compost happens when we work at it together. Call me at 724-946-8520 if you have questions.

Clarence Harms, Director of the Field Station