Many of you in Fearrington might have some decorative pumpkins out for the season – did you know there are great ways to recycle these?   Do not just throw them in the backyard whole where they might settle in piles of decomposing leaves and become a real horror story!  Once those scary carved faces start to droop, cut your pumpkin in half or fourths and place under bird feeders – cutting the pumpkin will stall the molding process a little.   All sorts of critters will think they are at the buffet!   Chipmunks and squirrels will think they are in heaven and if you place under your bird feeders, they may be distracted from trying to steal birdseed for half a minute.  The big backyard birds like the Blue Jays especially love the pumpkin seeds.    I know a lot of you have special areas where you feed the larger wildlife such as rabbits and deer – cut the pumpkin in chunks to give them a real treat and add nutrients to their diets.   We are so lucky to share Fearrington with many living creatures, let’s celebrate with them too!